The Entitled (The Entitled Duet #1) - Cassandra Robbins Page 0,65

care. This is what I’ve become. If he has moved on, I need to know. “Please,” I beg, knowing I sound pathetic.

“Don’t ask this of me. I want to cut off his dick—not spy!” That makes me giggle. Unfortunately it turns into sobbing.

“Don’t cry, Tess. You’re killing me. He’s not worth this fucking agony.”

“Please, Brance… I need to know.”

“Fine,” he snaps. “Put Lana on. I’ll see you in a week.”

“You will? You will spy for me?”

“Jesus, Tess, don’t make me repeat it.”

If I had any pride left, I would try to pretend. But I’m a shell of my former self. And having Brance spy makes me feel better.

“Love you, Brance.”

“Love you too, Pretty Girl.”

I put the phone in Lana’s outstretched hand. She spins on her heels and walks into another room.

Taking a deep breath, I pour out my cold coffee and get myself a fresh one. I fish around for the Advil, locating it behind the sugar. I take three, wondering if I should take a Valium too. Lana walks back into the kitchen, eyeing me as if I’m an unknown species.

“So, first stop, phone. Then lunch, then shopping?” She claps her hands.

I snort. “Lana, I love you, and I appreciate everything you have done for me. But there is no way I’m leaving the flat today,” I say, pulling my wet hair on top of my head in a messy bun.

She looks at me from top to bottom. “You’re right.”

Surprised, I drop my hands.

She smiles. “First phone, then spa, then lunch or dinner depending on how much time we need to put you back together.”

Sighing, I’m relieved. The thought of letting someone else make all my decisions always appeals to me, especially today.

“Finish your coffee. I’ll get us appointments. Meet you in ten.”

I shake my head at her. “Whatever. I don’t have the energy to fight you.”

“I know.” She gives me a sassy look.

I can’t help but admire slash be jealous of Lana. From the moment my dad introduced us, she seemed more like a sister than my dad’s girlfriend. I remember being so angry at my father that horrible day. And completely dumbfounded at Svetlana. She was cooking stir fry in her five-inch heels and wearing Versace. I wanted to hate her; after all, she should be my enemy. But she smiled at my father with true affection, then turned the full force of herself on me. Her charm and strength are like catnip to a cat. With her height and killer legs, she’s everything my mother dreamed of being. Not to mention she is a natural blonde and stick skinny. Sure, she pumps up her lips, and her breasts are fake, but she wears it well. Everything about Lana screams classy. She’s my best friend—I mean best girlfriend. Brance will always hold the spot as true bestie. I don’t know how I would have survived the last year and a half without her.

Apparently, Svetlana feels the same way about me. She is my biggest advocate with everyone, including my dad. It doesn’t matter that we came from completely different worlds. She’s the first to own her past. Not embarrassed of it at all. Her parents are dirt poor from Moscow. She used her looks and long legs, to catch the eye of one of the head mafia leaders, becoming his girlfriend at sixteen. Although, she is a little fuzzy on how she ended up with my dad. All she says is she wanted him and so far, she seems to have gotten him.

Looking at my reflection in the glass cabinet door, I don’t recognize the girl staring back at me. I close my eyes, shutting her out. This girl doesn’t belong to Reed Saddington. How will I ever survive? I guess I’m going to have to find out who this Tess Gallagher is. The tears want to come. Instead I walk out the door and make my way to our private car. New phone for a new Tess. Maybe I’m not as weak as I think.

REED

Past – seventeen years old

New York, NY

“Christ,” I groan, rolling over. My eyes try to focus. The room is slightly spinning. Lying on my back, I look over at the naked brunette.

Rubbing my hands over my face, I feel my cock start to wake up. With the amount of alcohol and coke, my mouth feels like a dead rat slunk through it.

Sitting up, I swing my legs over. I’m in a hotel, a suite. It all comes flooding back to me like