Total pages in book: 193
Estimated words: 184001 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 920(@200wpm)___ 736(@250wpm)___ 613(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 184001 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 920(@200wpm)___ 736(@250wpm)___ 613(@300wpm)
“I know your brain needs time to heal, but I’m begging you, brother. Please wake up soon. I miss you. Zeke misses you. And the food in this hospital tastes like shit.”
Hearing the devastation in Khalil’s voice and fearing that this time I might push him beyond repair, I start sprinting again, running toward that light that will take me back to them, only this time… I don’t give up.
AURELIA
I’m in the studio for the fifth time this week recording a new track with Houston and Rich’s help when Loren comes in and signals for me to come out. Since I’m almost done and I’m in love with the take, I finish the recording before I remove the headphones and leave the booth.
“What’s up?” I ask once I’m standing in front of him.
Houston already has Braxton on his lap, and they’re making out like I’m not even here. They’re kissing like they’re two seconds from fucking.
“You have a visitor. Oni’s here too, but she’s meeting with Braxton first as soon as Houston takes his tongue out of her mouth and remembers that we’re working. You’re up next, kiddo.” Overhearing, Braxton ends the kiss and curses before rushing out of the room. Technically, Oni was Braxton’s manager. Houston, Loren, and Jericho already had their own powerhouse in Xavier Gray when Brax joined Bound, so Oni and Xavier decided to shake hands and join forces, sharing custody of the band.
“Who is it?”
“I’m not allowed to say,” he says with a sniff. “It would ruin the surprise.”
Rolling my eyes, I follow Loren out of the studio with a frown and up the stairs until I’m on the ground floor, staring down at a familiar face that I never thought I’d see again. On the outside, he looks the same—deep dark skin and military stance complete with crew cut and disconnected goatee. But his eyes are different. My former bodyguard used to have expressive brown eyes filled with warmth. They’re shuttered now.
“Tyler?” I gasp, seeing but not believing that my old bodyguard is really there. He looks good. Different, but good. He looks like he made it out in one piece even though I know that isn’t true.
“It’s really you,” we both say at the same time.
“Aww, how cute,” Loren says with a sarcastic smile.
Ignoring the bassist, who quickly makes himself scarce inside another of the many rooms, I take one step toward Tyler before I give up the pretense to rush forward and throw my arms around his neck. “You’re alive,” I say tearfully.
Even though I can see that he is, I still need Tyler to confirm it.
I feel his large hands fall on my back, one of them caressing my spine consolingly. “I’m alive. And so are you. I heard but I didn’t believe it until now. When I saw the news, I thought it was a cruel joke, especially when no one had reported seeing you since.”
“Bound took me in. I’ve been hiding out here.”
“All this time?” he says, sounding slightly hopeful.
“No,” I let him go and take a few steps away. “I’ve only been back for a couple of months.”
Now he just looks horrified, imagining all the horrors I’ve endured. I almost tell him about them. About the cabin and the men who gave me a home, but I don’t because I can’t talk about any of it without spiraling.
Loren returns to the hallway where Tyler and I are still standing and I almost laugh when I see him awkwardly holding a platter of sugar cookies. Loren was a trust fund baby who decided to forsake his family’s money and make it on his own, but he was still a silver-spoon kid at his core. He’s also ridiculously pretty and groomed to the gods. I’ve even heard Braxton call him princess a few times. “Come along, children. I have refreshments.”
We follow him into the living room where he sets the cookies on the table. There is already water, tea, milk, and coffee waiting. He quickly leaves us alone when he hears Coda awakening from his nap with a cry.
“So are you okay?” Tyler inquires softly.
“Am I o Tyler… I should be asking you that. I am so sorry about your leg. About everything. If I could take it all back—”
“But you can’t, Aurelia,” he interrupts before covering my hand with his. “And I don’t need you to. The crash wasn’t your fault, and neither was the avalanche. You can’t carry that with you forever, even though I know you’ll try. Besides, it’s just a leg, and this new one isn’t so bad.” He pats the prosthetic hidden under his jeans with a grim smile. “It could have been a lot worse if search and rescue hadn’t found me when they did.” Tyler swears and shakes his head as if warding off the memories. “I just wish they could have found you too.”