Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 54059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 270(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 270(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
“Let me get your number.” I pull out my phone and save hers before I head out.
I call my mom to check in as I make my way to the diner. No one gave up their shifts for me to snag, but I am going to grab my check. It’s not big—most of our pay comes from tips—but I’ll take what I can get.
Mom sounds good when I talk to her, telling me that the counseling is nice and she has things she needs to work through. I can only imagine. She’s been through a lot in her life, having me so young. I often think we grew up together, more like friends than mother and daughter.
After I'm done, I head to the library like normal, checking on a few programs I applied for. I’m killing time more than anything. I keep checking my phone, but no text comes from Niki, which isn’t normal. Maybe he’s busy catching up on stuff. I mean, he has been spending most of his time with me recently. I’m sure he has stuff to do.
When the library closes, I linger out front, thinking Niki will show, but he doesn’t. I try calling his phone, but it goes straight to voicemail. Instead of going home, I head toward Bam and Niki’s place. I don’t have a clue where his mom and sister live. I can’t help the worry that has settled in my stomach. This is so unlike him not to be around.
I knock, and Bam answers the door. “Hey.” I let out a sigh of relief. Bam and Niki are always together, and from Bam’s messy hair and partly closed eyes, I think he was napping, and maybe Niki is doing the same.
“Sup.” He nods his chin at me.
“Is Niki here?”
Bam rubs his eyes with the back of his hands. “I thought he was with you. I worked solo today.”
“I haven’t heard from him since this morning. Could he be with his mom and sister?”
That wakes Bam up. He reaches into his pocket, pulling out his phone. He steps back so I can enter, closing the door behind me.
Bam starts tapping away on his phone before making calls. I wring my hands together. As I see Bam start to get worried, my own grows. This is not good, but panicking isn’t going to help the situation.
“Shit.” He ends another call. “No one has seen him.”
“Bam—” I’m trying not to have a total meltdown here.
"What caused the bruise on your hand?"
“What?” I cover it. These men notice everything. “You think I hit Niki?”
“No.” He shakes his head at me. “But I’m guessing he’s not happy about that bruise, so how did you get it?”
“Oh God.”
“Out with it,” Bam orders, his normal playful demeanor gone. No, this is that other side of him. The one Niki has when needed. I watched it take over that night outside the diner.
“Rico,” I say before spilling the whole story about what went down at the strip club.
“Then that’s where he is.” Bam grabs his keys off the table.
“I’m coming with you,” I tell him before he can tell me to stay here.
“No.”
“You’ll have to tie me up, or I’m following you.”
Bam debates this for half a second. “Fine, but if shit goes sideways, you stand back, and if I’m losing, you run. Got it?” I nod. “Words, Andy,” he barks.
“Got it,” I agree before we’re both heading out the door together.
I’m as scared as I have ever been in my whole life, but I know that is not going to help Niki, so I keep it together the best I can. But if something happened to him, I’m not sure I could ever forgive myself.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
NIKI
Awhistle wakes me up. I bolt to my feet, hands up in front of my face.
“Sleeping Beauty decided to join us. Told you food was the key.” Bam’s voice penetrates a fog in my head.
I give myself a shake and then tap one side of my skull as if I can thump loose the cotton between my ears. “Something wrong with my hearing. Can barely make out what you’re saying. Plus, you’re blurry.” I squint in the direction of Bam—or what seems like his direction. There are two figures standing by the stove. One of them looks vaguely girl-shaped. I sniff. Smells like Andy, too.
“You almost got your skull knocked six ways to Sunday by a baseball bat. It’s a miracle you were able to get an arm up to block it and even a bigger miracle that your arm isn’t busted. From what all we can figure out, the blow knocked you backward where you hit your head and lost consciousness. They decided to dump you in the river. Can you make it to the table by yourself, or do you need help, Grandpa?” Bam’s words are mocking, but there’s a hint of concern under all those jabs.