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 didn’t want to do what I did.
Nobody knows it was me, not even King. Aviana’s family thought I was here because of some drug deal gone wrong; little did they know I was about to take everything. I had to. I had no choice. The things they were doing were dangerous. The plans they had would have ruined Aviana’s life. She doesn’t know it yet, but everything I’ve done here tonight is to save her life.
What I’m about to do is going to save her life.
If she knew that they had planned for her...
I stare at her, on the ground, out cold. Fucking hurts, I won’t lie. Knowing that I’m ruining the one good thing I’ve found is something even I am struggling to handle. She and I, we’re close. She’s this ray of light in a dark fucking world. She’s likely my best fucking friend, and I’m about to take everything from her.
She’s in danger, and the only way for her to be safe is if they think she’s dead. Gone. Never to be seen again. I’ve got a plan, only it didn’t go as I expected.
She was never meant to be here.
She was never meant to see me.
She was simply meant to think her family was dead and want to move away.
I was going to take her, give her a new life.
But she saw it all.
She has questions, questions I can’t give her answers to.
Now I’m left with a big fucking mess that I have to clean up quickly.
I place the handful of papers and money down on the desk, feeling sick to my fucking stomach knowing how close she got to figuring all this out. If she did, it would be the end for her. She’d be gone, and her life would be forever destroyed. She’s worth too much to them. I can’t let that happen to her. She’s fucking family. She’s had a rough time. She doesn’t deserve any more pain.
I pull out my phone and dial, knowing I’m running out of time for my original plan. Now, I have to go to plan B. Now, I have to give her to someone else, someone I’m not entirely sure will ever be able to help her the way I intended, but they’re a hell of a lot better than what’ll come for her if I don’t make her disappear.
“Cohen,” a rough male voice answers.
“Cason, I got a big favor for you.”
“Talk to me.”
“Got a girl, she’s in a fuckin’ lot of danger. I need her to disappear. Need her to be sent somewhere she can’t return. Give her a name, a new identity, and I’ll send some cash to set her up. But I want her safe. You swing that?”
He pauses. “I can swing it, brother, but you gotta know once I make her disappear what happens to her after that isn’t on me, I can only do my best to make sure she has everything she needs to start a new life.”
Fuck.
My stomach flips, and my hands shake. Sweat beads on my upper lip. I’m running out of fucking time.
She’ll wake up soon.
It’ll all be over.
They’ll come for her.
“I know,” I say, my voice a low rasp. “I know, but it’s the only option. Do your best, take care of her.”
“I’m on it. I’ll have someone swing by and pick her up. Give me your location.”
I give him my location and then hang up the phone. I turn to the girl lying on the floor, her eyes closed, breathing steady. I walk over to her, slowly kneeling down until I’m by her side. I stroke a finger over her face and try to shut down every fucking emotion in my body. This is forever. I’ll never see her again. I can only hope she’ll go out there and create a different life for herself, a better one. I can only fucking pray she’ll end up in good hands.
I know one thing is for certain, though.
I can’t think about her again after she leaves.
If I do, I’ll be forever fucking wondering where she is.
I can’t allow that.
I lean down and brush my lips across hers before pressing my forehead against her warm skin.
“I’m sorry, Aviana.”
When she wakes up, her entire world is going to be different.
I only hope for the better.
Fucking please.
COHEN – NOW
I stride with purpose into Alarick’s office. He has to know. Needs to know. I fucking lied to him, but it’s going to come out. I didn’t need the whole club in on it, which is why I told them I didn’t know what Aviana was talking about, but Alarick, he needs the truth. If he doesn’t find out, then we’re going to end up in a world of fucking trouble. Aviana is on a mission, and with that mission comes some serious fucking danger. If she even gets close to knowing the truth, she’s going to destroy not only her life, but everyone who will try to step in to protect her.