Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 103431 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 517(@200wpm)___ 414(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103431 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 517(@200wpm)___ 414(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
“Atlas, I need you to head to Scar’s. Now.” Redirecting her focus to me, she goes on, “I have a million and one questions. But he's on the way.”
“Thank you,” I whisper, emotion clogging my throat.
“No thanks needed. This is what friends do for each other, Scarlet.”
“Right.” I swipe away a rogue tear.
“Hey, you know what? I'm going to stay on the phone with you until he gets here, okay?”
Like an idiot, I nod again, and then hastily tack on. “Thanks, babe.”
“Is it dumb that I’m second guessing the theme for James’s party?” Nora asks, knowing any mention of her son will surely distract me.
“Yes. His party is literally weeks away. You’ve already sent the invitations.”
“I know.” She huffs. “God, I know. But he’s suddenly really into construction, and I saw some invitations online that said I dig being one with an excavator on it.”
“That is cute… but, babe, he won’t even remember it.”
She hums noncommittally before moving on to her the wedding and her upcoming her cake tasting.
I try to be a good friend and listen, but my mind is spinning. Why is this happening to me?
Finally, I hear the sound of Atlas's old truck rumbling as he pulls up. “He's here,” I say, interrupting her.
“Okay, good. If you need anything, I mean anything, Scarlet, you call me.”
“I will. I promise.” It pains me to lie to her, but the absolute last thing I want to do is drag her into my bullshit.
I'm expecting his scorn—or at least annoyance—when he hops out of his truck, but all he looks is concerned. “Are you okay?” he asks, his tone as gruff as ever.
I nod, wringing my hands together.
“Were you here when it happened?”
I roll my lips together and shake my head.
“You forget how to talk?”
“Um, no.” I train my gaze just on his chest. “I was...”
Ellis steps outside. “She was with me.”
“With you?” Atlas's eyes flare wide with surprise. “And you're both alive to tell the tale?”
“Ha ha. Funny,” I say, wrapping my arms around myself.
Ellis just shakes his head and turns to me. “I don't think you should go inside.”
“What?” I’m instantly on high alert. “Why?”
“Scarlet, please listen to me just this once and stay outside.”
“Absolutely not. This is my home. And I need to check on Fefe.”
“You mean the rodent in the pink cage? She's fine.”
“Do not disrespect the fluff,” I grumble, relief flooding my system. “But I still want to see her with my own eyes.”
“I understand, but I really don't think you should.”
“I appreciate all you're trying to do, but I didn't ask what you thought.” I square my shoulders and lift my chin. “I'm going in.”
“Stubborn ass woman,” Ellis mutters under his breath. “Fine, but don't say I didn't warn you.” He turns to Atlas. “You think you can call the cops?”
I freeze in place. “The cops? I figured we'd just go by the police department like last time.”
“What in the hell do you mean by like last time?” Atlas glares at us through slitted eyes. “Y'all have a lot to explain.”
Ellis glances down at his feet, guilt clearly written across his face. “Yeah, man. We do. But let's take care of this first, yeah?”
Atlas grunts but agrees. “Guess I'm calling the cops.”
I shoulder past Ellis, hell-bent on seeing everything he doesn't want me to.
“Scar...” He heaves out a resigned sigh and steps out of my way. “At least let me come with you.”
How bad could it really be? “Fine.”
I stop short the second I cross the threshold. It’s so much worse than anything I ever could have imagined. The meal from last night has been tossed all over my kitchen. It's smeared across the table, the wall, and the floor. My couch is flipped on its side, and my throw pillows are scattered around the room. My TV screen is shattered, like someone beat it with a baseball bat.
Unsteady and shaking, I venture in further. “Who would do this? I croak, trying like hell not to cry.
Ellis squeezes my shoulder, offering me silent comfort before adding, “I don't know, Princess, but we're damn sure gonna figure it out. Have you seen enough?”
In all honesty, I have. In my heart of hearts, I know no good will come from me venturing into the bedroom. But my own morbid curiosity outweighs my fear. “I can handle it.”
I step into my bedroom and double over as the sight I'm met with hits me like a freight train.
My mattress is shredded. Blankets and pillows, too. My clothes are tossed all around the room, most destroyed.
But it’s the big, dripping red letters on the wall that truly stop me in my tracks.
I didn’t take you for a whore, Petal. Don’t you know? You belong to me.
“Fuck.” My heart beats wildly in my chest as I sway on my feet.
“Hey,” Ellis says, stepping up behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist. My head lolls back onto his shoulder as he instructs me. “Just breathe, deep breaths, like this.” He inhales deeply and holds it, before releasing it slowly. “In through your nose, out through your mouth.”