Total pages in book: 161
Estimated words: 149338 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 747(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 149338 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 747(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
Yanking the blanket and pillow off of me, he scoffed, “Don’t worry, sweetheart, I don’t really like you right now.”
“Good! Then the feeling is mutual!”
He leaned over, abruptly picking me up. He wasn’t fazed by my weak attempt to fight him off. “Stop manhandling me!”
He threw me over his shoulder as if I weighed nothing. “Stop pretending like you don’t want me to,” he mocked, walking through the hallway, smacking my ass.
“You arrogant bastard!” I pounded on his back as he carried me out of the penthouse, getting into the elevator.
“This arrogant bastard is going to take you somewhere, whether you like it or not. I can’t take this woe is me bullshit anymore,” he stated, hitting the down button.
“Where are you taking me?” I demanded, giving up on my struggle, it was no use, he was a fucking brick house.
He gently set me down in the limo minutes later, carefully swinging my legs in and finally answered, “To your past.”
When the limo pulled up to his private hangar, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t intrigued as to where he was taking me. His private plane was ready to go, waiting on our arrival. He pulled me from the limo, taking me into his strong arms, onto the plane. Setting me down in the beige, leather chair, taking his seat next to me. I refused to show him any interest, watching a movie through the entire flight. Feeling his eyes on the side of my face the whole time. An hour later we landed, a driver already waiting for us. He once again carried me off the plane, grabbing my crutches on the way out. His bodyguards close behind us. As soon as we started driving toward our destination, I realized where we were.
I snapped my head in his direction, glaring at him. Asking, “Why the hell are we in Rhode Island?” Panicking as I waited for his answer.
“It’s time for you to face your fucking demons. So here we are, sweetheart... Welcome to Rhode Island.”
I opened my mouth, quickly shutting it, unable to form the words. My mind spun with questions I knew he’d never answer. I turned my face toward the tinted window, trying to calm my unsteady nerves. Trying to think of anything other than the demons that still lived in my hometown. Fidgeting with my fingers that were placed in my lap, battling the memories of the house I’d only known as Hell. He placed his hand on my thigh in a comforting gesture, assuming it would provide the reassurance it once had.
It did.
My heartbeat steadied, my stomach eased, my memories subsided. Only concentrating on the feeling of his callused fingers as he softly rubbed along my thigh. He continued to peer out his window, not paying any mind to the way his simple touch still made me feel. We drove in silence for what felt like forever, passing by my old elementary school, the ice cream shop I used to bike to. The sick feeling creeping back, but Martinez never stopped caressing my thigh.
The limo pulled onto the old, dirt road, driving toward my past. I shut my eyes, taking a few deep breaths, willing the memories to stay locked in the back of my mind. The bus driver leaving me on the side of the road, having to walk home by myself every damn day. The image of the helpless little girl always eager to get home, foolishly thinking she would find her momma waiting there for her with open arms. Asking her how her day went, telling her she loved her, walking out of the goddamn house to make sure she made it safely. My lips began to tremble, my chest started to heave, tears rolled down the sides of my face. Remembering every disappointment, every broken promise, every last lie that spewed out of her mouth.
Instantly shaking off the image of her dead body lying next to me. So cold, so blue, still feeling her arms around me. Shuttering from the feeling. I suddenly jolted when I felt Martinez’s fingers wipe away my tears. The morbid memory sinking back down in the deep, dark corners of my conscious. It was no use, my pain wouldn’t stop.
The ambulance.
The funeral.
My stepdad coming into my room every fucking night.
The first time he touched me.
The second…
The third…
And every time after that.
His smell.
His touch.
Telling me he loved me, thinking I was my mother.
I sucked in a breath, holding it in when the car came to a complete stop. I didn’t have to open my eyes to know where we were. I could feel all the negative energy. Leaning my head back against the headrest, I licked my lips. Tasting my memories that wept out of my eyes.
“Why are you trying to hurt me?” I bellowed just above a whisper.