Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 54343 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 272(@200wpm)___ 217(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54343 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 272(@200wpm)___ 217(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
“I’m sorry you felt that way,” Street said, running his fingers through her hair. “If some insider knowledge makes you feel any better, Pirate texted that the police ticketed eleven of the Ravagers. While I’m sure most probably already had a record with the police, their list of crimes just got longer. We won’t know about it, but a judge is going to take all those offenses into consideration someday and throw the book at them.”
“Not soon enough,” Rosa said.
“Probably not.” Street rubbed her spine reassuringly. “For us, we got out of the traffic jam without the Ravagers seeing you. I’m sure they think you’ve skipped town and aren’t looking for you.”
“I don’t like cowering. You know—in the car but also sheltering in the Devil Daddies’ territory.”
“Are you hiding here, or have you moved on with your life?” Razor asked, meeting Rosa’s gaze directly. When she didn’t answer immediately, he told her Daddy, “Street, this is a surface burn. Keep some of this medicine on the blistered flesh to ease the soreness.”
She thought about Razor’s question for a minute as the MC doctor dabbed burn cream on her finger. Her entire world had changed incredibly over the last weeks since she’d risked warning Street in that bar. She’d worked at that awful job and rented a horrendous room. Back then, having friends was virtually impossible. She’d worked as much as possible to survive. Even if she’d had free time, Rosa wouldn’t have had money to do anything.
Clearing her throat, she broke the silence in the room. “Well… I hadn’t thought of living here like that. Here I have wonderful people to enjoy and opportunities. I have Daddy and my new friends. I like my classes and the other students. Inferno is a blast. Street’s house is amazing,” Rosa said.
“I’m glad you’re happy, Rosa,” Street told her.
“I am.” Rosa studied Razor as he bandaged her finger again. “You’re pretty good at helping people think through things.”
“I just ask questions. You’re the one that did all the tough work,” Razor said as he fastened the gauze with smiley face tape. “Have you thought about coming to talk to me about your childhood?”
“I don’t know if I want to remember all that unhappiness.”
“You’ll never decide to put the past behind you fully if you don’t deal with the trauma.”
Razor’s quiet statement made a lot of sense. Still, Rosa didn’t want to think about the past. “I’m scared, Razor. Maybe I’m all fucked up because I did something awful that I don’t remember. My mom had to choose her new family over me for a reason.”
“Dinorosa…,” Street began but fell silent as Razor interrupted.
“Perhaps you made a mistake,” Razor agreed. “But you were a kid and kids should get a chance to fix things. Or maybe you were totally innocent of any bad moves and someone else is the bad guy or girl? Perhaps it’s time to take back your power. You know…. If you’re interested.”
Hope blossomed inside Rosa. Every day, fear lived inside her that Street would realize that she was no good. Street never looked at Rosa or treated her as if she were a problem or too much work. He enjoyed spending time with her and taking care of her.
“Could we try talking? Maybe next week.”
“Your Daddy is going to walk over to Inferno and get you a milkshake because I’m afraid your blood sugar is low after your encounter with the Ravagers. What would you like most? Chocolate? Strawberry?” Razor asked.
“I can go too,” Rosa suggested, sitting up straight eagerly.
“How about you stay and chat to me for a few minutes? Let’s get started before those worries flitting around in your brain scare you.”
Rosa met Street’s gaze, silently pleading for him to whisk her away. Her best “get me out of this” look failed when he suggested, “How about if I jog over there, Dinorosa?”
“Check out the power you have, Rosa. Your Daddy never moves that fast. We could time him,” Razor joked.
“Okay. I guess I can answer a few questions. If you think remembering will help,” she said.
“Tell me when to go, Little girl,” Street said, waving at the large clock in the exam room.
She waited until the second hand reached the twelve and said, “Go, Daddy. Chocolate.”
“On my way!” He took off, running out of the exam room. His boots skidded on the tile floor, leaving black marks.
Razor stood and rubbed the bottom of his sneakers over the closest mark. When he lifted his foot, the black spot had disappeared. “My own erasers. In the next remodel, I’ll ask for a black floor. Want to hop down and get rid of that one?” he asked, pointing at a long streak.
“Sure,” Rosa agreed and slid to stand on the floor.
“What’s your favorite memory from your childhood?” he asked as she worked to erase the tracks.