Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
“I—” The explanation freezes on the tip of my tongue. I’m unsure if telling her might put her in danger, which is the last thing I want to do.
“Don’t tell me. It’s fine. I get it. But please, tell me you’re okay.”
“I’m good,” I assure her. “What did Dad say?”
She clasps her hand around mine and pulls me into the house. It’s getting late, and the sun is starting to set. I didn’t think I could be more tired than last night, but somehow, I am.
“He told me to grab you and take you as far away from this place and from those men as possible.” She shuts the front door behind me and locks it. I see a gun sitting on the table next to the door, and I cringe.
I held one like it in the forest.
“It’s for protection,” she says when she notices me eyeing the weapon.
“You’d use it?”
“To protect you, you bet your bottom dollar I would.” She nods with assurance. “Now, come in and let me feed you. You look sick.”
“I’m tired. Do you think you can drive me home?”
“Where is your car?” she asks. “You came in an Uber.”
“I didn’t want to worry you, but I need to buy a new car. Mine… broke down.” I shrug.
“Why do I feel like you’re lying?” Linda shakes her head. “It’s fine. You tell me what you are comfortable telling me, and that’s it. I’ll take whatever you give me.” I feel bad all of a sudden. “By the way, your ex came around today looking for you.”
I freeze at the information, my brows drawing together solidly. “Deven came here?”
“Vile creature, that one. When I told him to get lost, he sneered at me and said I was trash. That’s why you weren’t allowed to see me.”
“I’m sorry. He’s the trash.”
“Yeah, I know that.”
She smiles, goes to her bedroom, and comes out with her keys.
“Please, stay, just for a night. You look tired, and I want to make sure you’re safe.” A part of me wants to go home, while the other wants to sleep. “The bed is made. I’ll take you home tomorrow.”
I nod at her words, and before I know it, the next morning, she’s at my door when I open my eyes. “What would you like to eat?”
“Nothing. But thank you.”
Her cell starts ringing, and she smiles at me when she sees who it is. “It’s your father.”
“Don’t tell him I’m here. Tell him I’m at home and that I am safe.”
“You don’t want to speak to him?”
“No.” My head is too muddled to deal with him on top of everything else.
I just want to be home.
She puts the call on speakerphone, and I hear my dad ask, “Linda, have you heard from her?”
“Yes, Keenan, she’s home and safe.” She winks at me.
“She’s safe?” He sounds almost relieved. “You’ll keep a close eye on her for me?”
“Yes, I’m going back to see her soon. Just grabbing her some food.”
“Why doesn’t she have any food?” he asks in a panic.
Linda looks at me with wide eyes. “Oh, she does. She wanted some soup.”
“Does she not have soup at home?”
“Keenan, do you want me to give her a message, or would you like to interrogate me?” She huffs, and I manage a faint smile.
He sighs, and I can tell how much they love each other. He told her they’d stick together through thick and thin, and I’m not sure many other family members would do that. Even though my relationship with her is still rocky, I can clearly tell she loves me.
“Just tell her to visit me, please. I need to speak to her.”
“Will do,” she says before they say their goodbyes and hang up. “Let’s go. Do you need anything before I take you home?”
“I need something to break into my place… I don’t have my keys.”
“Do I want to know why?” I shake my head, averting my gaze. “Okay, well, I’m sure I can break in. I’ve done it once or twice before.” She winks.
“Excuse you?”
“What? Before I took you in, I was a bit of a rebel. It’s why I fell for Tuck so hard,” she says in a soft voice. “Anyway, let’s go and break into your place.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
My cell rings a few times on the car ride to my place, but I don’t have the energy to deal with anyone right now. I need to be holed up in my room for a long while and not leave. I’ll have to call into work and say I’m sick, which they may fire me for because I haven’t had the job for long, and it’s not like I can continue with my subscription service selling videos and photos right now since Reon got it taken down. But I’m willing to take my chances. It’s not like I need the money to pay for the apartment—it’s already paid off—but I do need money for everyday things.