Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 105665 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 528(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 352(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105665 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 528(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 352(@300wpm)
“Why? He’s dead.” Ian walked out of the bedroom.
Jersey’s mouth fell agape. That was it? He’s dead?
“Are you serious, Christian Guardian?” She chased after him as fast as her boot would let her go.
He descended the stairs. “My name is not Christian Guardian. Legally, it’s no longer that. It’s Ian Cooper.”
Jersey hopped down the stairs on her good leg, finding it the quickest way to get there. “Oh, that’s super awesome for you.”
Ian grabbed his keys and wallet from the table just inside of the front door.
She continued, “Shedding your skin like a snake and slithering away. I’m still legally Jersey Six. A fucking fantastic name. Jersey Six, whose mother didn’t want her. Jersey Six, who sick fucks liked to touch and sometimes rape. Jersey Six, who killed a man … oh wait … that’s right, Jersey Six has killed two men. I’m one up on you, Coop … G … Ian … whatever the fuck you want to be called in your rock star life.”
His brow wrinkled as he stood by the door, trapped by her words before he could slither out of the house and avoid her yet again. “Do you want a new name?”
“I want you to tell me why you didn’t call Kessler out when you first met him at the hotel or during the many weeks that followed … months … it was months!”
“Jersey, there’s no point in going back. I don’t want to go back. Do you? Do you really want to go back and wake up the dead?”
“I want you to kiss me.”
Ian stood idle for a few seconds before his feet ate up the space between them. He bent down and kissed her on the cheek. She grabbed his face and kissed him on the lips. He pulled away, and so much pain marred his face. It cut her deeper than the knife she threw into his leg.
“Take off your clothes,” she whispered.
He shook his head. “We’re not doing this. That’s in the past. I told you I’m not going back. You don’t need to watch me take off my clothes. I don’t need to watch you take off yours. You’re not a victim anymore, and neither am I.”
“I just want sex.”
“Maybe later. I have to go.”
“I’m having sex with someone tonight.”
Ian stopped, holding open the front door, glancing at her over his shoulder. “You’re not that person.” He brushed off her comment the way he’d been brushing her off for a month. “You’re in a boot. Just order dinner and rest your foot”
“You have no clue who I am.”
“Jersey …” He sighed, hanging his head. “I have to go.”
“Then go.” She tipped her chin up.
“You’re staying here.” He eyed her for a few seconds.
Was it a demand or a question?
“Go.” She met his gaze with a defiant one of her own, pushing her glasses up her nose.
“Are you going to hold this against me?” He sighed, his shoulders deflating inward.
“This? What is this? This moment? This night? This week? This life? Are you going to brush me off forever and blame me for standing up for myself? I don’t even know how I could hold something against you. I’m pretty sure the day I conspired to kill you was the day I lost all rights to be anything but forever grateful that you didn’t have me thrown in prison. So here I am … just waiting. Waiting for you to talk to me. Waiting for your dogs to shit. Waiting for the next book in a series on my audio app. Waiting for the next meal, the next burst of energy to go pound the bag. I’m just waiting, Coop. And it sucks. I’m pretty sure I was less lonely when I had nothing and no one.”
“Jersey …” Another sigh. “Your timing couldn’t be worse. I … I have to go. We’ll figure this out later.”
“Later …” she whispered.
Gone. Coop was gone. She lost him. They were just … going through the motions. Not even that. They were idle. Breathing such shallow breaths, she could no longer feel their pulse.
“This could drag on. Don’t wait up.”
Jersey looked up at him. Nodding. “You either.”
He stopped again, just before closing the door. Studying her for something. Maybe the truth? If he wanted the truth, all he had to do was listen. She spelled it out for him.
He didn’t listen. Instead, he shut the door, got in his car, and left.
CHAPTER
THIRTY-THREE
Just before 2 a.m., Jersey came in the front door and eased it shut behind her, as if to avoid waking Lola and Foxy. When she turned, the lights flipped on and she froze, staring at Ian perched on the bottom of the stairs. He still had on his jeans and button-down shirt, but the top three buttons were undone, and the sleeves were rolled up to his elbows.