Total pages in book: 43
Estimated words: 39689 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 198(@200wpm)___ 159(@250wpm)___ 132(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39689 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 198(@200wpm)___ 159(@250wpm)___ 132(@300wpm)
He just nodded his head and walked toward me. He pressed his lips to my forehead. I closed my eyes, my body swaying slightly closer to his as my body subconsciously sought out more of his intoxicating touch. “If you need me, call me, alright?”
I nodded. He turned away from me and looked at Drake. “If something happens to her, I’ll fucking kill you, got it?” he snarled, his mood doing an entire one-eighty.
Damien walked out of the house without another word. I turned on my heel and walked back towards my room, wanting to be alone and definitely not wanting to be in Drake’s presence. I sat on my bed and saw my ring sitting on my pillow where I assumed Damien had set it. A slip of paper was sitting beside it.
I figured you wouldn’t come with me tonight and it was the shock talking, but I had still packed you a bag in the hopes that you would. I’m incredibly sorry for the past, and I am a changed man, Hayley. I will do whatever it takes to prove that to you.
Just know, I am always here if you need me, and I won’t ever let you down again.
With love,
Your Damien.
More tears fell down my cheeks as I clutched the ring in my hand, not noticing Drake standing in my doorway as a sob ripped from my lips.
7
I paused the movie on my phone when I heard the lock on the front door tumble to the floor. I jumped off of the couch and rushed to Drake’s room, hiding in the back of his closet. Drake had gone with Tyrone for a meeting with the Reapers, and the last that I had spoken to Drake, they weren’t sure if they would be back before the night was over.
I was alone in the house with no defense whatsoever.
And someone knew I was here.
With shaking hands, I dialed Drake’s number, only for it to go to his voicemail. I jumped in fright when I heard something crash to the floor in the dining room. I blew out a harsh breath, forcing myself to stay calm while I dialed Damien’s number.
“Hey, beautiful,” he answered, his voice soft and smooth, helping me focus on what was going on around me.
“Damien, I need help,” I whispered.
A low growl sounded from his throat. “Stay calm and hidden. I’m on my way,” he told me without hesitation.
I held my breath when I saw boots move in front of the closet. I was praying to everything holy that Damien made it there soon—and fast.
The closet door swung open, and I screamed when one of Mark’s men yanked me up off the floor, holding a gun to my head. “Let’s have a chat, sweetheart,” Mark said, sauntering into the bedroom. “Put her in that chair, James,” he instructed, pointing to Drake’s computer chair.
James—the guy holding me—shoved me down into Drake’s computer chair, taping my wrists to the chair so that I couldn’t get up. I clenched my fist, glaring up at both of them despite how terrified I felt. “Alright, sweetheart, here’s my problem,” Mark started, walking forward so he was standing in front of me. He knelt so his eyes were level with mine. I kept my gaze level with his even though my heart was pounding with fear, and I felt like throwing up everywhere. “Lacie owed me a lot of money, and before we killed her for not paying us back, she told us you had our money. I’ve told you before that I need that money.”
I glared at him, forcing myself not to show him any kind of fear. “All I remember is you holding a gun to my head and forcing me to snort coke up my nose,” I snarled.
He backhanded me, sending me toppling to the floor. I gritted my teeth against the pain as James righted me back up, but not a single sound of pain left my lips. “I guess knocking you out took away some of your memory, so let me remind you.” He pulled a gun out and pressed it to my temple. I squeezed my lips together into a tight line, feeling the blood rush from my face. “Lacie owed us ten grand, Hayley, and she told us you would pay it back. We want that money, sweetheart.”
Joke was on him because I was so broke that I was two months behind on my rent.
Another man came into the room with a phone held up to his ear. “Sir, someone is coming up the driveway. We need to go.”
Mark nodded and stood back up to his full height. “I’m going to leave you with a reminder that I intend to get my money, Hayley.”
A blood-curdling scream ripped from my lips as Mark shot me in the thigh. Both men left the room, and I sobbed, desperately trying to breathe through the pain. “Hayley!” I heard Damien shout. “Hayley, baby, where are you?”