Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 102708 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102708 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 342(@300wpm)
“Is it that obvious?” I asked.
“You tell me.” He laughed. “You’ve got that look about you.”
“So I look like a dumbass?”
He grinned. “At least your wit is still intact.”
“It’s about the only thing I have going for me these days.”
“I heard you’ve been doing better in school.”
“Isla told you that?” I nodded to her. “Don’t get too used to it. She hasn’t been tutoring me lately.”
“Kraven, you’re smart. You applying yourself is what got your grades up.”
“Debatable.”
“By just you,” he clarified. “I know what you’re capable of. You graduate this year despite everything you’ve overcome, and you know Julius is a big part of that.”
With a snide smirk, I snapped, “He doesn’t let me forget it.”
“You’re not being fair.”
“Fair to who?”
“Listen,” he reasoned, grabbing my shoulder. “At the end of the day, you’re brothers.”
“And sometimes blood isn’t thicker than water.”
“Kraven…”
I stepped back. “I don’t expect you to take my side.”
“There are no sides. You’re on the same team.”
“Easy for you to say.”
“Don’t give me that shit. I’ve been here since the beginning. Julius bends over backward for you. You should appreciate him.”
“You see me getting into trouble?” I held my arms at my sides. “I’ve turned a new leaf.”
“Is that her influence?”
“What if it is?”
He agreed. “I’d say it’s about damn time.”
I grinned, but it faded when he followed it up with, “But she’s your brother’s girl.”
“I’m aware.”
“Are you?”
I rolled my eyes, mocking, “All’s fair in love and war, right?”
He jerked back. “You’re throwing around words like love and war, and you’re telling me you know she’s taken?”
I zeroed in on him. “Is she, though?”
“Kraven…” he warned in an authoritative tone. “Don’t lose your brother over a girl.”
I smiled. “But she’s such a good influence.”
He folded his arms over his chest. “You’re being for real right now? You’ve managed to stay out of trouble?”
“Why is that so hard to believe?”
“Kra—”
The doorbell rang, cutting him off.
It was when I noticed how everyone was so damn happy, and there wasn’t anything to be happy about.
At least not for me.
Isla opened the door, shouting, “Welcome to party central!”
It didn’t take long to see who was standing there.
“The fuck?” I hollered.
Everyone turned, following the direction of our gazes.
Two police officers walked in, announcing, “Good evening. I’m Officer Maylor, and this is Officer Kincaid. We’re with the New York Police.”
For a mere moment, I feared the loss of one of our parents in a way I never expected to feel.
It wasn’t until he continued with, “We have a warrant for Kraven Knightly,” that I instinctively fought.
“What the hell did I do? I haven’t done shit.”
“Kraven.” Julius stepped out in front of me, shielding me behind him like he always did in situations like these.
“Not a word without a lawyer present.”
“Lawyer?” I exclaimed, “I didn’t do anything!”
The cops moved swiftly toward me. “We’re here to place you under arrest for assault in the second degree.”
“Assault?” I spat, confused. I narrowed my eyes at them.
“We’re going to need you to step outside, and your parents are welcome to join.”
Julius intervened. “Assault on who?”
They ignored him. “Hands where we can see them. You’re under arrest for assault. Do you understand?”
“No, I didn’t—”
“Kraven…” Isla chimed in with a tone that immediately shot through me, sparking my memory.
“Fuck,” I murmured, shaking my head.
Once they realized I wasn’t going to put up a fight, they cuffed me.
“You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney… If you cannot afford one, one will be provided… Do you understand these rights as they are given to you?”
I nodded as he shut the cuffs.
Julius’s stare met mine, mouthing, “I’ll find Joe.”
That was all that needed to be said.
“Now, Officer.” Roland stepped in, taking a stance beside me. “Can you please—”
“Sir, unless you’re the parent, I advise you to step aside.”
“Where are you taking him?” Julius asked, making them look at him.
“He’s going to the courthouse for an arraignment before the judge.”
Isla and I locked stares that night at the party, which quickly played out in front of us.
She screamed, “Is this who you are? Is this what you do?”
Her voice was smooth like silk, but it still sliced me open like daggers on my skin. Her words hit me as hard as my fists had laid Justin out.
She fervently shook her head, scowling. “Do you even know who you are?”
“Yeah,” I firmly argued. “I’m the guy who just beat his ass for fucking talking to you that way.”
She stumbled back, winded.
All the fight in her was gone like it was that night when she first spoke to me. When she first spoke to anyone. It was her sympathetic expression that hurt me more than getting arrested.
We were reliving it all over again, there in a room full of the closest people to us. The fear was evident on her face, but in a much different way. This time, I knew it wasn’t from her possibly being scared of me. She was terrified of where this was going to lead me.