Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 70716 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 354(@200wpm)___ 283(@250wpm)___ 236(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70716 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 354(@200wpm)___ 283(@250wpm)___ 236(@300wpm)
I lean back. “Nope.”
She shakes her head but keeps the smile. “I like you, Cohen, I’m glad we’re friends.”
Me too.
Fuck, me too.
6
NOW – AVIANA
“Well, well, the missing link returns.”
I stare at Sissy and my face scrunches in disgust. She was a bitch back then and she’s a bitch now. Still an attractive bitch, but a bitch all the same. Fuck me, I just thought of bitch a lot in one sentence, but how else are you to describe her?
“Well, if it isn’t my favorite bully.” I smile coldly. “How are you, Sissy? Good, I hope.”
She scowls at me. “I’m doing well, actually. Unlike some ...”
I glance around, pretending to search for someone who isn’t there. “Who are you talking about? I don’t see anyone else here.”
She rolls her eyes. “I see you haven’t lost your sarcasm, Aviana.”
“I see you haven’t developed a personality, Sissy.”
She opens her mouth to retaliate when Cohen, Kendric, and Mykel walk into the room. They glance at us, standing by the bar at the club, and Kendric grins. I’m sure he does find our little exchange quite hilarious.
“Boys,” Sissy says, giving them a fake smile.
“What’re you doin’ in town?” Mykel asks her, sitting on a stool at the bar.
“I needed to see my brother. I’m looking for Dad but he’s not answering my calls.”
King.
Someone I haven’t seen since the day I fucking went missing. He has more to do with this then they all realize. I’m certain of it.
“King is busy doin’ somethin’ for the club,” Cohen mutters, his gaze swinging to mine.
I look away.
Fuck him.
“Well, I need to speak with him. Where’s Alarick?”
“Office,” Kendric says gruffly.
Sissy spins on her heel and saunters down the hallway. “Later!” I call after her, and she throws a scowl over her shoulder before disappearing.
“Still so lovely,” I say, more to myself than anyone else.
“You here to see me?” Cohen murmurs, his voice low and gravelly.
I turn and glance at him. “Not by choice, believe me.”
“Drop the fuckin’ attitude for one day so we can get this finished and I never have to fuckin’ see you again.”
Ouch.
Brutal.
“Ditto,” I say, holding his penetrating gaze.
He stands and extends an arm. “After you.”
Right.
Of course.
I move toward the back room where there is a large table in the middle of the floor surrounded by chairs. It’s a mess and, honestly, would it hurt them to clean up around here a little? Yeesh. Seriously. I scowl at a few empty beer cans that I have to kick out of the way to get to the table. Don’t get me started on the panties tossed over the back of one of the chairs. I glare at them like they’re personally bothering me somehow and, with a flick of my hand, send them flying to the floor.
“Someone’s a little jealous.”
I glare at Cohen as he takes a seat across from me, his eyes intense as he watches me huff around until I finally sit down.
“As if.”
He shakes his head slightly before saying, “We both don’t want to be here, so let’s get this over and done with so I don’t have to spend any more time listenin’ to your negative fuckin’ attitude.”
“What is your problem?” I growl. “If anyone here has the right to have an issue, it’s me, Cohen. Not you. You’re the one who started this whole fucking mess.”
“Back to that, are we? You’re never goin’ to let it go. It wouldn’t matter what I say, so I’m not even goin’ to fuckin’ try. Now, are you goin’ to listen to me or should I fuckin’ try again another day?”
His voice is impatient, and his tone is sharp. I grit my teeth together and say nothing more, even though there are so many things I’d love to let slip off my tongue right now. Many names, a whole lot of curse words, and a heck of a lot of blame. Blame that should fall entirely on his shoulders, but he’s refusing to let it touch him.
He wants no part in my pain.
Even though he’s the one who pushed me straight into fucking hell.
“What do you need from me? I’ve given Alarick everything I know.”
“Wrong, you haven’t,” he mutters, staring at his phone where he opens up something on the screen. “Looked into your fuckin’ Benedict and the locations. Can’t find a single thing on him, but the locations are certainly remote and maps shows me that there are houses in the locations you’ve provided. Gotta know that I don’t trust you, Aviana, so I want more information.”
I tense and cross my arms. “I’ve told you the truth.”
“Have you?” he challenges, looking up to meet my eyes. “You think I’m fuckin’ stupid, don’t you? Do you honestly believe I’ll let you lead my club into a fuckin’ ambush? You want revenge, it’s written all over your face. I’m not lettin’ you take away the only family I have.”