Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 81285 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81285 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Even if it meant selling my soul to the devil himself.
Davis looked completely unfazed when I said, “That guy beat the hell out of her.”
“Yeah, that was a real shame.”
“He could’ve killed her.”
“Don’t see what this has to do with me? I’m not the one who jacked her.”
“But you’re the one who set this thing up! You have to help her.”
“I don’t gotta do shit,” he snarled. “She knew the risk she was taking.”
“Did she?” I pushed. “Because I don’t think she had a clue what she was getting into… I think she believed you were a good guy who was giving her a chance to pay for her college. And now, look at you! You’re practically spitting in the poor girl’s face.”
“Look, I don’t know what you want from me.”
“I want you to help me find a way out of this.”
“The only way to do that is to come up with a hundred grand and come up with it fast.”
“There’s no way that’s going to happen.” I shook my head. “We don’t have that kind of money, and we don’t know anyone who does.”
His expression softened. It was only slightly, but it was enough for me to know I was getting to him. “Please. I’ll do anything.”
That got his attention.
His head tilted, and his eyes narrowed as he looked me up and down. “Now, that is something I can work with.”
He stepped into my space, so close I had to press my back against the porch railing. “I may have a way for you to get your sister out of this mess. It’ll take some maneuvering, but it can be done. You’ll have to do exactly what I say. No questions. No attitude.”
“Do I get to know anything about this plan of yours?”
“You get to know what I tell you. So, are you in or out?”
I should’ve thought about it. I should’ve at the very least questioned him about it. I should’ve done anything but nod. But that was exactly what I did. “I’m in.”
“Good girl.”
God. Just remembering the way he said it made my skin crawl.
The man was a true sociopath, and now, I was stuck with him.
My attention was drawn back up to the house when the front door flew open, and Davis came storming out. He climbed inside and slammed his door hard enough to make the entire truck shake. “Everything okay?”
He didn’t answer. He simply took out his phone and started texting someone. His fingers tapped on the glass like they were fighting in a war only he knew about. The screen lit up with a response, and after he read it, he tossed the phone into his console. “Damn it.”
He was clearly pissed, and even though it went against my better judgment, I couldn’t stop myself from asking, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Then, what are we doing here?” I let out a steady breath before asking, “Isn’t that your parents’ house?”
His eyes cut over to me, but he didn’t answer.
He just grumbled something under his breath, started the engine, and backed out of the drive. I didn’t really know much about Davis since we had been out of high school, but I didn’t think he was an actual threat. That was a mistake. It was an even bigger mistake when I pushed, “You have to tell me something. Like, seriously. Why am I here? What do you want from me?”
His jaw flexed once.
And then again.
Then, he turned his head slowly, and the look in his eyes made my blood run cold. “I want you to do what I fucking tell you, and I want you to do it without any fucking mouthing off or our deal’s off!”
My breath caught.
He leaned towards me as he snarled, “And then you’ll be on your own, and your sister will be as good as dead. Just try me!”
Everything in me froze.
The air in the truck suddenly felt thinner, like I couldn’t get enough oxygen to my lungs. I sank back in my seat and tried to settle my racing heart, but I was too far gone. I was terrified. I thought Davis was helping me. I didn’t expect him to throw out a threat like that.
I stole a quick glimpse at him, and I realized he was the same troublemaker I’d seen strutting through the halls of our high school, only worse. He might’ve looked the same, but that boy was long gone, and a more dangerous man had replaced him. And now I was stuck in this situation where he was in total control.
He held Lila Kate’s life in his hands.
And that meant he held mine, too.
3
GOOSE
To say I woke up on the wrong side of the bed was an understatement.
I was in a piss-poor mood, and it was getting worse by the second.
I hadn’t slept for shit, and now, I was stuck in church with all the brothers. The conference room was filled with all their chitter-chatter, clearing of throats, squeaking chairs, and clicking of pens, and it was more than I could take.