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)
Chapter 31
Khloe
My heart fluttered and felt whole for the first time in as long as I could remember when he looked at me and crooked his finger to join him; then it shattered to a million pieces when Shadow whispered in his ear and Kid had Snapper join him.
I knew he wasn’t the same when his gaze just drifted over me when he first walked in. It was worse when I saw him manhandle Emmalyn, but they have a weird relationship, so I wasn’t going to let it bother me as much. Watching him walk out of the room with his hand in hers… the feeling in my gut then has only been eclipsed by two other life events; finding my parents dead and reading about Alec’s death online.
I watch with wide tear filled eyes as the red-headed whore struts back toward Kid’s room. The look on her face can’t be described any other way than pure bliss. I realize then I never should’ve come here. I’d rather live on the street in fear for my life every day than to feel my heart getting torn out by a man I’m pretty certain I’ve fallen in love with.
Shadow’s name being called from the front door pulls my attention from watching my heart walk away in the hands of a club whore. Kincaid has stuck his head in the doorway holding his phone up to Shadow with a serious look on his face. Shadow joins him on the front stoop, and Emmalyn follows shortly behind him pulling the door closed behind them.
I hold my head as high as I can, knowing I’m going to lose it when I enclose myself in my room. Gypsy gives me a sad smile as I walk by. I don’t know where Rose disappeared to, but I’m grateful she’s not around to witness my heartbreak. The last thing I need right now is the comforting words of the club mother, condoning Kid’s and Snapper’s behavior.
The tears are falling freely down my face before I can even make it to my room. Kid’s room is down from mine, and as much as I want to bang my fists on the hard wood and demand he make her leave his room, I know I can’t.
He doesn’t know me. He doesn’t remember one second of the time we’ve shared. I’m a complete stranger to him.
Emmalyn’s words about the doctor insisting that everyone needs to allow his memories to come back naturally rings in my head. Having some idea of what he’s doing in that room with Snapper shatters me, but I care for him enough to not cause further trauma by insisting he stop behaviors that were completely natural to him before I came along. For all I know he never stopped messing around with the other women here.
It doesn’t matter now; the damage has been done. I knew better than to allow myself to feel for someone. This will just be another layer of armor around my already metal-filled heart.
I wipe my face with the back of my hand and straighten my spine with more bravado than I actually feel. Slowly, I make my way to the en-suite bathroom and wipe my face.
I stare into the mirror at my puffy eyes and blotchy skin. “At least he’s alive,” I tell the damaged girl that looks back at me.
Unable to watch the reflection of my heart breaking any longer, I make my way back out into the bedroom. I cross the room and open my door a crack. I know I can see his door from mine when I’m sitting on my bed. A glutton for punishment, I turn off my lights and crawl between cold sheets; sheets I was certain were going to be kept warm by two bodies tonight.
My eyes are on fire, and my vision has begun to grow blurry as I stare across the hall, attempting to will this whole day away. I’m on the cusp of emotionally exhausted sleep when I see Shadow cross in front of my room and bang on Kid’s door.
A long minute passes before the door is pulled open. Standing in the doorway, clad only in a translucent thong, is Snapper. Bright eyes and a Cheshire grin mark her face. I can feel the bile rising up my throat, but I can’t seem to turn my eyes away from her. Disheveled hair and the pink flush to her cheeks inform me that although I’d hoped he’d change his mind, he clearly didn’t.
“Where is he?” Shadow growls.
I admit I’m happy when I see her frown at his brusque tone.
“He’s in the shower,” she answers timidly, taking a step back from him.
“Get your shit and get out,” he demands.
She steps away from the door, and a minute later she walks out in one of Kid’s shirts. I see Shadow grab her arm as she tries to skirt past him.