Kylie Bray E-Book

Shan R.K

• Herausgeber: BookRix
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2019

Beschreibung

I had two great loves. The first had the power to weaken me. The second broke me. Vincent Stone was my addiction before he turned out to be my disease. Our love was forbidden, he was my stepbrother. But that wasn't the worst of it all. No, you see he was a made man and I was his muse. How could life tumble in turfs that are unravelling to the human mind , how could I succumb to this latitude of proportions that take me to this darkness. It's breaking me. I keep believing that the world is whole , that my mind isn't. Its like my soul is pushing me to the place I can't see, but my heart is taking me somewhere else , to a place where I can't fathom, how do I see it happening when my very existence is slipping from my fingers, when I look in the mirror I barely recognise myself. I am just empty, dying. I feel there are days where I want to end it, end this treachery of these unknown parts, I am scared. Oh god help me. This weight is beating me down, taking me in. I breathe every second, telling myself I am human, I should feel something , but I can't because every time I think, everytime I even consider it he goes and takes more lives, he says I am his muse , yet all I see in the mirror all I feel is a monster, a killer. He kills them in my name, he takes their lives because they took me. He makes me watch, he forces me to accept it. I know it's wrong, I know I should stop him, but when he touches me something awakens in me that I can't feel unless I am with him. They say to be strong is to face your weakness, but how do I face him when he is also my strength.

Leseprobe

Shan R. K

Kylie Bray

The Birth of a Sinner

BookRix GmbH & Co. KG81371 Munich

Acknowledgements

Kylie Bray

Acknowledgements:

Firstly I would like to say a big thank you to my daughter. Parenting is not an easy pass. We sometimes make tough decisions that are life altering for the sake of our kids. But you little girl make it all worth while. All you got to do is smile kid. You already own my heart. Keep your chin up, shoulders back and never forget that smile.

Secondly I want to say to all my readers, subscribers, bloggers that read my work, “It is an honour to have you read my books, and if I managed to make at least one of you smile then it is worth it. I love you guys.”

For those who have experienced unrequited love

Copyright © 2018 Shan R.K

All rights reserved. This is a work of fiction from the Author’s imagination.

No part of this book may reproduced, scanned or distributed in any manner without written permission from the author except in the

case of brief quotations for reviews or fan made articles. Any names resembling any living person is purely coincidental.

Cover by MK

www.shanrk.wordpress.com

He was a MADE MAN and I was his MUSE

Kylie Bray

Love Hate and Billions

Book 1

By

Shan R.K

Play List

Mayday – Cam

Let you down- NF

Say you won't let go - James Arthur

Cold – Maroon 5

Cheat codes – Demi Lovato

Down – Marian Hill

Kiwi – Harry Styles

Say Something - Justin Timberlake

Believer – Imagine Dragons

Too much to ask – Niall Horan

Don't let me down – Chainsmokers

Silence- Marshmello

Stargate – Waterfall

Not easy – Alex da kid

In the name of love – Martin Garrix

Rehab – Rihana ft. Justin Timberlake (theme song)

A note from Kylie Bray

In order to understand the reason why I’ve made the choices I have, when I became the person I am today, you would have to understand why. To do that, I would need to start from the very beginning.

But before I do, understand that this is not a sappy happy romance, this is my life, this is the story of where happy endings come from. This is the path I led. So while many people would always start and end with their true love, I would start with my first. Because isn't a first love the most life altering one.

Prologue

My legs are numb, I can't feel the fresh blood seeping through my jeans. I try to push myself up, but it's no use, my legs were both fucked. One bullet lodged into my right thigh, the other my left calf. I should scream, I should curse. I should've done lots of things differently.

“I warned you to stay away, I told you what would happen.” He snarls, spitting on the ground.

“You rich kids are too fucking spoilt, thinking you can have it all.”

I groan,

My body aching,

I can feel the blood, hot and pulsing through my thigh.

I don't swear him,

I don't curse.

I'm not stupid,

I know he'll finish me,

I know my limit.

My only hope is that the cops would find me. They knew where I was, I had barely managed to call them before the first bullet echoed through the air.

My hair matted to my forehead from the sweat drenching my skin. But I don't move my hand, I don't dare move it from my shoulder. I have to keep the pressure on the wound or I am going to die.

The sound of a helicopter approaches, lights flickering over head. It's so bright, that if I didn't believe in God already I am going to now. It isn't long after I hear my assaulter’s shoes rushing off that I hear the car speed by.

Relief floods me as I allow the pain to rush through me tenfold and finally break screaming.

Life was unfair, it was fucked up. I curse as the pain takes over me, I welcome it.

Our parents never told us that the monsters were real, they never warned us that there is no happy ending.

Only death and heartache.

I thought love could conquer all.

I thought I could overcome any hurdle to be with the one man I love.

The man who stole my body and possessed my heart.

But life had a different plan for me.

It is evident as I'm lying on the ground of an empty dock with three bullets stuck in me bleeding to death.

There is no familiar person here to console me,

no savior to protect me.

It is just ME.

I thought I had all the answers.

I thought I was strong enough to walk unscathed on the path of darkness.

The only person I was, the only one I ended up being, was a foolish twenty year old who thought she could play with the big boys and got fucked up her ass in the process.

He told me to walk away, he warned me that it wouldn't end well.

I knew Vincent Stone was a bad person. I just didn't know how bad he really was until I was already too deep, lost to the maze of OBSESSION.

Now,

I can't find my way out, no matter how hard, or fast I try because now I have sealed my fate. Now he has claimed me, tainted me, marked me as his knowing, he would never be mine.

He was a made man, and I was his muse.

KYLIE

2000- Liston Hills

“Kylie Bray get your bee-hind in here young lady, don't make me come get you.”

I climb out from under the dining table, “I said I ain't eating it!" Putting my hands on my hips I crease my lips together.

"Kylie you are too, your mama s on her way back. Don't make me call her."

I stamp my rubber covered feet, "I'm eight I can do what I want and I ain't eating it Aunt Milda, I ain't eating that meat. I saw them cut cows last week, papa said that’s where mama buys her meat from, I ain't eating it.”

I turn and run through the front yard, the green lawn crunching under my feet. My aunt screaming, but I don't care, papa said she needed the exercise, and I agree. If those dresses of hers got any smaller her boobies were gonna pop out. I turn my head, and laugh as her yellow flower dress creeps up her thighs, I know she's coming after me,

“Kylie,” She yells so loud, “you love meat, Tanner made it just for you, Kylie, come on, I don't wanna run, KYLIE.”

I run faster, laughing, because there is no doubt in my mind that my aunt could catch me.

I jump on the cemented frog, then on the fountain bowl. I'd done it so many times with not a care in the world.

Big hands haul me up and spin me around. Giggling hysterically.

I shriek, "Put me down Stone."

He doesn't listen, he never does, instead he throws me over his shoulder.

"Michael I'm so tellin’ your papa." He laughs, jumping up and down, causing me to flop on his shoulder.

"You need to be careful Ky, didn't I tell you about jumping on the fountain," he scolds me.

My small fist drum on his back, "You tell me a lot of things Stone it doesn't mean I'ma listen."

Michael is my second eldest stepbrother. He has ten years on me, with a brain that is unmatched, he is a genius. Whatever my Michael reads he memorizes it.

My mama always says he is a thinker and even though she isn't really his mama she treats him just like he is her own.

One time I was on the way to the stables when I saw them talking alone. I snuck around the side of the barn so they wouldn't see me. My mama was crying, and Michael just held her, he said it didn't matter what David thought, he said she was special.

I didn't understand it then, I know David doesn't like my mama, no, he actually hates her.

I wonder why though, because he loves me, he tells me everyday when he calls just before bed.

David is my eldest stepbrother and is currently I quote ‘suffering’ in Harvard University studying law. He is the opposite of Michael, he hates studying, despises reading and lives for partying, but he loves his family, except mama.

They argue for everything and Uncle Hector has to often get involved. I hate those times, because David has a temper like Uncle Hector, bossy, bossy, bossy. But like Uncle Hector I know David would be there if I need him, he would fix anything. Which was how he chose what to do with his life. From a young age he wanted to study law and become a politician.

I'm not sure what that is really, but Kevin said David would be able to run for president one day and I know that the president is bossy. I mean he has to be to control a country, right. And who is more bossy than my David.

Vincent, who is the third eldest in the family, he just turned fourteen a week back. He lives with his mother in Seattle. I hardly ever see him and when I do, he pretends that I'm not there, like I care, psst.

Last week Uncle Hector told us during lunch that Vincent wouldn’t be allowed to visit much anymore because he had ‘stuff’ to do. Uncle Hector didn't seem happy about that ‘stuff’ but I was like whatever, I have lots of brothers.

Then there's Kevin, my half brother who is twelve going on thirty. Once, I watched him fall off the acorn tree and hurt his back, he shed one tear and was so quiet I cried for both of us.

I remember thinking maybe the fall made him lose his emotions.

I asked Kevin that day if he lost his feelings,

he just smiled and said he ain't got any.

It didn't bother me as much as it hurt mama , so now, I make sure to have them for him. Whenever I'm around him, I help him out when he doesn't know what to do.

We have eye signals and hand signs. I even spent three hours last month teaching him to laugh and frown.

My stomach pained at how much laughing I did.

My mama walked into the game room and looked at us like we were crazy, maybe we were but I didn't mind and neither did Kevin.

My Kevin is special but also dangerous, he has a dark side to him that I sometimes see when he thinks no one is paying attention, but he is also my protector.

And then there is my baby half brother, Jace, he's eighteen months younger than me. He, well I'm not sure how he will turn out and what place he’ll fit in the family, but from the day he was born he always had a piece of me.

He looks just like my mama, with the biggest and brightest blue eyes and blonde golden hair.

David said Jace was going to break lots of hearts when he got bigger, but I just worry about people breaking his. Jace seems more mellow, and softer, but maybe it's just because he's still so young.

But what do I know, I'm eight.

He is after all a Stone, the last of the Stone brothers.

They ARE all the children of my mama s husband, Hector Stone, owner of Stone Fort International and the 7th richest man in the world.

Except me, I am the only girl in the family, but I'm not a Stone.

I am a Bray, Kylie Bray.

Daughter of billionaire extraordinaire Marcus Bray and Heiress Hunter Orniel.

My papa has two children from his ex-wife Janice, Mason who is a few months younger than Jace and baby Natasha, she's like four or five. My papa doesn't see them too often but Janice apparently isn't too well so that is gonna change soon.

I can't wait for that to happen, it might be nice being the eldest for a while.

At the Stone’s Estate they are always trying to boss me around.

Jace is too young so he doesn't count.

My mama did count, big time.

She likes making me stand by the wall. She says it's good thinking time, apparently having an answer for everything isn't ‘good behavior’.

I don't get it, I'm not even that naughty.

My papa lets me say what I want, why couldn't my mama just do the same.

I’d always stayed between my mama and papa. They both love me equally, but mama says, my papa doesn't know how to tell me no and it's important I learned it from her.

I asked her why did he have to tell me no, when it was so easy to just say yes.

My papa only wants me to be happy, what is so wrong with that. My mama said it was for the same reason I was asking.

I didn't understand that, so I asked my brother David. He is no genius but I like the way he explains stuff to me, and boy did he explain it. Apparently when I grow up happiness is going to mean ‘shit’, because big people like the word NO.

So it is torture to say I'm stuck with mama this holiday and that means my three older brothers. I love my brothers, step and real, but boy are they bossy.

The one holding me over his shoulder, while I scream and drum my small fist on his huge back, him, I love the most and that is only because David yells at me when I'm naughty and I don't spend much time with the others as I do my two older brothers, David and Michael.

Jace is my favorite brother because he is cute, but he is also young and my mama's baby, so he stays with mama a lot, and I don't like staying around mama too much.

Kevin spends most of his time with his friends in the forest or climbing trees. I only join when I don't have anything else to do or he asks me to.

And me, well I spend most of my time with Michael and his girlfriend, Willow, they’d been dating for two years now.

They always let me hangout with them when they are at home, or going out to the football games.

Which is cool because when David is with any girl he says it's adult time, and leaves me behind but he does take me out a lot.

Last weekend he took Kevin and I to Disney land for the entire weekend and we all bunked in the same suite, best weekend ever.

“I can't breathe Stone.” I whine lifting up my head, readying myself to do some serious damage to his back by ramming my head into it.

I’d seen how the Bulls do it, there is no better time to try it out.

I stop short when I see a small girl waiting by a motorbike, looking like she's upside down.

She must be about Jace's age, but I can't be sure with her face all blotchy.

Michael puts me on the ground and spins me around by my shoulders, forcing me to look at him as he kneels in front of me.

I smile and he laughs.

I know what's funny, I have a crooked tooth in the front. Pushing his black rimmed glasses up his nose he shakes his head like he doesn't know what he is going to do with me. My papa does it too.

I always looked up to my brother Michael the most. He doesn't have blue or brown eyes like the others in the Stone family, his is green like Uncle Hector.

Most people find him scary, because he towers over everyone and he is all bulky and strong, but he is cool, like so cool. How could I not like him.

"Kylie meet Dakota Larken." He moves back, slightly to the left and all my attention focuses on the small girl.

I smile at her as she sniffles, it's obvious to me that she's crying. Michael stands up and ruffles my hair.

I smack his hand away. He knows I hate it when he does that, I'm no boy.

"You two talk,” he says, “Make friends, I'll keep Aunt Milda busy."

I giggle when he walks toward the mansion flaying his hands in the air and so does Dakota.

"I'm Kylie, Kylie Bray, whatchya doin’ here?"

Taking a small step towards me, she sniffs and wipes her nose with a tissue. I would've done it with my floral dress.

"Michaels helping me with biochemistry."

Giggling because she sounds funny, I ask,

"You a genius like my Michael?"

"Your Michael got nothing on me, I'm smarter than him."

Hands on my hips, my head tilts to the side,

"Is that so."

She put her hands on hers as well, "It is."

I shake my head, the heat from the sun making me squint my eyes. I'm getting thirsty, but I'm also curious about this young girl.

"How old are ya" I drawl in my coolest southern twang.

My mama would've shouted at me by now, she hates when I do that. I don’t get it.

"Five, you?"

"Eight, you live ‘round here."

"Aha, we just moved to Liston Hills."

She stuffs her hands into the pockets of her yellow dirty shorts obviously nervous.

I watch her do it, and my eyes catch on her blue converse lace ups. I have one in every color, hers look worn and I love it, that is the trend now at our school, but my mama always throws mine out and replaces them the moment it starts fading, maybe this girl would swap with me.

"Cool, why ya crying."

Wiping her light brown eyes, she explains, "My cousin keeps teasing me. My dads the President of The Sin Riders Motorcycle Club and they all have nicknames, I didn't let it bother me before but my cousin keeps calling me nameless geek."

I frown, that’s just mean, I hate it when Kevin teases me.

He always picks on me, calling me ‘skinny bones’ or ‘rat face,’ it just makes me so mad and we end up fighting.

Well I would, he’ll just sit there and watch me until I get tired. Then he would ask me am I done.

I always smack his head before I answer yes, and he smacks mine right back.

Why I do it, well I am a Bray.

My papa says a Bray never gives up, so I guess it's just in my blood.

"I can get you a nickname. Will ya feel better? my papas good at naming things." Obviously I'm hoping she'll give me her shoes if I help her out but I don't say a thing.

Her face scrunches up like she's thinking.

What is there to think about?

Finally she nods her head with a big smile, I smile back. I like smiling even though my tooth is crooked. My mama said I should wear it as an achievement, it's part of life.

"Come on,” I tell Dakota, “let's go call my papa."

We sneak in through the back door of the kitchen.

"Ssshh, we don't want my aunt to catch us, she's crazy." I roll my eyes.

Using my finger, I move it in circular motions to make my point.

"I heard that Kylie."

I squeal, grabbing Dakota’s hand in a tight grip.

My aunt is waiting by the other kitchen door that leads to the passage. Her cheeks are flushed and red. She must've ran to the tree house on the end of the property. Why would she think I’d go there.

Aunt Milda isn't blonde like mama but she did have the famous Orniel blue eyes. She is my mama's younger sister but not the brightest.

"I need to call papa Aunt Milda,” I tell her.

Her response is a stern look, but we both know she isn't fooling anyone. My Aunt is as soft as mush, crazy, but soft.

I don't chance it though, I am still scared she might call me back to eat that meat.

Keeping my grip tight on Dakota’s hand I waste no time pushing past my Aunt.

My mama keeps telephones and cell phones all over the house, so it doesn't take me long to spot the one on the white sofa.

Letting go of Dakota’s hand I throw myself on the couch, dialling my papa. It doesn't ring long before I hear my papas voice,

“Kylie.”

“Papa, I need help, it's business.” I drawl in my squeaky voice.

My papa is silent before he starts laughing. I am confused as to why he is laughing. I hear a giggle behind me- Dakota is laughing too. It must be something in the air making all these people crazy.

After hours, which is really just a minute my papa clears his throat, “What can I do for you Miss Bray.”

Now I start giggling, my papa is so funny,

“Papa,” I roll my eyes,

“My new friend needs a nickname.”

“A what honey?”

“A nickname papa, you know like Stone calls me Ky, she says her papa own them motorcycle clubs and she needs a nickname.”

My papa is quiet, before he clears his throat, I don't know why he does it so often,

“I see, Michaels new student.”

“You know her papa,” I question.

“Yes, honey, how about you give her a nickname, then it will be special. This is something you can handle yourself Kylie. You are my daughter honey, I trust you.”

I sit up straight at the tone in his voice, my papa trusts me to handle this myself, I won't let him down.

“Okay papa, I gotta go, love ya.”

“Love you too honey.”

I jump off the couch, eyeing Dakota tapping her foot. I look at her face. Taking in her hair that is almost white with big dark brown eyes and skin so pale it hurts my vision,

“How about Snow, We can call you Snow, like Snow White.”

She frowns, “That's as bad as nameless geek, I don't even like fairy tales.”

I put my hands on my hips. Who doesn't like fairy tales, psssst? A smarty pants, I think.

“I'm just thinking loud, give me a break, gee,” I roll my eyes.

The front door opens and the voices down the hall perks me up.

Mama's home.

“Mama,” I yell.

It isn't long after when she walks into the lounge and I spot the shiny bracelets with all those stones she likes wearing.

I look at Dakota, who is gaping at mama because my mama is very pretty. I know that, I see it too, along with the entire world. Blonde hair, blue eyes and white thighs, mama is the perfect Southern Woman.

I resemble my papa, black hair and brown eyes. I never complain, looks ain't important to me. I prefer strength. Michael always says a strong mind is just as beautiful as a sharp face.

I clap my hands together, “How about Rock.” I am careful to speak better in front of my mama and drop the accent, famously known as the ‘Kylie Twang.’ My mama never wastes time giving me time out - by the wall.

“What are you talking about Kylie, come give me a hug.” My mama is wearing a grey suit today, she was helping Hector with his work this past week, because we’re all going to the L.A home for the holidays.

“I'm trying to give Dakota a nickname,” I say before I throw all my weight on her.

I'm tall but my mama catches me, giving me a big kiss smack on the lips,

“A nickname ha?” She asks.

Nodding, I smile when my mamas blue eyes quirk up in that way that makes Uncle Hector all mushy. “Yeah.”

Dakota's small voice steals my attention and I turn to face the five year old, “Rock is too boyish, I want a girls nickname.”

I scrunch my brows up in concentration, turning my head to look at my mama , and that's when I get it.

I scream,

“Diamond, Diamond.”

Moving out of my mamas arms I beam at Dakota, “Your name can be Diamond.”

She frowns before nodding and runs towards me, with open arms, “Diamond is good, really good, Kylie.”

I lift her up and we both fall down, laughing,

“We are so gonna be best friends.” When I say those words I don't know at the time how true they would be.

Together we ruled right through high school. There was nothing that could separate us, not even us. Who would have thought that a simple phone call would do what hundreds of others had failed. But even then distance makes the heart grow fonder, for us it gave us POWER.

KYLIE

Kylie

Ten years later

Washington

We all have our growing points, defining moments that shape us into who we become. Some take a ride on the wild side just doing whatever the hell they like.

Maybe it's car racing, hiking, sky diving, drugs, anything to feel that pulse losing rhythm.

The outcome can go two ways, addiction or death, but hey, we're born to die any way, might as well speed it up.

Others go through loss, that major kind, like their parents dying, sisters getting raped or brothers getting murdered just because they tried to be men and walked through that forbidden dark corner. The list goes on.

Those people take you to emotional levels most wouldn't even have nightmares about.

If you’re lucky enough and you love them, there is no passion greater than what they’ll give back to you.

No matter how dark that road you walk on.

Then there are people like ME, who never searched for the freedom of choice, who was never burned with the taste of death.

But one time in their life it all came crashing down and turned them into that soulless, jaded, ice cold being. Until they were unrecognizable but for the sins they scorched on this earth.

“Kylie, we going to be late,” Diamond screams, but it's not louder than her fist going to war on the door. Who knew she'll TURN into a banshee when I told her I’ll take her to the Catelli house.

My butt is glued to the edge of the bed.

I'm slipping on my white Prada shoes when her patience run out and she comes barging in like a princess on steroids.

Looking up I stare at my best friend since second grade as my black hair brushing my shoulders reminds me I'm due for a cut.

I always keep it short in the summer. The ends curl wildly in the morning, and I'm too darn lazy to iron it out every darn day.

My Grandma used to say, tame the tongue, smooth the hair, keep those fake smiles when needed because it’s only going to give you wrinkles and never forget to carry your boots.

“And I said we’ll get there when I'm ready, since when did bitchiness ever rhyme with Diamond,” I drawl.

Her brown eyes spark.

Blonde hair now two shades darker swishes along her lower back, as she puts a hand on her hip glaring at me,

“Since now and just because you have issues with your brother doesn't mean that I have to suffer, I want to see Ren. Who knows when I’ll see him again Kylie.”

Suppressing the urge to roll my eyes, I fail miserably.

I stand up to my now full six foot three inch frame after the added four inch custom made designer shoes I received as a gift from David last week and smirk,

“You saw him yesterday, and you are going to see him today, and most probably tomorrow and the next day.” Watching as her face cracks, I continue,

“And the next day, and probably the day after that and the..”

Diamond bursts into a fit of teenager giggles, hands in the air surrendering,

“Okay, enough, you got me, I get the point, bitchiness and me are a no go.”

Smiling at this small glimpse of the teenager girl that peeps out of my genius friend every blood moon,

I pick my clutch off the hotel bed. My mood lighter than it was five minutes ago.

The Stone Heart Palace hotel in Washington where we’re currently staying this weekend belongs to my brother, Michael.

He bought it for basically pocket change three years ago, and has since turned it over into the best hotel in Washington State using what he calls ‘Air energy’, and his impenetrable ‘lock n key’ computer program, that is basically controlled over voice.

Once you book a room, your voice becomes activated to that room for the length of your stay.

From the shower running to pre-ordering room service, it's all managed by voice command. Pretty cool and genius, but to Michael it's not perfect.

Because as he so publicly pointed out the down side to it was-

If you can't talk, you can't get the full experience.

Which brought the reason why Michael was inventing a system that worked from thought.

“Lights off, door open,” I order without raising my voice as I stride toward the white carved China (mainland) doors. Diamond's five foot eight inch frame walks ahead and her pearl glass nail polished finger tips keeps the door open for me.

Once the door is locked I turn to my young friend, who insisted wearing flats today, ready to ask the winning question, “Which of my brothers did you say was waiting downstairs again.”

Cringing, her lips thin, which isn't thin at all, since her lips have always looked overly plump,

“Vincent.”

Just kill me now. Out of all my brothers, Vincent is the worst one I could get stuck with tonight.

Normally they have turns watching us when we go on our rampage. It's the hard rule Diamond and I had no way out of when it came to leaving Liston Hills- our home town, eight months ago.

With Diamond’s dad facing charges on illegal fire arm possession and attempted murder, it was a no brain-er she stayed with me.

My dad was recently assigned with temporary custody of Diamond until her eighteenth birthday.

Due to Diamond's background and questionable family, my entire family worried about both of us and came up with the stupid idea that we get chaperoned at night.

My brothers don't trust bodyguards not to lie so they agreed to do it on their own.

Normally I have a few days to prepare my brain for which brother’s ass-hole-Ness I have to put up with. But not tonight, it's Michael's turn. Just thinking about him hurts.

I cried and begged for his forgiveness but all he ever said was, “In order for me to forgive you Kylie I would have to forget and that requires time.”

Though he said it over the phone I read his words for what he just refused to say - he would never forget, never forgive me.

The mere thought of my actions causes something in my stomach to churn.

Six months have past since that night, one hundred and eighty three days today since he called me Ky.

I couldn't blame him, I don't.

My fuck ups cost him Willow, his long time girlfriend, his true love.

The same woman he chose to propose to on the very day that I ruined it, on the night of my eighteenth birthday.

The obsidian floor length silk wrapping my body from my chest to toes blows to my right, outlining the shape of my toned thighs as Diamond and I leave The Palace in identical dresses.

Assaulted with the chill of the wind and the stench of car fumes my nerves rise with pinpricks of fear spotting the Bentley waiting right in the center of the pick up zone.