Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 90026 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 450(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90026 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 450(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
Riley and I start bouncing kitten names back and forth. The men only sit quietly. Every now and then, Abel will pull out his phone and check something before putting it away again. He seems like he’s on edge, which is weird being that he knows Nikolai.
“Does anyone want to talk about what happened?” I pose this question as I place the last of the food on the kitchen island. Everyone starts to make a plate. Abel doesn’t have a dining room table, but there are enough chairs for everyone to eat here. Riley and Nikolai glance over at Abel. “What is going on?” There is this weird tension. “Did something bad happen?”
“Here.” Abel plucks me from my chair, placing me on his lap. Nikolai looks at Abel like he’s grown a second head.
“Tell me,” I push. I don’t like the feeling of being left out. I’ve gotten enough of that in life. I don’t want that with Abel. With Riley either; she’s my friend.
“Your father isn’t a good man, Angel.”
"I know that." I let out a sarcastic laugh. Are any politicians?
“Neither is your brother,” Riley adds.
“Yeah, I know that too.” My brother has had a fascination with Riley since she started at our school. She was new but also wouldn’t give him the time of day. That isn’t something he’s used to.
"I really don't believe you fucking do." Nikolai says this, shaking his head. Oddly, if you were to look at my brother and Nikolai next to each other, you’d think Nikolai to be the more likely to be a jerk. He’s always in all black and covered in tattoos.
“Watch your tone when you’re talking to her.” Abel levels Nikolai with a stare. I lean back into Abel, enjoying having someone stand up for me. I’ve never really had that before. He’s taking watching over me very seriously, but I pray it’s more than that. His arm around me tightens.
“Your brother attacked me,” Riley cuts in, diverting everyone's attention to her.
“What!” I gasp at Riley.
“Don’t forget the sick-in-the-head girlfriend.” Nikolai adds.
“Becky?! What the hell? Like together they attacked you?” I knew Becky had it out for Riley, but I'm shocked she went after her again after Nikolai nearly choked her to death the last time. I mean, how dumb can a person be?
“Look at me.” Abel draws my attention to him. “Your brother and his girlfriend like to play sick games with people. Especially with young girls.” Oh God. My stomach turns. Their relationship has always been odd.
“How sick?” I swallow. In the back of my mind, I know how he can be. I grew up with him. He was my twin, but he always gave me a creepy feeling. He found pleasure in frightening me. I started to believe he enjoyed hearing me scream.
“As sick as you can imagine.”
“Think Barbie and Ken turned killer,” Nikolai fills in. Tears sting in my eyes.
“And they went after you?” Riley nods her head. “I’m so sorry,” I whisper. “Is that what happened yesterday?” She nods her head yes again. “This is all my fault. I’m so sorry. I lured you right to them.” Guilt forms in the pit of my belly.
“Hey.” Riley reaches over and grabs my hand. “This isn’t on you.”
"It's kind of because of you that we figured this out." Nikolai takes a bite of his food. Obviously, talking about people being killers and God knows what else is not affecting his appetite. While I’ve lost mine completely.
“What do you mean?” I question. Nikolai only takes another bite of his food, avoiding giving me an answer.
“I found out,” Abel finally says. “When I was digging around.”
“Digging around?” I’m so confused. What was Abel digging around for?
“We look into anyone that might be close to our circle.” This time Nikolai answers.
“Hold on.” Abel stands, placing me in his chair, and leaves the kitchen. Riley gives me a sad smile. He comes back a few minutes later with some pictures. “All missing and connected to your brother and his girlfriend.” Abel places some photos in front of me. I swipe at the tears that run down my cheeks.
“So, then what? Did he get arrested or what?” I close my eyes. “Please don’t tell me that my father got him off or something.” I could see that. This would be so bad for my father’s reputation. If my brother is some sicko and the news of what he did got out, I’m sure my father’s days in politics would be over.
“Not yet.” Abel speaks softly, like he's trying not to spook me.
“Not yet!” I jump up from my seat. “Then, where is my brother?”
“We don’t know.” Nikolai's words drip with anger.
“I’m sure my brother-in-law knows where he is.” Riley tries to calm everyone down.
“Wait. Why would he know?” They all look at me as though I’ve just asked the most ridiculous question they’ve ever heard.