Tarnished Crown (Gravestone Elite #2) by Caitlyn Dare (books like beach read TXT) 📕

name, I’m still drawing a blank. Google isn’t going to give me the information I need. I need to go straight to the source: the town’s archives. But they’re not public records. I know, because my dad told me once.

And lucky for me, my dad just happens to work security for the building in which they’re kept.

3

Bexley

"You're out of fucking line," I bark at Cade the second Mia disappears from the hallway.

"So? What the fuck are you going to do about it?"

"You're not going to get away with this," I warn, taking a step toward him once more.

I don't give a fuck that my shoulder smarts from where we tumbled down the stairs; I'll take this motherfucker out right now.

Ashton steps up beside his leader, and I scoff at his loyalty.

Cade leans in, a cocky smirk playing on his face. "Who's going to fucking stop me? You? Your ancestors might have been in charge, but that time has long past, Easton. Kingsleys are in charge around here now. And lucky for you, I’m right here."

A growl rumbles up my throat.

"Mia is mine. Promised to me. She was meant to be a fucking virgin, but I'll be nice and let that one slide. You got a taste of mine, after all." He tilts his chin toward where I know Brook is standing behind me.

"I hate to break it to you, but everyone has had a taste of her," I spit, disgusted that I've now joined that club.

I didn't want to believe it, but one look at the devastation on Mia's face and I knew it was true.

It wasn't Mia I was fucking last night like my skewed memories led me to believe. It was Brook.

My heart splinters in my chest again.

She watched. This fucking cunt made Mia stand there and watch me as I fucked someone else.

My nails dig into my palms as I try to restrain myself from taking his head off. But, just like the last time, it's four against one. I'm going to have to wait until I can get him alone.

A little one on one time is well overdue for us already.

"Good, right?" Ashton smirks, and I do a double take.

"That's your fucking sister," I spit in disgust. "This is fucked." I lift my arms and gesture to the house, to this situation. "All of this is fucked up, and I want nothing to do with any of it."

"Trust me, Easton. If I thought there was a way for that to happen, you'd be long gone already. This is your life now, so suck it up. Forget about the girl. We've got plenty more for you to dip your end into—most a hell of a lot hotter and more experienced than Mia. You'll be thanking me soon enough." He winks, and I see red, but before I manage to throw a punch, hands wrap around my upper arms and I’m hauled back.

"Leave it," Channing growls in my ear.

Shaking my head at the lot of them, I storm from the house. Fuck knows how, but when I walk out to the driveway, my BMW is sitting right there beside Alex's Porsche.

I don't overthink it. I just pull the key from my pocket, unlock it, and shut myself inside.

His burning hate stare makes my skin tingle, and when I look up at the house, I find him standing in the middle of the open double doors, glaring at me in warning.

Flipping him off, I floor the accelerator and speed away from what is now apparently my home.

It's over an hour later when I feel calm enough to talk to anyone about what went down last night, and there's only one person I need to have it out with right now.

I pull up to the huge gates of Marcus’ home ten minutes later, and, after a few seconds, they open for me. The front door is open and I let myself in and walk straight down to the kitchen, starting the coffee maker.

"Sit down, boy. I can do that for you," Brenda says, walking into the room with a feather duster in hand.

"It's okay, I don't mind."

Whatever she sees on my face when I look up stops her arguing immediately. "He's up in his study if you're looking for your un—grandfather."

My eyes narrow on her, wondering just how much she knows about all of this. Seeing as she's been here since the dawn of time, I assume everything.

"You always knew, didn't you?"

"Your father was a wonderful man, Bexley. It breaks my heart that he never got to meet you. You look so much like him. He'd be so proud of you for taking your rightful place in this town."

My lips part to respond, but I soon find I have no words.

Why would any parent want this kind of life for their child?

Everyone acts as if this Electi Gravestone shit is a privilege. It's utter bullshit, if you ask me.

The fighting, the drugs, the secrets, lies, power, money. All of it is total bullshit, and I want nothing to do with it.

I just want a college degree and to get a decent job, have a decent life.

I never asked for any of this.

I shake my head at her excited smile, turn my back on her, and head upstairs.

"Bexley," Marcus greets me as I peer inside his study. "How do you feel?"

"Like shit," I answer honestly. At least I now know why my hangover is so fucking bad.

"Last night's party that good, huh? I remember the night I passed the initiation." A smile pulls at his lips as he relives his former life.

"Cade drugged me and forced me into sleeping with Brook Moore," I blurt. I'm not here to beat around the bush. I want some fucking answers.

"Sounds just like the parties I remember, although I don't ever remember it ever being forced," he mutters.

"This isn't a fucking joke. He found out that I—"

"That you're in love with Mia Thompson?" he finishes for me.

My lips open and close as I stand there in his