Shattered Legacy : A Dark Bully Romance (Gravestone Elite Book 1) Caitlyn Dare (literature books to read .TXT) đ
- Author: Caitlyn Dare
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I grab the nearest thing to me and launch it across the room, watching with dismay as the glass smashes into pieces and scatters across the floor.
âBetter?â Annabel lifts a brow, hardly surprised by my little outburst.
My lips purse as I stare at her, my body vibrating with anger. I will be better when this nightmare is over. When Quinctus realizes they made a mistake, that Iâm not the girl for Cade after all.
Because there is no other explanation.
Itâs a mistake.
It has to be.
The next day is as unbearable as the last. Cade is extra clingy, holding my hand in a vise-like grip as we move around campus. The pendant sits heavy against my chest. I almost didnât wear it, but if I want to appease him, to buy myself some time, I know I need to play ball.
âI like this.â He skims the hem of my skirt, his fingers brushing the backs of my thighs.
âI didnât wear it for you,â I reply.
Ashton snorts, grumbling something about âneeding to break me in.â I cast him a dark look, but he only glares back.
I like him least out of the Electi. Heâs too close to Cade, too much of a bad influence. Not to mention, heâs Brookâs older brother. Iâve heard the stories about Ashton Moore. The threesomes at parties, the fights, the girls running from his room with tears streaming down their faces and bruises on their bodies.
Ashton is dangerous, and heâs Cadeâs closest friend. Heâs also not officially an Electi, which affords him a certain amount of freedom where his actions are concerned.
âNo?â Cade whispers against the soft skin of my neck. âThen who did you wear it for?â
My spine goes rigid, but I force myself to relax. Now is not the time to be thinking about Bexley and how his piercing blue eyes follow me around campus whenever we cross paths.
After that afternoon in my dorm room, heâs mostly kept his distance. But I feel him, watching. Waiting. He needs to stay awayâfor his benefit, and mine. But I canât deny a tiny piece of me likes feeling him there, in the shadows. Like a guardian angel watching over me.
Except⊠something tells me he isnât an angel at all.
A shiver zips up my spine and Cade tenses. âWhat is it, babe? Whatâs wrong?â He brushes the hair from my face and grips my chin, forcing me to look at him.
Weâre sitting outside in the quad. Brandon and Sasha are arguing over something. Ashton is practically fucking a girl I donât recognize on the bench. And Channing is busy texting someone. I donât know where Tim is. Probably off with Fawn. Iâve only met her a couple of times, but she doesnât seem to like Cade either.
Maybe we could be friends. Although, she seems happy with Tim, in love. Whereas I canât ever imagine falling for a guy so conceited, arrogant, and cruel as Cade.
âHave you told her yet?â Ashton pipes up.
âAsh,â Cade warns in that low growl of his.
âOh, shit. You didnât? Shitâs about to get interesting.â
âTell me what?â I glance at Ashton, narrowing my eyes, and then back at Cade.
âNothing, babe. Just the party tonight.â
âParty? You didnât say anything about a party.â
âItâs the new moon, Mia.â Ashton grins, but it isnât friendly. Itâs dark and full of wicked intent. âWe always party on the new moon.â
âStop being a dick, Ash,â Sasha chides. âItâll be fun, Mia. We can hang out.â
âItâll be fun, Mia,â Brandon mimics, and she claps him around the ear. âBitch, what was that for?â
âQuit being an ass.â
âIâm beginning to think they should let girls into theââ Channing presses his lips together, swallowing whatever he was about to say.
The two of themâSasha and Channingâshare a heated look, and I frown. Is something going on there? I canât imagine Cade or Brandon would appreciate Channing macking on Sasha. Sheâs an heir, yes, but itâs not the same for her as it is for her male counterparts. Sheâll never have a line of guys waiting to become her prosapia. Instead, sheâll be matched with someone of Phillip Cargillâs approval.
I heard my parents talking once, and apparently Sasha should get some say in who she settles down with, but women donât exactly hold the power in Gravestone. Men do, with their old traditions and chauvinistic ways.
âHey Cade, guys,â Brookâs voice is like a bucket of ice-cold water, and I turn to meet her smug stare.
âBrookie, sister, long time no see.â Ashton leans in to kiss her cheek. âI was beginning to think you didnât love me anymore.â
âOh, Ash, donât be ridiculous. You know I love you, I just didnât want Cadeâs latest toy to feel intimidated.â
A ripple of tension goes through the air as Brook locks her narrowed gaze on me. Cadeâs hand remains firmly on my hip, but he doesnât intervene. He just sits there, waiting to see how Iâll react, no doubt.
Bastard.
âHello, Brook,â I say, hoping sheâll disappear back into whatever hole she crawled out of.
âMila.â
âItâs Mia.â
Someone snickers, Ashton probably. But I donât look, because I donât want Brook to think Iâm scared of her, even if my stomach is a tight knot of nerves.
âOops, my bad,â she shoots me a saccharine smile, âI guess thatâs what happens when youâre completely and utterly average. People forget your name. They forget you.â
âBrook, play nice,â Cade drawls, pulling me back into his chest.
âWhatever.â She lets out an indignant huff. âI only came to ask if the party is still on tonight.â
âYou know it is.â Cade stiffens, and I wonder what has him so on edge.
âItâs going to be one hell of a night.â Ashton whistles between his teeth. âDonât be a stranger, Sis. We should all hang out. Show Mia a good time.â
The air crackles again, and I realize Iâm the only person on
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