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)
A knock sounds at the door. It’s Axel. “Guys, I don’t know what the hell that was, but we almost broke the app again, the live reading had over a hundred thousand listeners in real time. Good work.”
“I want a bonus! “I shout, my voice cracks though so I sound like I’m going through puberty.
“Your dad owns the company jack ass, ask for more allowance!” He calls back. “I’m already buying you drinks, dumb ass. I was worried, though, not gonna lie, really worried when you guys had your whatever it was. Guess you have some history hmm?”
“Kind of.” I lie.
“Yes.” Lilah says and turns to him. “I’m the one who testified against him, lied and sent him to prison. I thought he was dead though all those years because of a misunderstanding I still don’t get, yet here we are. All resurrected, angry, and full of joy.” She stumbles when she gets up, I reach for her, but she shakes her head. “Anyways, I’m going to get back to the apartment. I’m tired.”
She rushes past us.
Axel opens his mouth.
Then she stops and looks over her shoulder. “Truth,” Her eyes well with more tears. “For seven years I thought you were dead.”
I think about her comments about her voice. “Truth.” I answer right away. “Until I heard your voice, I thought I was too.”
She leaves.
And rage takes over.
It fills every space of my body until I can barely think, because she singlehandedly stole every ounce of revenge from my body, and took control. Now I can’t hate her, now I’m stuck between wanting her and the truth more and more and wishing it were true that it was all a lie that she was manipulated as much as I was.
But if I don’t have my hate.
If I don’t have my revenge what do I fucking have? This job? Searching endlessly for the truth of my mom’s death and waiting for more clues?
But without revenge, it feels meaningless, like nothing.
I’m back at square one, without any direction, with nothing.
“Look,” Axel just has to choose the worst time to fill the space with the sound of his voice and what he’s going to think are wise words. “From what I know, she’s a really good person, maybe she’s telling the truth. Have you ever asked her dad why? Have you ever even asked her full side of the story without assuming she’s lying? No, knowing you, you probably assumed out of your ass. You know your dad’s evil incarnate, my dad’s an asshole and even he hates him. That’s saying something, plus, there’s always more to the story with him.”
“Would you testify against me?” I cross my arms. “If you knew it was a lie.”
“That depends.” He glares. “On what’s on the line. If some psychopath threatens my family I probably wouldn’t do the right thing. What matters the most to her.”
Me. I did. I want to say.
Then I think about her dad.
How he spent time in prison, how he worked for my dad, a secret only I knew about because my own dad threatened me.
She was in the room before I could make it there.
Which is why it was impossible that I pulled a trigger.
By the time I got there it was just her and my dad, blood everywhere, but she? She looked like she’d just seen a ghost.
I hadn’t thought about it in a long time. I didn’t want to. It was too raw. Too real. I shook my head. “Whatever, you owe me drinks. I want to get wasted. I’m not in the mood to feel.”
“You sure—”
“—Axel, you’re not my therapist and you sure as hell don’t want to dance with my demons right now when they’re already eating me alive. Drop it. Before you become the only target of my rage.”
“Understood.” He holds up his hands. “Understood. Let’s go.”
15
The guilty love mirrors. Until someone forces them to look too closely.—The Count of Monte Cristo
LILAH
Ifeel numb the entire way back to my apartment. For once I don’t turn around and look for Jude. I don’t get worried he’s walking after me, I don’t do anything except drive, go to my place, type in my code, take the stairs and walk into the living room.
Charlie’s laying on the couch watching TV. “Dude, social media is still a hot mess today, in other news I think Axel and I are gonna bang.”
“Who says bang anymore?”
“I do. Right now. When talking about hot Axel, and he’s really hot, he’s a good kisser too, not too much tongue when he gets excited and trust me my kiss gets him—” She sits up. “What’s with that look?”
“Long day at work. Life. Pressure,” I offer. “Take your pick. I may not survive this semester.”
“You know what you need?” She says cheerfully.
“What?”
“A good bang.” She bursts out laughing. I’m killing her.