Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 82568 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82568 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 413(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Roe looked at Holden. “He can stay.” Then nodded toward the house. “Get in there, you two. Go have some fun, and I’ll finish up here.”
“Thanks, Dad!”
“Thanks, Roe!”
The boys ran into the house, leaving them alone. Holden grinned. “Yeah, thanks.”
“You can repay me later.” Roe waggled his eyebrows. After looking to make sure they were alone, he gave Holden a quick kiss. “I’ll get some food on the grill for dinner.”
Jesus, this man and his goddamned barbecue. “I’ll be back in a bit.”
Holden jumped back in the car and made the quick drive to Bunny’s.
The employees’ parking spaces were on the far side of the lot, around the building and in front of a field. Holden drove that direction, seeing Marilee’s car but not his sister.
Discomfort crawled down his spine.
She’s fine…probably just went inside for something. But the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end, his stomach tumbling uncomfortably.
He didn’t take the time to pull into a parking spot before killing the engine and jumping out. “Marilee?” he called out.
“Hold—” The sound of her panicked cry cut off. Holden ran toward it, around the back of the building, his vision going red at the sight of Adam with his arms around her.
“I just need money. Give me some fucking money! That’s all I want. They’re gonna kill me if I don’t pay them!”
It was all a bit of a blur after that. Holden charged toward them. It startled Adam enough that Marilee could elbow him in the side. Adam cried out just as she jerked free, punched him in the nose, then kicked him in the nuts.
Holden sputtered, in awe of her.
“You fucking bitch!” Adam screamed, blood dripping from his nose as he held on to his groin.
Holden went right for him, nearly vibrating out of his skin with rage.
“No!” Marilee grabbed him. “He’s not worth it.” She looked down at Adam. “Do you hear me? You’re not worth it! I’m not going to let you hurt us again. You stay away from my son, do you hear me?”
Only then it was her lunging at him again, and Holden wrapping his arms around her waist to hold her back.
Just then, two employees exited the building, taking out trash, and Holden yelled, “Call 911.”
The woman let go of the trash bags and tugged her phone from her pocket, while the man with her ran over.
“Shit, Marilee. Are you okay?” he asked, a panicked expression on his face. He looked to be in his mid-thirties. His nametag read Ozzy-Manager.
“Yeah, I just…” It was then that she broke down, large sobs escaping her tiny body.
Adam tried to get to his feet. This time, Holden didn’t hold back. He let go of his sister, swung, and let his fist connect with the motherfucker’s face. Adam stumbled and fell to the ground again, Holden standing over him. “I wouldn’t suggest you get up again.”
“Fuck you, Holden,” he spit out, right before the sound of sirens came, getting closer and closer.
A police car and an ambulance sped up a few moments later. Larry clearly recognized Adam right away, and put him into cuffs before he asked any questions. Holden lingered close, wanting to keep the man away from his sister. Christ…what would have happened if she hadn’t called him because of her car? He was sick at the thought.
“We need help over here!” Ozzy called.
He looked over to see Marilee limp in Ozzy’s arms.
Holden’s heart dropped, his body in action as he rushed to her. The paramedics ran over as well, but she was already waking up. Her breathing was too fast, though, her pulse too high when the EMTs took it. They threw around words like shock and panic attack, Holden feeling damn close to one of his own. Marilee tried to catch her breath, but that just made the terrified expression on her face worse as she struggled.
“It’s okay, Mari. I’m here. You’re okay. We’re okay,” he told her, trying to comfort his sister without getting in the way. His damn hands were shaking, and he saw her gaze shoot to them, his fear upping hers.
“We’re going to get her on a gurney and take her in just to be safe,” one of the medical responders told him.
“Yeah, of course. Anything. I just need her to be okay.” He tried to hide the tremble in his voice but wasn’t sure he succeeded.
“We’ll take care of her. Meet us at Everett General,” one of the men said. All thoughts of Adam were forgotten. All that mattered was his sister and making sure she was safe.
The second they had her in the ambulance, Holden went for his car, calling Roe as he did.
“Need my help after all?” Roe said teasingly.
“It’s Marilee…Adam went after her, attacked her. She’s okay, I think, but they’re taking her in for a panic attack or something. I gotta go there—to the hospital.”