Total pages in book: 152
Estimated words: 147545 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 738(@200wpm)___ 590(@250wpm)___ 492(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 147545 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 738(@200wpm)___ 590(@250wpm)___ 492(@300wpm)
“You’re uncomfortable.” He laughs. “How do you think I feel? I have been so goddamn patient with you, Cassie. I’ve been a fucking idiot. Now I just want my shit back, so tell me, where the fuck is my gun?”
“I don’t know.”
“Did he put you up to asking for it?”
I uncover my face, frowning. “What?”
“Mr. ‘I’ve got your back as long as you have mine,’” he says, making my blood run cold.
He heard Tor’s parting words to me, so what else did he hear?
What did Tor even say?
My mind races to recollect every word, to piece it all together and remember what we actually said once we were out of the car.
Did he hear anything incriminating?
My skin is heated, and it’s not the midsummer weather’s fault. I try to shove down the fear, but I can’t think straight.
“Why would he put me up to asking for your gun?”
“I don’t know. I have no fucking idea what you’ve gotten mixed up in. I know my mom was right about you. She used to make me so mad when we were dating. She said you weren’t right for me, that your expectations were fucked up, that you wanted a guy who would jump through hoops for you. Maybe she was right,” he says, looming closer. “Maybe you want more than a guy who will jump through your hoops, Cassie. Maybe you want a guy who will kill for you.”
Another chill shoots down my spine, but I straighten my shoulders, doing my best to conceal my discomfort. I used to feel safe with Russell, but it’s clear I’m not anymore, and if he’s turned on me, then…
Then I don’t know, honestly. I’m screwed. Russell can tell the police he gave me the weapon, even if they can’t find it, and if he’s angry enough and wants to punish me, who knows what else he’ll say.
“You need to leave,” I tell him.
“Why? Am I hitting too close to home? The pussy must be pretty fucking good if you convinced the guy to murder his own brother for you.”
“That’s insane. What you’re saying is crazy.”
“Tor Walters is fucking crazy, and now you’re spreading your legs for him, so it seems like you like that in a guy.” He leans closer, and I have to resist the urge to shove him back.
“Do not take another step toward me, or I will scream my head off,” I tell him.
He shakes his head, looking down at me. “You’ve changed.”
“So have you,” I state, my tone making it clear I’m not a fan of the remodel.
He glares at me for a moment, then says, “Tomorrow, I’m going to the cops, and I’m telling them everything I know.”
“You don’t know anything,” I say, though my voice wavers.
He laughs, a short, mean little sound. “No? I was there last summer, Cassie. I know how much you fucking hated Tim Walters. You got the gun from me. I don’t think you have it in you to pull the trigger, but I absolutely wouldn’t put it past you to manipulate Tor into pulling it for you.”
“Oh, I’m manipulative now?”
“I think you always were. I just couldn’t see it before. Too blinded by love.”
Now it’s my turn to laugh, short and mean. “That wasn’t love.”
He stares at me for a moment, then mutters, “Felt like love.”
My heart gives a little, the piece I used to let him hold.
But he doesn’t hold it anymore, so the feeling passes.
He takes a step back, then another, still watching me.
Finally, he turns and makes his way down my driveway.
I know I should call him back, try to talk to him, reason with him, and find out what he’s really going to say about me to the cops tomorrow, but I can’t bring myself to do it because I don’t want him to come back.
Russell had the capacity to be a jerk before, but he never made me feel threatened. Not like tonight.
I wait until he’s out of sight before I click the button to unlock the Lexus, then I open the door and drop into the driver’s seat. I don’t turn on the car, but I open my purse and take out the new phone Tor gave me.
I only consider it for a second before I shoot off a text. “Ugh, I wish we would have finished the popcorn. It was so good. I should have probably listened to you about the fruit punch, too.”
I press send, then look back over my text, lingering on the keywords. Initially, I was torn on whether this was a yellow or red situation, but Russell is going to the cops tomorrow. I don’t think anything can be done to change his mind, but I need to give Tor a heads-up. He needs to get rid of that gun if he hasn’t already.