Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 99766 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 499(@200wpm)___ 399(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99766 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 499(@200wpm)___ 399(@250wpm)___ 333(@300wpm)
I push play on the video and shove it in his face. His smile falls and then fury morphs his features. He shoves it away before it’s done playing. Sitting up, he grabs my wrist, glaring up at me.
“Those motherfuckers sent this to you?” he growls.
“Eli specifically. He was the one taking the video.” I pluck my arm from his grip and pocket my phone. “I want revenge and, Jace, I need you to help me.”
Amber eyes glow at me like windows into the devil’s soul. “We including Daddy Gary?”
“Nope.” I pop the P. “Terrence neither. He has Zella to think about.”
He nods. “I’m in.”
“Thanks, pet.”
I start to walk away, but he stands and yanks me to him for a fierce hug. I’m stiff, still burning with anger, but I allow myself a hug from an unlikely friend. Tears burn at my eyes and I have to swallow down my emotion.
“We’ll make him pay,” he assures me. “We’ll do it together.”
I sniffle and nod. “I knew I could count on you.”
“You always can.”
Terrence
“Sorry to call you on a Sunday morning, doll,” Samantha purrs down the line. “I have a visitation set up for you.”
My heart skips a few beats. “No shit? Today?”
“From noon to six.”
“Renee bringing her here?”
“She will, but she’s not staying.” Her fingernails make a loud clicking as she taps away on her keyboard. “Also, I spoke with Barry. He’s got a few reports from neighbors of what an asshole Jack was. You can’t arrest someone for being an asshole, but it’s a start.”
“Those letters…”
“Don’t implicate him,” she says with a sigh. “Sure, we can read through the lines, but we need something more concrete. It’d be helpful if Lacey would show her face. Her testimony would be what we need to put him away, and at the very least secure your custody over Zella.”
I glance at the clock. A quarter to eleven. Putting my phone on speaker, I start dressing quickly so I’ll be ready when Renee arrives with Zella.
“Did he call Mary Stevens?” I ask.
“He did. All Mrs. Stevens knows is that Lacey was a sweet, talented girl and she still owes her money. She’s worried about her. Barry asked if Lacey ever mentioned Jack or someone hurting her. Mrs. Stevens said she didn’t. Talked about her little girl a lot. Mentioned she was saving money up so they could get out on their own.”
“Anything else?”
“No.” She sighs. “But we’ll figure it out. Our main concern right now is getting you custody of Zella. It was one thing when you didn’t know she existed, but now that she’s here and the paternity test proves you’re the father, without Lacey, Jack will have a hard time earning any custody. He’ll have grandparent rights he can fight for, but those visitations will be just that. Zella is going to be yours. These things just take time.”
“Thanks, Samantha.”
After we hang up, I quickly shower and shoot Penny a quick text.
Me: I get to see Zella today. I’ll call you after dinner later. How’s the lip?
Penny: Jace now calls me Tyler Durden.
Me: From Fight Club?
Penny: That’s the one. How’s Tierra?
I walk out of my room to find Tierra sassing Cal in the kitchen. They’re both laughing and cutting up, much to my relief.
Me: Being her usual self.
Penny: Good.
Me: Talk later, baby.
“Zella’s coming over,” I state as I poke Tierra’s side, making her squeal. “Where’s Charlotte?”
“In the shower,” Cal says. “Do we need to bail?”
“Nah, man. I get to keep her for six hours.”
“I get to meet my niece,” Tierra says with a huge, silly grin. “I can’t wait.”
“She’s your cousin, dumbass, not your niece.”
“Don’t be a brat,” Tierra sasses. “I can be Aunt Tee if I want.”
“Whatever, weirdo. How’s the ankle?” I ask, nodding at her bright orange cast that matches Cal’s on his hand.
“Hurts like a bitch.” Her lips pull into a frown. She leans her ass against the counter to swing her crutch out at Cal. “But I have this weapon, so that’s fun.”
“Garrett said you’re out for the season. How are you dealing with that?” I lift a brow at her, scrutinizing her emotions.
She deflates a little. “It sucks.”
“It does.” I give her a side hug. “If it makes you feel any better, there were several witnesses. It’s considered assault and it’ll be up to you if you want to press charges. Rockford’s coach already texted me this morning saying she’s been kicked off the team and expelled.”
Tierra grimaces. “Cool.”
“Has she or anyone from your old school been bothering you since you moved here?” Cal demands, folding his arms over his chest.
Tierra scowls and her eyes darken, but she simply shrugs. Cal and I exchange a heavy look that has Tierra huffing.
Charlotte pushes past us, shaking her head. “Leave her alone. You can interrogate her later. For now, she’s going to keep me company while I make lunch.”