Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 125020 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125020 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
“I’ve always wanted to ask. That scar, it’s almost in the same spot as Mayven’s. Where’d you get yours?”
I drop my gaze to his chest. “You know how I hate to fight?”
“Yeah,” he says with a smile in his voice.
“It’s not that I can’t. I’m as skilled as Ven and Lex. I can operate a firearm as well. I just chose not to.
“Ven doesn’t remember things the way I do. She passed out from her allergic reaction to the spiders. I think she lost bits of what happened right before it all happened.
“They were trying to separate us, but we weren’t having it. I fought, I bit, I kicked, I did everything I could not to be taken away from her. I hurt one of the men and he got angry.
“That’s when they put us in the room with the spiders. I freaked, tripped, and cracked my head. Mayven protected me. She’s always protected me.”
I pause as the tears start. “If I hadn’t fought back, the spider wouldn’t have bitten her. I thought she was going to die. I almost lost my best friend.
“Now, it’s like I freeze. There’s this voice telling me to fight, but I can’t. Danny almost killed me and that shouldn’t have happened because I can fight. I can protect myself. I’m just afraid of what I might cause if I do. That’s stupid, right?”
He lifts my head and looks into my eyes. “No, it’s not.”
“Yeah, it is because I didn’t fight back, and she ended up in danger because of me anyway. Joshua, I have eyes. Your family is different. You’ve been promising to take care of me. Does that mean you’ll keep Ven from danger? I can’t be the reason something happens to her. Not again.”
He kisses my lips gently. “I promise. Nothing will ever happen to either of you. You both will always be safe. No one wants to see what will happen if I ever feel either of you aren’t.”
“I was stitched up while they saved her. That’s why my scar is faded. I think it was a plastic surgeon. I remember Mom screaming something about getting me a plastic surgeon.”
“I’m sorry. Forget I asked,” he says and pulls me into a tight hug.
Kelex
“Thanks, Pappoús. Everything was amazing,” I say as I walk with my grandfather along the beach.
“You are welcome, Tzósoua mou. I’m going to grant you your freedom as I promised. Just give me some time to choose who will replace you. Unless you’ve changed your mind?” he says with a small smile.
“Not at all. I still want out. I have my family. That’s all I want.”
“A few more months and then I will bury all of this. No one will know who you were born to be, but if you change your mind…”
“I won’t.”
“Fine.” He shrugs. “Just remember. If you are out, you are out.”
“I’m out. You don’t have to worry about me.”
“Then there is a different conversation we need to have. I have another offer. Your new life fits a vacancy I need filled. This is also why I’ve placed Zoe in your life.”
“But I thought Zoe was to help with… You know what, never mind.”
“Listen to me, Tzósoua. I’ve had all of you boys groomed for multiple outcomes. There are four important positions in Bridge Lake and Vander. The head of the family, the counselor, the enforcer, and the mayor. Yannis and I keep things running smoothly through these four.
“No drugs, no federal investigations, plenty of power and money. We have a mayoral vacancy with Marvin Jennings moving into the governor’s mansion. I want you to be mayor.
“You don’t have to decide now, but as you have decided to live a clean life, this is my offer to you. It removes you from all you don’t want but allows you to be someone I trust to keep my hold firm in Bridge Lake and Vander.”
“You want me to run for mayor?”
“Naí, you keep your hands clean; you will walk right into the office. I guarantee it.”
I sigh and rub my forehead. I should have known it wasn’t going to be as easy as I thought. Although this is a much better option.
“Think about it. For now, things are as they should be. Everyone is where we need them. Take your time. I’m proud of you. You are beyond the man I’ve always wanted you to be,” he says with a smile.
“Thanks, Pappoús. I’ll keep an open mind.”
Chapter 58
Walk Away
Kelex
Three months later…
I stand watching Skittles unknowingly laugh with my wife. Nothing about the secrets I’ve been keeping feels right, but I’m being forced to keep them because my father has lost his mind.
I wish Jeff would have kept all this to himself. In the last three months, I’ve learned enough to want to bury my baba right where he stands. However, if I do, it will all fall like a house of cards.