Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 66997 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66997 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
He trips over himself and runs out the door. The smell of piss leaves with him, right along with the smell of fear.
I sigh and turn toward Lilah. “You’re welcome.”
“I didn’t ask for your help.” She’s already crossed her arms, putting a visual barrier between us that says don’t touch. Her eyes are locked on mine but I can tell she’s nervous with the way she bites down on her bottom lip. It’s not meant to be enticing but I wonder if she’s biting hard enough to bleed and then I’m wondering if it would taste metallic or like a mixture of blood and the way she used to taste—the one and only time I crossed the line.
I clear my throat. “Yeah well he was one bad choice away from entering your apartment and trying to force his sad excuse for a dick near your lady parts, so, again, you’re welcome.”
Her eyes flash. “Why are you really here? Stalking me now?”
“Don’t flatter yourself.” I grin amused she’d think I would waste my time. “I’m the reason you pay only eight hundred a month instead of twelve.” I hold out my hand. “I’m your new neighbor and well, old landlord I guess.”
And I’ve been her landlord since she moved her since I first searched for her and discovered she wasn’t even really hiding but still being controlled by tiny little strings she didn’t even know existed thanks to my family, my dad, what we owned, and who we owned. It just proved yet again that she was the same person who would smile while holding a knife in one hand and your heart in the other. Nothing had changed and it was important I remember that. The same girl that I trusted with every piece of my soul was nothing more than a pawn in a game she had no idea she was even a part of. I just needed to find out the truth, that’s it. Then I was out. Out of her life, free from mine, free from the constant reminders. Maybe I’d go overseas. Shit, maybe I’d just take a vacation after the hell I’ve been through but I have better things to do than watch her.
Realization hits her in waves, first her mouth drops open, then all the blood leaves her face, and finally she braces her hand across the doorframe. Beautiful. All of it. I wish I could take a picture of the shock on her face. I dreamed of this face, of the wide eyes and parted lips so many fucking times. “Y-you you own the building?”
“And several others.” I add in as pleasure slams into me. “My family’s rich, nothing’s changed.”
Her eyes narrow. "Then why are you here? How are you alive? I’m so confused right now. I keep thinking that maybe you’re a ghost.”
“Alive?” I burst out laughing. “Are you insane? I mean, yeah, prison almost killed me, but I’m not that weak. As far as being here, let’s just say I got bored."
Complete lie. I haven’t been bored in seven fucking years.
"What about before?" She whispers. Why the hell is she shaking? “The, the funeral.”
"Hell no. You do not get to talk about the funeral. Not now. Not ever...” Rage courses through me. I don’t talk about it. Nobody talks about it, least of all her. It’s because of her!
She swallows hard. “After everything…”
"After…" I repeat. “Are you doing this on purpose? Acting like you don’t know?”
Funny how she can't even say it. After. Shit. I can’t even believe we’re having this conversation right now. I saw it going a bit different but okay, I’ll bite. I lean in closer. “After prison you mean?”
The blood leaves her face completely. “I don’t understand, you said prison, you never went to prison.”
"There it is." I clench my teeth.
Her breathing stutters. “What did you just say?”
I laugh. It's not a pleasant sound. It’s full of pain, drenched in anger. “What? Nobody filled you in?”
“Jude—”
“You testified,” I remind her, taking another intimidating step in her direction. “I went to juvie like you wanted, like everyone wanted. I paid for your lies.”
Silence.
The world seems to stop spinning. "Jude, that's impossible."
"Funny, because it happened." My smile turns vicious. “And I remember thinking that exact same thing when I saw you there on the witness stand, this is impossible, this is impossible.” I repeated it over and over again in my head until I thought I was going crazy.
“Prison.” She repeats like she hasn’t just heard me talking. “S-since when?” Ahh, the sound of panic in her voice may as well be a symphony to my ears. Now she gets it. Is playing dumb and lying just her thing now? Does it come that naturally?
“Ohhhh…” I love the fear in her eyes. It’s delicious, intoxicating. “Since, the beginning I think, since my dad let me know he stamped your application for approval a while back.”