Haunting-Adeline
“My two favorite people,” Mark greets loudly, a lit cigar poised betweenhis fingers and a glass of amber liquid in the crystal cup dangling in hisother hand.He looks drunk. His ruddy face is flushed red, and his eyes have begun toglaze over a bit.“Please, sit,” he directs, poin ng to the plush leather couch beside hisdesk.Zade and I take a seat, and the two men immediately engage in aconversa on about the party. I add my two cents in when required, no nghow beau ful the chandeliers are and the fascina ng ar facts decora nghis house.He beams at the compliment, a smile stretching across his face.“All thanks to my wife, of course. She does enjoy spending my money,and if decora ng this house is what keeps her happy, then I can live withthat,” he jests. His tone is joyful, but the words are condescending andmeant to be an a ack.“I’m sure you know how much the ladies love our money, huh, Zack?”And there’s the cherry on top of his sundae of misogyny. I bet his sundaetaste like bruised skin and a bleeding heart.Zade smiles, the act nearly primal and ripe with danger. “Small price topay when they give us something so priceless every day. And if you ask me,I’d tell you I’m not worthy of it, but I’m a selfish bastard and will accept itanyways,” he answers cryp cally. I don’t know how I know, but I knowexactly what he’s speaking of.Love.Love is priceless. As Mark’s nefarious dealings have proven, pussy can bebought and is plen ful, whether they’re forcing it or ge ng consent. Anddespite all the ways Zade has forced me to my knees for him, the only thinghe’s ever really wanted from me is to return his addic on. Because that’sthe one thing he can’t take or force.He can force my body to succumb to him, but he can’t force my heart tobeat for him.And ironically, it seems that’s the one thing he wants most from me.Mark takes it the direc on most men would. He laughs and offers me awink, as if he knows without a doubt how priceless my pussy might be. But
if I had to guess on what type of man Mark is, he’d put a price on me in aheartbeat.“I know exactly what you mean,” he chortles.Do you, asshole?I shrug a shoulder. "I think you're the lucky one, Mark. One look at Claire,and you can see she is a strong, capable woman. Those are the mostdangerous." I add in a wink, but I know it's falling on deaf ears. Mark is toocomfortable in the patriarchy to consider that Claire might not shove aknife through his neck while sleeping one night.Mark scoffs, but he takes the hint and shuts his mouth. At least he's notdense enough to feel the plumme ng mood.Zade appears relaxed and collected, but I know that beast in his soul ispacing back and forth, just wai ng to be set loose. I can tell by the subtleflexing of his fist, and that way his smile appears threatening and feral. Ican just feel the energy radia ng off of him despite the serenity he exudes.Why does Zade wan ng to kill a man over a sleazy comment most menwould say make me want to repeat the favor he stole from me in mydriveway? This me I’d be much more… willing.I hate him.“So, Adeline, about your great-grandmother. Gigi was a beau fulwoman. Even as a li le boy, I remember that clearly,” he con nues.Climbing a mountain would take less energy than what it does to keepmy eyes from rolling at his remark.That would be something Mark latched onto. Gigi was beau ful, but whothe fuck cares about personali es, right?I clear my throat and paste on a smile. “Yes, she was.”Mark ps his head back, seeming to retreat into a memory. “Yeah, Iremember her signature red lips. Don’t think I ever saw her without thatlips ck on.”“Do you remember anything about her murder?” I ask, trying to keepthe hope at bay.“I remember how absolutely devastated John was when he found her.Was in near hysterics, and it took my father hours to calm him downenough to tell him what happened.”“You said your father thought it was John, but do you think it could’vebeen anyone else?” I press. I already know my great-grandfather freaked
- Page 236 and 237: I’ll never tell him how glorious
- Page 238 and 239: When the last bit of cum drops from
- Page 241 and 242: Chapter 22The Shadowy li le mouse d
- Page 243 and 244: As Mark drones on about some bill h
- Page 245 and 246: “S’all good,” I say calmly, s
- Page 247 and 248: Addie shakes her head, closing her
- Page 249 and 250: “Oh, I know that case!” Mark ex
- Page 251 and 252: Sighing, I push out of my chair and
- Page 253 and 254: wild with hunger. I’m ravenous an
- Page 255 and 256: I frown. “What makes you think he
- Page 257 and 258: Zade picks me up in a classic Musta
- Page 259 and 260: “The hell are you doing, Zade?”
- Page 261 and 262: I glare up at him, tears s ll linin
- Page 263 and 264: Oh, what a fine gentleman you’re
- Page 265 and 266: Ugh. The arrogance.His face turns s
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- Page 270 and 271: downright boring.The inside is even
- Page 272 and 273: another senator. I guess the story
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- Page 277 and 278: The girl gets off on fear. The mome
- Page 279 and 280: “If you were my li le girl, I wou
- Page 281 and 282: I groan, the feel of her ass diggin
- Page 283 and 284: Releasing her face, my hand dri s t
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- Page 291 and 292: told John he didn’t give a shit w
- Page 293 and 294: I open my mouth, ready to pry, but
- Page 295 and 296: “Because you’re not listening.
- Page 297 and 298: "You trauma zed me."He leans down a
- Page 299 and 300: “Or what?” he challenges. I sig
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- Page 304 and 305: worse and probably end up leaving.
- Page 306 and 307: me. He makes it a point to stay on
- Page 308 and 309: My phone vibrates in my hand, and I
- Page 310 and 311: “How did you even come into conta
- Page 312 and 313: preparing for it.“He hasn’t sai
- Page 314 and 315: “How can you even choose?” Daya
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- Page 322 and 323: “Loca on?” Jay asks, keyboard c
- Page 324 and 325: Walking into this house feels like
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- Page 328 and 329: Mark tries to brush off my story wi
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- Page 334 and 335: Another growl pings through my mout
if I had to guess on what type of man Mark is, he’d put a price on me in a
heartbeat.
“I know exactly what you mean,” he chortles.
Do you, asshole?
I shrug a shoulder. "I think you're the lucky one, Mark. One look at Claire,
and you can see she is a strong, capable woman. Those are the most
dangerous." I add in a wink, but I know it's falling on deaf ears. Mark is too
comfortable in the patriarchy to consider that Claire might not shove a
knife through his neck while sleeping one night.
Mark scoffs, but he takes the hint and shuts his mouth. At least he's not
dense enough to feel the plumme ng mood.
Zade appears relaxed and collected, but I know that beast in his soul is
pacing back and forth, just wai ng to be set loose. I can tell by the subtle
flexing of his fist, and that way his smile appears threatening and feral. I
can just feel the energy radia ng off of him despite the serenity he exudes.
Why does Zade wan ng to kill a man over a sleazy comment most men
would say make me want to repeat the favor he stole from me in my
driveway? This me I’d be much more… willing.
I hate him.
“So, Adeline, about your great-grandmother. Gigi was a beau ful
woman. Even as a li le boy, I remember that clearly,” he con nues.
Climbing a mountain would take less energy than what it does to keep
my eyes from rolling at his remark.
That would be something Mark latched onto. Gigi was beau ful, but who
the fuck cares about personali es, right?
I clear my throat and paste on a smile. “Yes, she was.”
Mark ps his head back, seeming to retreat into a memory. “Yeah, I
remember her signature red lips. Don’t think I ever saw her without that
lips ck on.”
“Do you remember anything about her murder?” I ask, trying to keep
the hope at bay.
“I remember how absolutely devastated John was when he found her.
Was in near hysterics, and it took my father hours to calm him down
enough to tell him what happened.”
“You said your father thought it was John, but do you think it could’ve
been anyone else?” I press. I already know my great-grandfather freaked
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