Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 72340 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 362(@200wpm)___ 289(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72340 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 362(@200wpm)___ 289(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
“Put the gun down, Amara. I know that look. You’re scared, and that’s okay. I’m not going to hurt you guys. Enzo is my friend. I’m his driver. I’m taking you to the safe house.” He is speaking calmly, and I stare at him and then look down at Enzo. He is still breathing, his chest moving up and down, and I know that if I want to save his life, I need to have Jared get us where we need to be.
“Fine,” I reply after hesitating for a moment. I put the gun down on my lap, making sure I can grab it if need be.
“Now, what happened?”
“They wanted to kill him,” I huff out, my head landing on the headrest. My eyes and skin hurt so badly. My head is pounding from all the noise, and my body aches as if I have run up a hill fighting a bear.
“Kill him? Why?” he asks, dumbfounded.
I blow out a breath and take a deep one in, trying to calm myself. My stomach is still in knots, and no matter how many times I look over at Enzo, I can’t help but wonder if he is going to make it. I know it’s only a shoulder wound, but people have died from less serious injuries. Getting shot isn’t to be fucked with.
“They said he was dangerous, out of control. They think I’m working with the FBI or something.” I sound just as Luccio did, and I understand the look on Jared’s face as he absorbs what I have said. I had that same look on my face when Luccio told me.
I watch cautiously as his hands grip the steering wheel harder. “He’s dangerous, Amara. I know I don’t have to tell you that. I know you’ve seen him at his worst. However, he’s not out of control. He’s doing what he is meant to do in life. Luccio wanted him dead for an entirely different reason, I’m sure.”
I hear his words, but they mean nothing to me. The pure fact that Luccio wanted Enzo dead is enough for me to gather that I ended up in the middle of something that is sure to kill all of us. Hell, Enzo is already on the verge of death. Even I am. Being shot at isn’t something I plan on doing daily.
“It doesn’t matter because now Luccio is dead, and all of his men are going to come for us. Plus, there’s some fucking FBI agent in on all of this.” My voice is growing louder and louder. I am scared and panicking. Where do we go from here?
“Just calm down. When Enzo wakes up, I’ll get the full story. You’re in shock, so just breathe and try to calm down.” My eyes grow wide. Is he fucking insane? Somewhere in my mind, I know I need to listen to him, but I just shot a gun. I just killed someone. I fucking killed someone!
“I killed someone!” I cry out as if I am admitting my deepest sin. The gun slips from my lap and to the ground. I have seen death, my mother had died at the hands of cancer, but I have never killed someone. I feel the worst kind of hate eating away at who I am.
“You had to. It was you or them.” Jared doesn’t sound remorseful at all.
“That’s not me, though. I wouldn’t ever kill someone. I don’t even know who I am anymore…” The last part isn’t meant to come out of my mouth, but I can’t believe what I’ve done. I knew the moment I pulled the trigger, someone would die.
“It was either you or him. I can promise you, he wouldn’t have felt anything if he shot and killed you. He deserved it.” My body trembles. Shouldn’t I be crying? Am I really in shock?
“That doesn’t matter. I killed someone.” The words are tumbling out of my mouth.
“You had to.” The way he says it makes it seem final. His stare is gentle, and I know he understands what I am going through. When I said I would pay my father’s debt, I didn’t think I would actually be doing this.
“Where are we going?” I ask, my eyes going back to Enzo. He is still breathing, but his body isn’t moving. When I touch his cheek, it’s hot to the touch. I keep my hand against his fevered skin to remind myself that he’s still here with me. Hot skin is better than cold.
“The safe house is up in the mountains. It’s about an hour and a half drive. We need to get the code for the security system from Enzo, and we can get in the house.” His eyes go from me to the road to the rearview mirror to check what I’m doing. I wonder if he thinks I am going to shoot myself or something. I didn’t survive that just to end my own life.