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

and pushes his slacks over his hips, pressing himself right up against me.

“Do you think he’ll want you when I’m done with you? That is, if there’s anything left.” His fingers flex around my thighs, stretching me wide as he slams into me so hard, I cry out in agony.

He’s going to kill me.

Cade Kingsley isn’t just going to ruin me. He’s going to kill me.

But all I can think as the edges of my consciousness begin to fray is that at least this nightmare will be over.

31

Bexley

The pain that rips through me as I watch Cade lead Mia from the room is like nothing I've ever felt before.

Everything that has happened in my life, all the pain and heartache from my past in Sterling Bay, pales in comparison to this moment.

Reaching out, I hold onto the back of my chair to keep me upright as my heart pounds and blood rushes past my ears so fast that I'm sure I'm about to pass out. A warm hand lands on my shoulder before Channing whispers in my ear.

"I'll keep her safe." I nod, although we both just saw the dark glint in Cade's eyes as he looked at each of us. Nothing good is going to happen tonight.

"If she needs me, fucking call me. I don't care what it is or how bad."

He nods before following Q and the rest of the Electi from the room. I hang back, and so does Mia's father. As I stare at him, my fists curl so tight my nails dig into my palms.

"If he hurts her, I hope you know that it's all your fault. If anything fucking happens to her tonight…" My voice cracks, pain shooting from my chest as if the devil himself has just pushed a stake through my chest.

"I know." His voice is barely a whisper, and I wonder if he's actually said the words. "It was never meant to be like this."

"Well, it fucking is, and what did you do to stop it?"

I don't hang around to hear whatever excuse he's thinking up. Instead, I storm out of the room which I'm sure is going to haunt me forever and run up the stairs, needing to catch up with the others.

I don't want to go to a fucking party to celebrate this shit, but I need to be somewhere with cell signal so that I can go to her if she needs me.

Channing gives me a sad smile as I climb into the back of the SUV and the driver takes off to the Cargills’.

"You reckon he's already balls deep in her by now?" Ashton asks, a smirk curling at his lips as he stares right at me.

"You motherfu—" I launch myself across the car, my fist connecting with his jaw before anyone manages to get a grip on me and pull me back.

"Easton, enough," Tim barks, his voice terrifyingly cold.

"Fuck you, Davenport. He doesn't get to fucking talk about her like that. She's not some cheap fucking whore. He wouldn't talk about Fawn like that."

Tim growls at my suggestion.

"Exactly," I spit. "Cocksucker deserves more than one hit. He's fucking sick."

Ashton's eyes continue to hold mine, his smile lighting them up and stirring my anger to all new heights.

"Enough, Moore," Tim barks, much to my surprise, and the cunt immediately wipes the joy from his face.

If I didn't already know he was a fucking psychopath, watching his emotions flip so fast like that would have proven it.

"You good?" Tim asks, testing the water by releasing his hold on my arm slightly.

"No. No, I'm not fucking good."

Silence falls around the car before we turn toward another fucking mansion behind huge, gilded gates, and Ashton pulls a small tin from his pocket and throws back two pills.

"It's party time, boys." He holds the tin out, offering it to me first.

I stare at it for a few seconds, unmoving, before I lift my eyes to his.

"Fine, your loss. Tim?"

"Hell yes, my man." He takes the tin before passing it to Brandon, Alex, and then Channing, who also refuses.

Fuck knows why he's still here. He should be trailing Mia already, but I guess he's waiting for the best time to slip out unnoticed. Whatever he's doing, he's not doing it fucking quick enough. Anything could have happened to her already.

I stare out the window as the car pulls to a stop, but I don't see anything, I'm too lost in my own head, in my own nightmare.

Climbing out with the others, I follow them toward the house. The music pounds the second the door is pulled open, and when I look up, I find people fucking everywhere.

"Fucking move, Easton," Ashton barks from behind me, giving me a solid shove so he can get around me and start the party.

Just like always, the crowd parts like the fucking Red Sea as the guys arrive. Alex stands proudly beside them, milking the attention while I just wish the ground would swallow me up.

With little other choice, I follow them in and head straight for the quietest room I can find.

Slipping into a room that thankfully has no other people inside it, I close the door behind me and drop down onto the couch before lowering my head into my hands. My cell buzzes in my pocket after a couple of minutes of losing myself in my misery, making my heart damn near beat out of my chest.

Channing: I'm on my way to the house. I suggest you get a drink.

I want to. The temptation to drown all of this out is strong. So fucking strong that my hands are trembling with my restraint. But I can't. If something goes wrong and she needs me and I'm not able to get to her, I'd never forgive myself.

Slumping back on the couch, I look around the room, surprised to find it's some kind of office. Surely Phillip Cargill isn't stupid enough not to lock his office when his kids are throwing a fucking party?

Pushing from the