Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 105398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 527(@200wpm)___ 422(@250wpm)___ 351(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 527(@200wpm)___ 422(@250wpm)___ 351(@300wpm)
“Titties!” I screamed out at the top of my lungs.
Max gripped the steering wheel tight.
“Jesus Christ! Was that fucking necessary?” He fumed.
“Max, I really don’t know why that surprised you. We say it every single time. Every. Single. Time. I’m not sure why that was so surprising. We’ve been doing this for forever.”
The titties in question were actually known as the Texas Titties to the locals. LeTourneau Technologies used to produce bombs in the dome shaped buildings. From the air, they look like boobs. Nipples and all.
“Y’all know better. Now seriously, shut up and leave me along for ten more minutes. Y’all are already making me go see a man stripper movie. Don’t make me kill myself beforehand.”
We gave him the peace he was looking for, but only about three minutes or so before we lost the desire to make him happy. The movie was beyond our expectations. I don’t think I’ll ever listen to ‘Pony’ by Ginuwine ever again and not picture Channing Tatum stripping to it. I might’ve had to take off my sweater because I got a little hot.
Max on the other hand, did not like it. He thought it was trash. He said it had no story line, and was practically porn minus the penises and boobs.
“It would have been better if they’d have shown some boobs at least. This was like a really bad porno. They had the bad story line, just forgot to show dicks and tits.” Max stated.
That was my brother, crass and blunt. I loved him anyway though.
“Let’s go to Cheddar’s now. It’s heading towards eleven, and I’m about to keel over. Gabe doesn’t let me get much sleep.” I stated, mostly to rile Max a little bit.
“Oh my God! My ears! For the love of all that’s holy. Please never speak of that with me around again. I just can’t deal with that shit.” He pleaded.
We kept right on talking though.
“Sam does that to me too. It’s as if I go to sleep after just having some of him, and I wake up with his hands-” Cheyenne said before Max interrupted her.
“Shut up!” Max barked. “Fuck.”
We both laughed. Payback was a bitch unfortunately. He got us good in the car.
“I have a feeling something bad is gonna happen.” Max stated.
Immediately Cheyenne and I both covered our noses with our shirts. When we were younger, we watched a movie called Stick It. One of the main characters said the same thing right before he’d farted in the car. This was a running thing for James and Max to do to us since we were fifteen. This time was no different.
We arrived at the Cheddar’s minutes later, and then poured out of the Blazer gagging with tears in our eyes. Max’s booming laugh proceeded us, and I slammed the door in annoyance. He was a mutant!
I hooked arms with Cheyenne, and we were weaving through the cars when I saw him. Stopping so fast, I rocked back on my heels and collided with Max’s chest. My eyes locked with Gabe’s and I saw immediate understanding flare in his eyes. My heart felt like it was being ripped from my chest.
A large bubble sat at the base of my throat, making it hard to swallow. My eyes stung with tears, and I turned and ran in the opposite direction, weaving through the cars as if the devil was on my heels.
I knew I wouldn’t get far though. He’d seen me. He knew I’d seen him with another woman, his arm around her shoulders laughing with her. How could he do this to me? Never did I see this coming. Never.
Ω
Gabe
“Alright. You’ve got your new information memorized, right?” I asked.
“Yep. Thank you so much for helping me. I feel like I can finally breathe again. You are sure he won’t find me here?” Lark asked.
“As sure as I can be. We’ve practically deleted you. When Lark was born, Libby became non-existent. All of her old life, her job, her credit cards, her bills, everything is gone. Even if you wanted to go back, you couldn’t. It’s easier when there is no family to remember you. In your case, since you had no family, you pretty much ceased to exist. There are plenty of fail-safes just in case your husband ever tries to come looking for you though. Try not to worry.” I said to her, giving her a one armed squeeze.
Lark was definitely a survivor. She was married to a very abusive man for ten years. She’d had two kids, and then killed both of them in front of her, threatening to do the same to her and anyone else if she told. He was a sick man, but extremely powerful. This is why Free existed. To get these individuals out before they were killed, or hurt worse than they already were.
“Whew. Now if I could just get used to the weather!” Lark said as she fanned herself.
I laughed. It was now a year plus since I’d moved to East Texas. I still wasn’t used to it. It was a long way from Michigan. I gave her shoulder a pat. I was just dropping my hand from around her shoulder when movement caught my eye.
Turning my head, my eyes met those beautiful ones I loved so much. Ember. Bone deep pain showed in her eyes. Seeing that there made me sick to my stomach. Ember was my world. Seeing her in pain killed something inside of me. It was also my fault.
Cursing under my breath, I took off at a sprint. It was obvious that she’d misunderstood what she saw. I hadn’t told her what we do yet, it just never came up. I was about to let her in on that detail, as soon as I caught her that is. Max started to go after her, but stopped himself when he saw I was going myself. I made sure to yell to Max to take care of Lark, but I didn’t really care if he heard me. She’d be all right; Ember might not.