Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 75792 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75792 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Sighing, I throw one last look at the place before I call it quits and walk out the grimy old door. I don’t think I’m going to come back here again. Sometimes things are just not meant to be. Besides, I don’t have the best memories here. Every other day, we’d encounter a grabby customer or a complete drunk who’d refuse to leave and give us trouble. Just like what happened last time I was here … when Eli found me and held a gun to that asshole’s head. The thought of which still gives me the chills.
I shake it off as I walk away from the dank building. Wretched smells from the side alley’s dumpsters fill my nostrils and make me want to hurl, but my stomach is easily put to rest by the sheer look one of Joe’s customers gives me as he drinks up a whole bottle of whiskey right beside the door.
“Well … well … hello there, pretty girl,” he murmurs, completely intoxicated. “Where are you going?”
I don’t respond. I just keep walking until I’m as far away from the dude as possible.
Unfortunately, that doesn’t help to keep him at bay.
“C’mon, where are you going?” he shouts. “Tell me!”
“Leave me alone!” I yell over my shoulder.
The sickening smile that follows makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand straight.
“Don’t walk away from me,” the guy barks as my pace increases.
The sun has already set, and there aren’t many people on the streets to blend in with.
How am I going to get rid of him?
My pulse is racing as adrenaline rushes through my veins. I need to shake him off fast. So I take a detour across town until I get to a particular busy bar strip with loads of customers, and I throw myself into the first bar I can find.
I disappear between the tables and the people talking to each other, who seem surprised by me being there, interrupting their fun. I pay no attention to their stares as I try to hide from the man searching for me. He’s right outside, pacing around with that bottle still in his hands. My heart still beats in my throat while I peek at him from behind a customer.
After a while, he gives up and walks away, and I breathe a sigh of relief.
Why was he so interested in me?
Was he one of Eli’s henchmen?
A shiver runs up and down my spine.
Suddenly, a hand touches my shoulder, and I jolt from the scare.
“Sorry, I just wanted to ask if you wanted to order a drink?” a waiter says.
“Uh … no, sorry,” I reply, and I leave right away before I get into trouble here too.
I’ve had enough for today.
Eli
I storm into the club, not giving a shit about the stares the other customers give me. I’m not here for any kind of pleasure except to find the girl who belongs to me.
“Was she here?” I ask. “Amelia.”
“Who? Amelia? I don’t know—”
I grab his collar. “Yes, you do.”
“Hands off, fucker,” he growls.
As his bodyguards step forward, I pull out a gun.
“You don’t want to mess with me,” I growl, pointing it at them. “Now tell me if she was here.”
He holds up his hands. “Look, I don’t want any trouble. She was here to ask about her job.”
My nostrils flare. “Is she here now?”
“No, I didn’t need more waitresses. I don’t know where she is now. She left through that door.” He points at the one in the back.
I put him down on the floor again. “Jesus, thanks.” He throws his bodyguards a look. “Now get out before I call the cops.”
“No fucking need. You should be happy I’m not here for you,” I growl back, and then I turn around and barge out.
I’m not in the mood to start some more trouble even though I know this guy definitely deserves it with how he treats these women who work for him.
But I have more important things to do right now … like finding my little angel and making sure she’s safe, so I can whisk her back into my world and make her stay.
It’s where she belongs, by my side, like it was always meant to be.
And I think I know where she’s run off to.
Amelia
Rubbing my arms to fight the cold, I go back to the only place I know I can go; my apartment. Even though the place isn’t mine anymore, I have nowhere else to go. Going back to Jamie’s would mean risking her life, not to mention her little daughter. I just can’t do that to her.
So I walk all the way back to the building I once lived in, to the apartment where my life was destroyed. And I go up the stairs to my floor, hesitating for a moment before I open the door. Even now, it still brings chills to my bones.