Total pages in book: 160
Estimated words: 160041 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 800(@200wpm)___ 640(@250wpm)___ 533(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 160041 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 800(@200wpm)___ 640(@250wpm)___ 533(@300wpm)
Life made me want to die.
But she … she made me feel more alive than ever, and like this life that I had in front of me was worth living.
And I don’t want to give that up.
I refuse.
I get up and chase Xavier while the rest of the family waits for news.
I don’t know where he’s going, but anywhere is better than sitting around moping in this white room. He’s marching straight for the exit, and I catch him halfway there.
“What are you planning?”
“Nothing,” he says.
My lip tips up into a half smile. “I want in.”
His brows draw together. “How did you—”
I hold his arm. “I know you.”
He looks around to make sure no one’s listening. “He escaped while you were watching him.”
I rub my lips together. “Actually, I wasn’t.”
“What?!” Xavier roars.
I cover his mouth with my hand. “Not so loud.”
“You left him?” he hisses.
“What was I supposed to do? Just sit there all day and do nothing?”
“Yes!”
I shrug. “I had classes.”
“You knew he was going to arrest her if he got out.”
We’re whisper-yelling at each other. “You’re the one who ran off.”
“To help her.”
“So was I.”
“By leaving him?” he seethes.
A cop passes us, and we both go deathly quiet.
“I need to think,” Xavier growls, rubbing his hair. “Outside.”
He marches off again, so I follow in his footsteps. When we’re out and about, he walks to a little park down the road, and I chase him. He sits down on a bench, so I sit down right beside him.
“Can you fucking let me breathe?”
“No. I need to know what your plan is.”
He eyes me up and down. “You think I still trust you?”
I grimace. “I didn’t let him out.”
“Right …”
“I would never betray her.”
“Then who did?”
“You’re forgetting the possibility that maybe he freed himself,” I suggest.
He snorts. “Right. From those knots? I don’t think so.”
“There were multiple cops there during the search, according to Aspen’s friends. Maybe he got a hold of a cell phone somehow or a beeper.”
He looks away to mull things over. “Someone must’ve given it to him.”
“Wasn’t me. I swear,” I say, holding up my hands.
He narrows his eyes at me. “Fine. Say it wasn’t you. That means we’ve got another enemy.”
“Or maybe, he already had it with him when we tied him up.”
“Where?”
My shoulders slump. “His pants? I don’t know.”
He rolls his eyes. “You’re throwing things out there.”
“Because I don’t understand it either, but it doesn’t matter. She’s locked up now, and it’s up to us to be there for her, like we swore we would. I just don’t know how. I thought you would know…”
It’s quiet for some time as we both stare at the greenery around us.
“Are you with me?” he asks out of nowhere.
I nod. “Whatever you’re thinking, let’s do it. Can’t be worse than things already are.”
He nods and gets up. “Then let’s go pay someone a visit.”
“Who?”
His teeth grind together as we walk toward his car. “A deceitful pig.”
Xavier
The moment I spot that motherfucker’s face appearing around the corner, I signal Orion, and we jump out of the car and follow him around the corner toward an apartment building. I tracked him down thanks to Sunny’s notes. This must be where he lives.
Right before the front door of the building closes behind him, I put my foot between, and we slip through. He presses the elevator button, but a creak makes him glance over his shoulder.
His eyes widen.
Too late.
THWACK!
My fist makes contact with his cheek, and I pummel him into the elevator door.
“You motherfucker!” I growl, grasping him by the shirt. “You arrested her?”
Atreus attempts to throw a punch, but Orion jumps in to grab his arm and pins it to the elevator door. “Like hell you will.”
“Too late,” he retorts.
I punch him again for the sheer audacity.
“Why?” I grit, tightening my grip on his shirt.
“She needed to be stopped,” he replies.
“She was taking out the trash,” Orion says.
“That’s what the police are for,” Atreus says, glancing between the two of us.
“How the fuck did you even escape the basement?” I ask.
There’s an arrogant smirk on his face. “Beeper in my pocket. Now fucking unhand me before I bring you in too.”
“Fucking try, I dare you,” I growl up close and personal. “Do you even know what I do to pigs like you?”
“I’ve seen him. It isn’t pretty,” Orion muses. “Remember Bob?”
His eyes narrow. “You wanna confess to a murder, boy?”
“I want you to understand … she’s not alone.” I pull out a knife and hold it under his throat. “And I will die for my woman.”
“I admire your tenacity,” he says. “You’d make a fine cop.”
I spit in his face. “The fuck I do. I fucking hate you.”
He stares at me like he’s not impressed or afraid. “You’re in love with her, aren’t you?”
My eyes widen, and I blink a couple of times. “How did you—” I push the knife further into his skin. “Fuck that, it doesn’t matter. You messed with the wrong fuckers. Release her, or I will kill you.”