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)
“You mean the same way you took the only family I had?”
He slams his fist onto the table. “The father and brothers who couldn’t give a fuck about you? Is that who you’re talkin’ about? The ones who couldn’t care less if you lived or died? Don’t push your fuckin’ anger onto me. You’re lookin’ for a reason to hate me, but the only one you have is that I sent you away—I’ll take that. Don’t even fuckin’ tell me you’re angry because I rid the world of the scum that you called family.”
I stand and slam my hands onto the table, rage burning deep in my chest, exploding forth as I cry, “Fuck you, Cohen. Because of you I’m left with nothing! Nothing!”
“They gave you fuckin’ nothin’,” he roars, standing too. “All they did was act like you didn’t fuckin’ exist. Stop actin’ like you actually fuckin’ care that they’re gone. You don’t. You’re so fuckin’ bitter. I thought I knew you, but this version of you is as evil as the people I put in the fuckin’ ground.”
I lunge across the table like a mad woman, my body sliding across the timber as I go for him. My hands reach out, and I scramble to get closer as I scurry across the table like a fucking crazy person. When I reach him, I get to my knees and slam my fists into his chest. Big angry punches that hurt, god do they hurt. I scream with frustration and rage and so much pain I can hardly breathe through it.
Cohen takes my wrists, never once stepping away or back down.
He’s not scared of me.
Why should he be?
“Let me go!” I scream, jerking as hard as I can but it only makes his hands tighten around my wrists.
He pulls me forward and, with a snarl, he says, “Whatever you’re fuckin’ plannin’ here, Aviana. I suggest you back down. You hurt even one hair on anyone here's head and I promise you, I’ll put you with the rest of your family.”
With that, he lets me go with a shove. I topple backward and roll off the table, landing on the floor with a thud. For a moment, I’m winded. I can’t breathe through the pain as I lie on my side on the floor. I’m not sure if it’s the pain from the fall or the pain from my pride because his words cut me so fucking deep it burns. I bite my lip to stop it from trembling, refusing to release years of pent-up tears.
I won’t cry for them.
For anyone.
Get up, Aviana.
Do not stay down.
“What the fuck is goin’ on in here?”
Alarick’s angry voice can be heard from the door.
I don’t move.
“Aviana?”
He moves to me and reaches down, taking my arm and hauling me up. I’m clenching my jaw so tightly it burns, but I don’t look to Cohen. I don’t say all the foul and horrible things sitting on the end of my tongue. I’m afraid if I open my mouth all the pain that’s rising to the surface will unleash too. They’ll see how truly broken I am. How utterly pathetic I have become.
“I’m done.”
I shove Alarick so he’ll let me go and pick up into a run as I leave the room. I don’t stop until I’m out of the house and running toward the entrance. I reach the road and turn left, picking up the pace as I head toward town. The feelings building up in my chest are crippling, and I struggle to breathe as I run faster and faster, my mind swimming, my soul slowly fucking drowning.
A car slows down and, as the window winds down, I see Waverly, a girl I met a few days ago, with another woman. They both stare at me as they near, and Waverly calls out, “Hey, Aviana, right?”
I stop running and stare at them, panting and gasping for air.
“Are you okay?” she goes on, narrowing her eyes. “Do you need a ride?”
I can’t speak.
Can’t move.
The entire world around me is falling to pieces.
The other woman gets out and walks over to me, she reaches out and takes my shoulder. “I’m Zariah, are you okay?”
I shake my head.
It’s all I can manage.
“Come on, let’s get you somewhere safe.”
She guides me to the car and, without hesitation, I climb in. I sit in the back as they turn the car around and head back into town. I don’t say anything, I don’t do anything, I simply sit there feeling like everything is going to collapse at any moment. My breathing slowly becomes more stabilized and when we pull up at a bar, I want to scream with joy. I don’t know these women, but I like them already.
“Let’s get a drink,” Waverly says, getting out of the car and coming around to my door, opening it.