Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 80699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 323(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80699 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 323(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Reading our texts is like an out of body experience. I can tell by our easy banter that we got along great. I can even tell I sent these messages by the style, I know is mine. The disconnect is still there, though. I can’t remember a damn thing, and I get the feeling already in my gut that when I do, I’m going to feel like the biggest asshole in the world.
I head back inside to meet with Kincaid, prepared to have my ass beat for putting my hands on his girl. I find both him and Shadow in the meeting room going over what looks like schematics for a large building.
“What’s that?” I ask angling my head toward the blueprints.
“Floor plans for The Golden Dragon,” Kincaid answers.
“I want to go back with you guys.” I throw it out there even though I know what the response will be. Shadow looks at me like I’m an idiot who just asked to join a beauty pageant or some shit. “I don’t want to be here.”
“You got all your memories back?” Kincaid asks.
I narrow my eyes at him. Stupid question; he already knows the answer.
“You’d be a liability, Kid. Can’t happen. I need you here.” The Prez has spoken.
I collapse on one of the chairs and wait for the reaming I know I’m going to get.
“We should be back in a couple of days,” Shadow says. “Think you can behave for that long?”
Kincaid looks at me with a cocked eyebrow. “You better keep your hands off my girl,” he says with complete seriousness.
I nod because it’s a moot point. I would never have touched her in the first place had I known who she was.
I’m planning to make myself as scarce as possible, at least until my memories come back, and I know the full effect of what I’ve done.
Chapter 33
Khloe
Less than three days until my birthday. I’ve bitten the bullet and called my caseworker. I had to leave a message of course. True to form she still hasn’t called me back. No doubt, she’s waiting for the clock to strike midnight before she returns the call. Heaven forbid she had to do something with my case since I’m still underage.
Somehow, I’ve managed to directly avoid Kid and Snapper. I’ve stayed in my room, and Em has been gracious enough to bring me food and hang out with me so I don’t have to risk running into either one of them. I also know that Doc and Kid are the only members still in the house. Everyone else has left and went to finish up in Vegas. I pray no one else gets hurt there.
“You know you don’t have to hide out in your room,” Emmalyn says before popping a Cheetos in her mouth.
I give her a sideways glance.
“Snapper left.” That gets my attention.
“She’s gone for good?” Her huff screams ‘I wish’.
“She went to visit her grandmother out of state. Diego urged her to leave. Told her it wasn’t good for anyone here for her to stay.”
“I’m sure Kid is mad his easy lay is gone.” It’s petty and I’m bitter, but at this point, I don’t care.
She doesn’t respond to my nasty remark.
“Have you spoken to him?”
“We’ve talked a little bit, but he’s been keeping to himself a lot too.”
“Do you think he remembers us?”
“Not from the limited interaction that I’ve had with him.” She grabs another Cheetos from the bag between us. “I think that when he does, he’s going to be beating your door down.”
I take a long breath and release it slowly. I hope for and dread that day if it ever comes.
“Three days until my birthday,” I remind her. “I don’t think I’ll be here much longer than that.”
“I wish you’d reconsider,” she says softly.
“I’m not running, Em. I just need to do something with my life. Staying here is no longer an option.”
“I get it, Khloe. I honestly do, but everything that you want to do can be done while you live here,” she offers.
“It can’t though, not everything. I need to get over him. I need to get past the hurt feelings I have from a broken relationship I’m not even certain I was in. I can’t do that here. Not with the chance of seeing him every day. It’s not possible.”
She places a comforting hand on my knee. “Have you heard from your case manager?”
“Not yet. She’ll probably call after I age out. I’m hoping I can get in with their aftercare program, but I may be too late. That may be something that has to be set up before turning eighteen.”
I sigh again. I seem to be doing that a lot lately. I couldn’t even tell you the last time I gave someone a genuine smile.
“I haven’t seen him touch anyone else since the night he got back,” she tells me.