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)
“But that’s the thing about driving against traffic.” I ignore her. My eyes flick to hers. “Eventually there’s something you don’t see coming.”
At the very last second before I hit a car, I jerk the wheel hard right as a car roars by us laying into their horn like it’s going to shake some sanity into me. The entire car shakes from the force of the semi that follows. And suddenly, I pull back into the correct lane.
Safe.
She’s breathing hard both of her hands are clinging to her jeans, her thumbs trembling. Good. I exhale out a laugh. “What a rush, am I right?” I smile. “See? Nothing like feeling of near death to make you feel alive.” I take the next street toward campus. “Aren’t you glad you got in the car?”
She says nothing.
She’s pissed.
And terrified.
Good. Then my work here is done. She took my revenge from me with one simple sentence, I can at least make her feel a fraction of the fear I did in prison as a thank you. Now she knows that she isn’t safe, now she knows that I’ve not only been watching, I’ve been waiting. Calculating. I’m not the hero she used to call me, I’m the villain waiting to attack and I’ve just made my first move and I can guarantee that the only thing she’ll be thinking about tonight…
Is me… and what she did.
I thought I just wanted the truth of why she did it. Now, I know it’s deeper. Now I want it all. No matter who it destroys.
Who needs love when war is such an attractive option? I shove the small amount of guilt I feel when I park and unlock the doors. And when she runs to her apartment building and is barely able to scan her card across the door. I honk my horn and wave.
She glances over her shoulder and looks at me like I’m a monster.
“No princess, that’s all you.”
7
“The best disguise is not a mask. It is becoming what they fear. Then smiling when they invite you in..” The Count of Monte Cristo
LILAH
“Hey…” Charlie stretches her hands over her head. “Thought you went to bed, why are you walking in the apartment,” She pauses. “Are you crying?”
“No.” I lie, my voice is weak from both screaming and from the kind of fear that makes you throw up and sob all at the same time. “I got caught in the rain, had to walk, long story, I’m going to bed though, had to work.” My voice is coming out shaky not at all like I want it to, God I can’t even sell the lie anymore as I shuffle toward my room and quietly shut the door. I hate that I can hear my own breathing and that it’s this loud and uncontrolled. My throat burns, I squeeze my eyes shut but I still see the lights flickering at us, warning us, saying my time is almost up or it’s about to be, could have been tonight if Jude made one wrong move.
His mom is dead. With shaky hands I text the number I have, someone texts back right away, sorry wrong number. I quickly flip open my laptop and type in her name and sure enough, clear as day.
Her obituary.
December fifth.
Why did my dad make me believe he died?
“There’s been an accident.” The text, and then when I saw my dad walk in the door. “I’m so sorry sweetie.” Dad sighed. The problem? When had he ever called me sweetie? When I was five? “The trials over soon, they already have your statement and he’s gone. Jude is gone.” He hung his head. “I finally got a job offer at Brighton, I think it’s best we put all this behind us. It’s closed casket and family only anyways, besides the worst thing would be for the girl who testified to be there.” I collapsed onto the ground in gut wrenching sobs. I didn’t move from that spot all night, I ran to Jude’s house and screamed at his window begging him to come out knowing he was gone. And then I ran home in the rain and cried some more. I felt catatonic, moving through life but not feeling anything. My parents were so concerned we left that same weekend, my mom started her new job making it so we could afford the move, they paid for everything.
Ten grand flashes in my mind.
No. My dad would never. He was desperate to make money but he never take a bribe especially knowing there were strings attached, there are always strings. Jude was wrong about that. He had to be, but what reason would he have to lie? I typed in his dad’s name, Edward Hale and felt physically sick when I saw his smiling picture. I never saw him on campus but for being such a massive donor it was weird, really weird that he wasn’t ever really mentioned. If Evans wasn’t a psychopath I could ask him, but he’d just see it as an invitation for a booty call and the last thing I needed after these two days was to fight off a booty call.