Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 77992 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77992 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
“I can’t wait to get you in my tent tonight,” I growl against the shell of his ear. “I’m going to—”
My words are cut short by the thumping of loud bass. A black SUV rounds the curve, blinding us in its headlights. We break apart and I squint, trying to figure out who the fuck is crashing our party. I know everyone who comes here and no one has a car like that. It passes us, heading for the campfire.
“Come on,” I say, taking Hollis’s hand and squeezing it.
We walk hand in hand back toward the group and I reluctantly let go at the last second. Some guys hop out of the black SUV and walk right over to Jordy. I don’t like the way they’ve crowded him.
“Stay here,” I order, trudging around the campfire to my friends.
Cal and Terrence are standing behind Jordy, their eyes narrowed and bodies tense. Hatred gleams in Jordy’s eyes. When he sees me approaching, fear flashes in his eyes. Fucking fear. Oh hell no.
“Can we help you?” I snap, coming to stand beside my best friend.
The motherfucker clearly in charge who wears a red bandana laughs at me. “What are you? The fucking butler?”
I fist my hands, but Jordy grips my bicep, stopping me from pummeling this asshole.
“What do you want, Renaldo?”
Renaldo.
“Just checking up on you, buddy.” Renaldo grins. “You haven’t been to work in a few days. Juno’s swamped. I told him I’d pay you a visit to see what’s up.”
“School. Basketball,” Jordy bites out. “I’m in high school in case you forgot.”
“I didn’t forget,” Renaldo says. “I also didn’t forget you have a job helping your brother with cars at his shop. My cars. They’re piling up, which means I can’t sell that shit. You know what happens when I don’t sell that shit?” He sneers at Jordy. “I don’t make money. The way I see it, you’re keeping me from getting paid. Want to explain to me why you’ve got beef with me, kid?”
“I’ll help him,” I blurt out. “Get caught up.”
“Hey,” one of Renaldo’s friends says. “Aren’t you that fucker who beat the shit out of my homie?”
I freeze, turning my attention on the guy. I’ve seen him plenty of times before at the apartment. He runs in Alejandro’s crew. Fuck.
“You’re a goddamn idiot if you think we’re rehiring you,” Jordy sneers my way, ignoring the guy. “You fucked everything up. Terrence will help me. We’ll get your shit caught up, Renaldo.”
“Yep,” Terrence agrees, though I don’t know he realizes exactly what he’s agreeing to.
Jordy shoots me a fiery glare that tells me to back the fuck away now. I refuse to leave him, but I keep my mouth shut.
“Good,” Renaldo says. “Very good. See you tomorrow.”
They all turn to leave except Alejandro’s friend. I glower at him, warning him with my hate-filled stare to leave before I bust him in his fucking teeth. He spits in the snow before leaving without another word.
As soon as the vehicle is gone, kids start laughing and cutting up again, no longer interested in what the Hoodlums are up to. I can tell Hollis is worried, but he stays back with his friends.
“You,” Jordy snarls. “In the cabin with me. Right the fuck now.”
Feeling like a scolded child, I follow him inside. As soon as the door slams shut behind me, he rages.
“What the fuck were you thinking?” he bellows. “I need you to stay the fuck away so you don’t get involved!”
I shove him. “You’re my best goddamn friend. If you’re into shit, I’m there with you.”
“No,” he snaps, gripping my coat and slamming me into the wall. “You don’t get to because you have a motherfucking job. Roux. Don’t ever forget.”
All the fire is snuffed out as I take in his words.
He’s right.
I was so careless.
“I didn’t think,” I mutter. “I just…I didn’t like how he was talking to you. I wanted to help you.”
“You will help me,” he says in a softer tone, “if you and Roux just stay out of it.”
“That guy was Alejandro’s friend.”
He releases me and scowls. “I know. I’ll take care of it.”
“How? He knows we’re friends.”
“I’m good at what I do for them. Renaldo likes me, hence the fucking visit. If Franco starts sniffing around, I’ll say something to Renaldo to get him to back off.”
“What if he doesn’t back off?”
“He will.”
“And if he doesn’t?”
“I’ll fucking make him.”
It’s cold as fuck, but now that Hollis has joined me in my sleeping bag, I’m quickly warming up. Rather than let me fuck his brains out, he runs his thumb along my bottom lip. I can’t see him in the dark, but I can feel his frown.
“What?” I grumble.
“Is everything okay?”
“I’m just worried about Jordy. He’s gotten himself into some messy shit.”
His lips brush against mine. “He seemed hell-bent on keeping you away from it.”