Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 115964 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 580(@200wpm)___ 464(@250wpm)___ 387(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115964 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 580(@200wpm)___ 464(@250wpm)___ 387(@300wpm)
I winced.
He wasn’t asking why I went crazy. I didn’t think he cared. He just wanted to know if I’d be a liability.
“I’ll be fine,” I said faintly.
“I mean it.”
I lifted my head, my eyes finding his. He was angry, his guard not in place for the moment. I could see everything. He was seething. I felt his intensity seeping into me.
I didn’t like this feeling of being tethered to him, but I also knew when that went away, that wouldn’t be good either.
I swallowed over a knot. “I don’t like the name Carrie.”
“What?”
“Carrie. That’s what you called me back there. I don’t like that.”
“What do you want to be called then? Girl?”
I kinda liked Girl, but it wouldn’t work anymore. Raize and I were beyond that sort of cold, stranger work relationship. He needed me to live, and I needed him to live.
“There was a girl. Her name was Ashley, but I’d like to go by Ash.”
He stared at me, then sighed. “Fine. Ash.”
Good. Ash. I liked my new name.
15
Ash
When we returned to the house, bringing food with us, Raize’s phone chimed just as we stepped through the front door.
“They’re back!” Jake yelled from the kitchen.
“About fucking time.”
Jake’s smile stretched wide when he saw the large pizza box in my hands. “Nice. She can read minds.”
Cavers grunted, coming forward and taking the box from me. He frowned as he looked over my shoulder.
I turned to find Raize had stopped back by the door, reading his phone.
Cavers’ gaze moved back to me. “What were you guys doing today?”
“That’s none of our business,” Jake said before I could, glaring at Cavers, who ignored him as he put the box on the counter and opened it up.
Jake continued to glare as he turned to reach for paper plates and napkins on the counter behind him. He tossed them next to the pizza, but Cavers had already grabbed three slices.
We’d had pizza the night before, and this didn’t seem too appetizing now. I’d eaten two slices of pizza this morning. Raize had stopped to get soda, and water for me, and I regretted not grabbing food I liked from the store, too.
“Not hungry?” Cavers asked.
I lifted my head in surprise. Who knew Cavers cared?
Raize paused behind the counter. I met his eyes and shrugged. “You’re going to yell at me if I don’t eat that?”
“You didn’t say anything earlier.”
I lifted a shoulder. “I wasn’t thinking about food then.”
He frowned, just slightly. “What do you want? I’ll make a run.”
“Boss.” Jake lifted his hand, half a slice in his mouth. He spoke around it, “Icanakearundoo.”
Everyone frowned at him.
He shoved the rest of his slice in his mouth and held up both hands. “Wah?”
My stomach growled. “I don’t even know what I’d want to eat,” I told them. “I’ll eat a slice. I’ll be fine.”
Raize slid the water we’d bought in front of me. “Grab a sleeping bag and a blanket from the pile. You slept on the floor last night. You’ll need your rest.”
“Why?” Cavers’ voice sounded loud across the kitchen. His tone was gruff, and everyone looked his way. He didn’t back down. “Why does she need her rest? What’d you guys do today? Why weren’t Jake and I involved?”
Jake held up his hand again. “Don’t look at me. I’m not questioning you. I want to make that very clear.”
Cavers’ eyes turned hard. “You sent me on some run-around errands today. If you’re doing something, I want in.” He frowned. “Can’t prove my loyalty if I’m cut out.”
Cavers works for Bronski.
Raize shook his head. “You’re doing just fine. Those ‘run-around errands’ aren’t useless. Want me to cut you in? Do what I say, stop bitching about it, and prove your loyalty that way.” His words had a biting tone, and both Jake and I were quiet, waiting to see what Cavers would do.
He did nothing.
He went back to eating, but after Raize returned to his phone, Cavers sent him an angry look. He caught me watching him, and that anger transferred to me before he snuffed it out. “You still ain’t eating, Girl.”
“Her name is Carrie.” Jake sent me a grin.
“She’s asked to be called Ash,” Raize murmured, distracted and not looking away from his phone.
Cavers gave me the weirdest look, like he’d just realized I was a person, and Jake gave me an approving thumbs-up.
“I like it,” Jake said. “Mysterious. Somewhat linked to death. Very you. Carrie didn’t fit you, unless you were going to turn all rageful.”
I felt a laugh coming, and I tried to stop it. It came out as a snort-giggle, and I felt my face get hot. I just giggled.
I’d never been a giggler, ever in my life, yet I was giggling here, in this house, with a killer by me.
The earth was shifting under my feet. I was getting a new foundation—and I was thinking all these serious thoughts based on one embarrassing giggle?