Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 64851 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64851 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Despite his slightly disheveled appearance, he was still every bit as handsome. I couldn’t understand why he would show up now unless... It suddenly clicked why he was here, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about that because it was too little too late to come searching for answers.
I cursed my heart that skipped a beat upon seeing him again. Maybe I was sick in the head for still having this reaction to him, but I simply couldn’t help it.
Nicholas straightened up when he saw us approached, and his eyes widened before they narrowed slightly when he gazed at Adam’s and my linked arms. But just as quickly his expression was once again neutral giving nothing away.
Adam reacted quicker than me to Nick’s presence. He pulled me behind him and walked up to Nick. “Excuse me, what are you doing in front of our door?”
“Our?” Nick said the words so quietly I would have missed it had I not read his lips.
“Who are you?” my brother demanded.
I placed my hand on his shoulder. “It’s okay. I know him.”
Adam frowned. “Kinda late for visitors, don’t you think?”
Nick looked past, my brother completely ignoring him. “Frankie, I promise I won’t take up too much of your time. but I need to speak with you please.”
“Nick, I have a pretty good idea about what you want to discuss, but honestly it’s just too late. I can’t deal with this right now.”
“Nick?” Adam glared at him before looking at me. “Is this the Nick?”
I’d told Adam a little bit about my tumultuous relationship with Nick but not everything. But apparently it was enough to piss him off. Before I could finish nodding, Adam charged and slammed his fist right into Nick’s face.
Caught off guard, Nick stumbled backward and fell on his ass.
Adam stood over him. “Get up, motherfucker! Who do you think you are showing up like this after what you did?” When it looked as if Adam would hit him again, one of the neighbor’s I had never spoken to poked his head out the door.
“What’s going on out here? Do I need to get the police involved?” the older man threatened.
“No. Please. We’ll keep it down.”
The man grunted before closing his door again.
I gripped Adam’s arm as tightly as I could to hold him back, not really because I was scared he’d beat Nick up. It was the opposite. My brother was in better shape than he had been in for a while, but I knew for a fact that he’d only been able to knock Nick down with the element of surprise. Nick worked out and took care of himself. He had even boxed a little when he was younger, so my brother didn’t stand a chance.
“Look, Adam why don’t you go inside and cool off, and I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
“I’m not leaving you out here with that asshole.”
“I can handle him. Just go okay.”
Adam looked as if he wanted to argue but then decided against it. He shot one last glare in Nick’s direction before heading inside.
When Nick and I were alone, I held out my hand to help him up. “You shouldn’t have come Nick.”
He took my hand and rose to his feet, but he didn’t immediately let go. “You look well, Frankie. I always liked that color on you.” His green gaze roamed my body making me feel naked. My blue spaghetti strap dress was modest by most standards, but the way Nick made me feel was anything but.
I quickly yanked my hand out of his grip. “I’m sure you didn’t come here to comment on what I’m wearing.”
“Didn’t take you long to move on did it?”
“What?”
“You lover is very protective of you.”
I scrunched my nose in disgust. “Lover? Eww, that’s my brother, you weirdo.”
It was Nick’s turn to be confused. “Your brother?”
“You assumed because he’s white and I’m black that I’m living with some random guy only months after what you did to me? I know you had a low opinion of me, Nick, but even I wouldn’t stoop so low as to sleep with my own brother.”
“I’m sorry. It was a stupid assumption.”
“It was. I’m quite sure I told you that I was adopted.”
He ran his fingers through his hair. “Yes, you did tell me that, and I’m sorry for my assumption.”
The last thing I expected was an apology. I didn’t really know what to say right away. “Ugh, it’s fine. Story of my life, I guess.”
“Frankie, look, I know I have no right to be here and ask questions, but I need to know…did you know about Dr. Laski? Please, I…Kenny tried to tell me, and I think you did too, and I didn’t listen. And now it’s too late. I’m just as guilty as that whack job on trail….”
Nick seemed so lost and unsure of himself. It was strange seeing him like this, and while telling him to go to hell would be cathartic, I couldn’t do it. I was tired of holding on to this secret that I had no business keeping.