Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 86168 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86168 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
I laugh at that. “Come on, you’re being dramatic now.”
“No, I mean it. You love him too, don’t you?”
“Love him? I don’t know. It’s complicated. Relationships aren’t always about love like in the movies.”
“Don’t lie to me. You love him.”
“Gem—”
“Tell me the truth.”
I stare at my sister, ringing all over like I’m a bell in a windstorm. How does she see it so clearly when it’s all a muddled mess in my head? But every time she says it, you love him, some physical part of me reacts like my body knows something my head wants to deny.
“Maybe. I don’t know. We’re going in that direction.” I reach out and grab her hand before she can demand more. “It really is complicated, but please, if I ever know for sure, you’ll be the first person I tell.”
She hesitates, clearly unsure if she’s buying it, but finally grins back. “Actually, I should be the second. You should probably tell him first.”
“Good point.”
We laugh together, which is a big relief. Pam brings over dinner, two big messy omelets we didn’t even order, compliments of the chef. Harry waves again from his little window, and even though I wasn’t in the mood for eggs, it’s absolutely delicious. As I eat, I start to think it’s not so bad, being honest with myself. It’s not so bad being happy. Gem wouldn’t mind at all, and maybe my life wouldn’t fall apart if I stopped and focused on myself for a change.
Even though that’s hard to fathom.
“I should probably warn you,” I say once we’ve finished eating. I leave a fat tip even though Pam won’t let us pay for our meal. “Stellan and I are going down to Florida for a few days to talk to Mom.”
Gem’s eyebrows shoot up. “Seriously? I thought we agreed she was dead to us?”
“I know, but it’s about business.”
“Great, that changes everything.”
“If I could avoid it, I swear I would. You know I hate her as much as you do.”
Gem pauses in the vestibule between the diner and the outside. “That’s the shitty thing. I don’t hate her. I just wish she were someone else.”
That breaks my heart. I put my arm around my sister’s shoulders and steer her into the evening.
“I’ll be back soon, I promise, and I’ll bring you a souvenir.”
“Mom’s head shoved in a duffel?”
“Doubt I can get it through security.”
“You think Stellan flies commercial?”
She’s got a point there. I’m about to make a joke when a car comes to a screeching halt in the street.
It’s a big black truck. The back windows start to roll down, and I don’t know why I do it. I don’t know how I even realize what’s about to happen. But I see the gun barrels and I grab Gem, pulling her against me, and I dive to the sidewalk, rolling toward the curb, and end up pinned against the side of Stellan’s expensive car.
Automatic gunfire explodes around us. Windows splinter. Bullets thunk into metal paneling like hammers. It’s so loud and there’s so much chaos. Nearby pedestrians are running, and someone’s screaming, and I don’t even realize that’s me until there’s another slam and the guns stop shooting.
My ears are ringing. I wait, hugging Gem tight, until it’s clear the attack is over. When I pull away, Gem’s sobbing but unhurt, and I look up over the car’s hood.
Prime’s in the street. He’s in a silver BMW, the front all smashed up. The black truck is speeding off, its bumper dragging on the ground and shooting up sparks. Prime leaps out of his car and runs to me, saying something, but I can’t hear him.
“What!?” I yell back, gesturing at my ears. “What did you say!?”
He leans in, cupping his hands. “GET IN THAT CAR AND DRIVE HOME. I’LL COVER YOU. GET GOING!”
I nod as he runs off, leaps back into his car, and speeds after the truck.
It’s a miracle I can move. Gem seems frozen. I guide her into the car, only belatedly realizing that the windows are all bulletproof and the side must be too, because the interior is totally fine. The engine starts right up, and I pull out smoothly, hands shaking, nauseous and buzzing with adrenaline.
Stellan’s waiting for us back home. He sprints into the street and doesn’t give me time to park the car. He practically drags me out, pulling me into his arms and hugging me tight. “Prime told me what happened. I have a dozen men swarming the area. I’m going to find them.”
I shove myself tightly against Stellan, craving his comfort, but I don’t let myself linger. I bring Gem inside and take her into her bedroom.
“Why did people try to kill us?” she asks, pale and shaking like a leaf. She’s never looked so much like a high school girl before, not for a while anyway. “What happened? Why aren’t we calling the police?”