Page 153
“Hey, uh, just relax, all right?” the first guard says, his words the least calming thing I’ve ever fucking heard. Then he turns to his partner. “Call for back-up.”
But there’s a bullet flying through the second guard’s skull before the first can fully finish his demand.
In mere seconds, Zade has whipped out his gun and shot him; the silencer screwed on the end keeping his crime quiet.
The first guard’s eyes widen, scrambling to take aim, but a bullet is tearing through his forehead next. His head snaps back, and he tumbles to the ground alongside his partne
r.
Zade wastes no time. He picks Xavier up and slings him over his shoulder, grabs my hand, and pulls me out behind him.
“Let’s go, baby girl. And when we get on our plane, I’m fucking holding you.”
I don’t recall if I answer as Zade tugs me toward the end of the hallway. He mutters under his breath, most likely ordering Jay to do something, but the screaming in my head drowns out his words.
My body is moving on pure autopilot. I don’t remember how he got us out of there. I don’t remember the three-hour flight home. I don’t remember anything at all but the weight of Xavier on top of me, the clang of his buckle ringing in my head.
Chapter 32
The Diamond
I’m fucking rattled, like an old A/C unit on its last leg.
We just arrived home. Zade is in the basement taking care of Xavier, and I’m desperately grasping onto my last shred of sanity. Restlessness gathers in my bones, and I feel like an animal confined within my own cage.
Heart pounding, I close my bedroom door behind me and then pace the floor, running my hands through my hair and pulling tight—a pathetic attempt to calm the anxiety.
Don’t worry, diamond, I’ll make this nice and slow for you. I want you to feel every inch of me.
No, I don’t want to.
Tears build in my eyes, and I shake my head, attempting to rid myself of that demonic fucking voice.
I must’ve forgotten to lock the damn door because minutes later, Zade bursts in and slams it shut, a wildfire raging in his eyes.
“We need to have a talk, Adeline. I’ve let you process for over four hours now. I need you to talk to me.”
Hysteria is consuming me, and what doesn’t he get? I don’t want to hear his fucking words, nor do I want to give him mine. There’s too many of those in my head, and I’m drowning in them.
Whirling away, I bolt for my balcony doors. I’ve no idea what I’m going to do once I get there—maybe just pitch myself over the rail and end it all—but his arm is curling around my waist and turning me right back around.
The second my feet touch the ground, I wiggle out of his hold and turn to face him.
“Stop it,” I snap. “Just leave me be, Zade.”
“How many times will you run away before you learn that you can’t escape me?” he growls, getting in my personal space before I can even take a breath.
I take a step back, retreating from his intensity. He doesn’t let me go, though, stepping back into me until I’m pressed against the wall.
“However many times it takes before you realize I don’t want to be caught,” I snarl, my own anger rising. I’m not even sure what I’m angry at, just mad that he’s mad.
Let me feel every inch of this sweet body, diamond. Fuck, you feel so good. Don’t I feel good too, baby?
“You’re drowning, Addie. Just let me help you.”
I narrow my eyes, my mouth thinning into a straight line. “I’ve been doing fine!” I argue heatedly, growing defensive purely because he’s right.
I am drowning. And the scariest part—I don’t feel the need to come up for air.
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43
- Page 44
- Page 45
- Page 46
- Page 47
- Page 48
- Page 49
- Page 50
- Page 51
- Page 52
- Page 53
- Page 54
- Page 55
- Page 56
- Page 57
- Page 58
- Page 59
- Page 60
- Page 61
- Page 62
- Page 63
- Page 64
- Page 65
- Page 66
- Page 67
- Page 68
- Page 69
- Page 70
- Page 71
- Page 72
- Page 73
- Page 74
- Page 75
- Page 76
- Page 77
- Page 78
- Page 79
- Page 80
- Page 81
- Page 82
- Page 83
- Page 84
- Page 85
- Page 86
- Page 87
- Page 88
- Page 89
- Page 90
- Page 91
- Page 92
- Page 93
- Page 94
- Page 95
- Page 96
- Page 97
- Page 98
- Page 99
- Page 100
- Page 101
- Page 102
- Page 103
- Page 104
- Page 105
- Page 106
- Page 107
- Page 108
- Page 109
- Page 110
- Page 111
- Page 112
- Page 113
- Page 114
- Page 115
- Page 116
- Page 117
- Page 118
- Page 119
- Page 120
- Page 121
- Page 122
- Page 123
- Page 124
- Page 125
- Page 126
- Page 127
- Page 128
- Page 129
- Page 130
- Page 131
- Page 132
- Page 133
- Page 134
- Page 135
- Page 136
- Page 137
- Page 138
- Page 139
- Page 140
- Page 141
- Page 142
- Page 143
- Page 144
- Page 145
- Page 146
- Page 147
- Page 148
- Page 149
- Page 150
- Page 151
- Page 152
- Page 153 (Reading here)
- Page 154
- Page 155
- Page 156
- Page 157
- Page 158
- Page 159
- Page 160
- Page 161
- Page 162
- Page 163
- Page 164
- Page 165
- Page 166
- Page 167
- Page 168
- Page 169
- Page 170
- Page 171
- Page 172
- Page 173
- Page 174
- Page 175
- Page 176
- Page 177
- Page 178
- Page 179
- Page 180
- Page 181
- Page 182
- Page 183
- Page 184
- Page 185
- Page 186
- Page 187
- Page 188
- Page 189
- Page 190
- Page 191
- Page 192
- Page 193
- Page 194
- Page 195
- Page 196
- Page 197
- Page 198
- Page 199
- Page 200
- Page 201
- Page 202
- Page 203
- Page 204
- Page 205
- Page 206
- Page 207
- Page 208
- Page 209
- Page 210
- Page 211
- Page 212
- Page 213
- Page 214
- Page 215
- Page 216
- Page 217
- Page 218
- Page 219
- Page 220
- Page 221
- Page 222
- Page 223
- Page 224
- Page 225
- Page 226
- Page 227
- Page 228
- Page 229
- Page 230
- Page 231
- Page 232
- Page 233