Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 70940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 355(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 236(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 355(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 236(@300wpm)
Mom looks over to King and whispers. “Is that true?”
“No, it ain’t true. I’ve been here all fuckin’ afternoon. No idea why she’d think I was there ...”
“He’s right, honey, he was here all day. You need to calm down and tell us what’s happening,” Mom asks, her eyes a little lost.
“They said your name,” I scream. “If you weren’t there then you were in charge of it.”
“You need to calm down, Briella,” King growls, walking over and placing a hand on my shoulder. “Now.”
“Don’t touch me,” I screech, launching backward. “Do not touch me.”
“You don’t know what you’re talkin’ about. Whatever night have happened is club business and of no concern to you.”
“So you did do it?” Mom says, confused.
“I’m simply statin’ facts, we’ll discuss it further later. Whatever it is, it’s for my club and me to work out, but right now Briella needs to calm down and we need to speak to Aviana before she does something that is goin’ to cause a shit load of backlash.”
King turns and walks out, as if I’m not standing there sobbing.
I hate him.
I hate him so much it burns.
I will never forgive him for this. Not ever.
“Honey, you need to take a few deep breaths,” Mom comes over, gently taking my hand in hers. “You need to calm down.”
“How are you not freaking out?” I sob. “Why are you so calm? He’s a monster, momma.”
“He’s not a monster, but whatever happened is to do with the club and things that go on in the club are so much more complicated then you probably know. King is not a bad man, I know that, and we’re going to get to the bottom of this.”
“He is a bad man,” I say, horrified at how she’s defending him. “He’s a killer.”
“He’s a biker, Briella. You know what they do is dangerous. He’s not ever going to hurt you or anyone he loves, and you know that. If those people got killed, it was because they did something to deserve it. It’s a world we can’t even begin to understand and it happens all the time. Now let’s get you a cup of tea and then we need to find Aviana and make sure she’s okay.”
I shake my head, tears rolling down my cheeks as I look at my mother, horrified.
She’s defending him.
Saying what happened was okay.
It wasn’t okay.
It was murder.
I turn and run out of the house. She calls my name, coming after me, but I don’t stop. I disappear down the street and run until I find a park where I can collapse to my knees and sob until there is no more sobbing left in me. Only then do I calmly get to my feet, dab my eyes, and flag down a cab.
I need to be with Aviana.
She’s the only person who needs me right now.
I was going to take her to the station earlier, but she numbly told me to take her to a friend’s house until she could calm down. She didn’t want to come to my house, which is understandable considering my step-father is the reason her whole world just ended. I took her to a friend’s house, and that friend was working so Aviana had space to be alone.
I told her I was going to confront King and then I’d be back.
When I arrive back at that friend’s house, I knock on the door a few times before walking inside. The door is unlocked, but a quick look around reveals nobody is home. I call out Aviana’s name a few times, and then I dial her cell only to see it ringing from the sofa. I walk over and pick it up, glancing around again.
It’s strange.
She’s not here but all her things are.
Did she go to the police station after all?
I told her we would go together; I couldn’t see her just getting up and doing it.
I get back in the car and go to the local police station only to find out nobody by that name has come in.
Concern weighs heavy on my chest as I begin to worry.
Has Aviana done something stupid?
Has she hurt herself?
Or worse?
My best friend has just disappeared.
I go back home and find King has returned.
The moment I walk in, he comes over and, with a stern expression, tells me, “We’re goin’ to talk. Right now.”
I do as he asks and follow him outside, my arms crossed over my chest, my anger clouding every emotion I’ve ever had for this man. Mostly because I want to know where Aviana is, but also because right now I have nowhere else to go and I want answers.
“Where is Aviana?” he asks me, his face tight.
I narrow my eyes, a little confused. “I was going to ask you the same thing.”
“Fuck,” he barks. “Fuck, this is why you don’t go runnin’ around screamin’ that she saw a fuckin’ murder. That shit gets you into trouble. Aviana is in trouble.”