Total pages in book: 176
Estimated words: 167257 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 836(@200wpm)___ 669(@250wpm)___ 558(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 167257 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 836(@200wpm)___ 669(@250wpm)___ 558(@300wpm)
I turned my head toward Ruen, who had been leaning against the wall quietly, watching my family drama unfold. She perked up when she saw the intent in my gaze. “The hard way?” she asked me excitedly.
“The hard way.”
Ruen straightened and, without any hesitation, raised her leg and kicked out, planting her booted foot in Jada’s chest. My egg donor went sprawling backward, and the moment she landed, Ruen pounced. She jumped on top of Jada and held her down with a knee in her chest and her hands locked around Jada’s wrists.
“Hurry up, Twinks,” Ruen said, grunting, “this frail bitch is stronger than she looks.”
Jada struggled to free herself while I hurriedly removed the mouth swab from its packaging and bent to collect the sample. Jada turned her head away while keeping her lips closed firmly.
White-hot fury rushed through me, and I punched her temple. I didn’t want to risk ruining the results by knocking out her teeth. “Open your fucking mouth, bitch.”
Rowdy had clearly rubbed off on me. I didn’t know if that was a good thing or terrible thing. Right now, it was a useful thing.
“Touch me, and I’ll have my husband come and air this bitch out!” she screamed.
“Bitch, please,” Ruen taunted. “Your husband is for the streets, and everyone knows it. He probably doesn’t even answer the phone when you call.” A truly cruel smile took over Ruen’s visage. “I bet he answers the phone for his baby mama, though.”
Jada and I both paused in shock. “What are you talking about?” I asked when words seemed to fail Jada. “He has a kid?”
“Yup. A cute little boy too. The baby’s mother stays over in the Garden.” Ruen paused to let the news sink in as her gaze scanned Jada’s face. “She was definitely an upgrade.”
Jada gasped, and though she didn’t deserve my sympathy, my forgetful heart broke a little for her. I knew it had to be painful to hear that your husband had made a baby outside the marriage when you had given him none.
On the other hand, Ruen didn’t seem the least bit sympathetic to Jada’s plight and gave me a pointed look.
Oh. Right.
I took advantage of her parted lips and quickly swabbed her inner cheeks and gums before sealing the sample and standing. The moment I was on my feet, I inwardly swore when I recognized Joren’s black Escalade pulling in.
Ruen noticed, too, and finally freed Jada, her hand going to the back of her waist as she rose.
Joren hopped out of the truck with a scowl and gun in hand, but what shocked me most was when three more cars appeared, burning rubber and pavement as they came to an abrupt stop at the curb.
The rest of the Kings hopped out, but I had eyes only for Rowdy. He barely made it two steps before his eyes found me and he stopped in his tracks. He seemed shocked to find me here.
“Atlas? What are you doing here?” He rudely tramped all over Joren and Jada’s front lawn until he was towering over me while pointedly ignoring Ruen.
I held up the tube. “Getting Jada’s sample.”
“I was going to handle that,” he said, seething.
“And now you don’t have to.”
By now, Joren had helped his wife off the ground and held her while she sobbed dramatically. I rolled my eyes at them both.
“What are you doing here?”
“Got a message that said Jada was getting jumped by some bitches.”
“And you came to her rescue,” I remarked dryly.
“I came to have my boy’s back. It could have been a setup with some jack boys to get him here alone.”
“What a ghetto fabulous life you lead.”
“Chill,” he admonished. And then he looked to my left. “Quintana.”
“Wray,” Ruen returned.
“I thought I told you to stay away from my pussy.”
Ruen smirked and met his gaze head-on. “Then you should guard it better.”
“Bet,” Rowdy promised. He looked at me then and swept me closer with his arm around my waist. I was immediately surrounded by his scent and didn’t know just how much I’d missed it until my knees nearly gave out. “I will.” And then he bent his head and kissed me for the first time since I learned we couldn’t be.
“Owen,” I whined breathlessly against his lips. “We can’t.”
“I don’t care.” He pulled me closer, and I wrapped my arms around his neck. “We’re in the gray, remember?”
I remembered.
It just hadn’t done us any good.
We were too afraid of ruining our souls so irrevocably that there would be nothing left to intertwine or move on with when this was over.
When his tongue teased the seam of my lips, I opened for him, consequences be damned. I wasn’t sure how much time had passed before someone cleared their throat and shocked us back into reality.
“I thought…I thought you didn’t want me anymore. I didn’t know what to do.”