Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 88080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
“Hey,” I purr, finally finding my voice. “You know there’s a lot going on with my brother right now. I don’t do well with stress when it involves him. He’s my best friend and sometimes like a father to me. It’s not you. It’s that. You know I want to be with you. It’s why I asked to get back together with you.” I walk up to him and cradle his face. “Remember, baby?”
His face softens. “Yeah. You did come crawling back to me. Begging for this.” He playfully grabs his dick through his jeans. “Soon, baby.”
“Soon,” I agree, forcing a smile. I stand on my toes and kiss him. “Your friends are here. The Hoodlums are being cool. Maybe enjoy Campfire Chaos and relax. Renaldo keeps you too stressed out. Get something to drink. I’m going to check on Roan and then we can make s’mores together.”
He shoves his tongue down my throat and after a few minutes of enduring his mauling, he tears away from me. “Come find me, baby.”
I wave to him and then walk backward into the shadows, shuddering with the urge to throw up. Stopping to take a deep breath, I press into the middle of my chest for a second. I didn’t want to be here tonight, but I was told it was imperative. I do what I’m told because I have to. It’s the only way.
Once I’ve distanced myself from the party, I take a walk through the woods toward the river. At least I can breathe a little easier without Kayden all in my space. It’s too hard to be with him when Jordy’s around. Jordy keeps his expression neutral, but I know it kills him to see me lip locked with Kayden. I know this, because it kills me too.
“Still with the thug, huh?”
A deep, familiar voice has me stopping in my tracks. It’s dark in the woods, but the river is close. I can hear it rushing by. I grasp onto a tree, trying to keep my fear at bay, and whip my head around.
Wes.
“What do you want?”
“He’s a dickhead who’ll be in prison by the time he’s twenty-one,” Wes says from the shadows. “Why would you date someone like him with no future?”
“I don’t think you should be here,” I mutter. “If Kayden sees you, it won’t end well.”
“He’ll pull another gun on me?” Wes chuckles. “I’m prepared this time.”
His ominous words send a chill down my spine.
“You were my friend,” I say in a calm tone. “You thought we were more.”
Wes emerges from the shadows, stepping into a pocket of moonlight. His eyes are manic and wild, his appearance disheveled. He has a gun tucked into the front of his jeans. I take a step back on instinct. His head cocks to the side.
“Don’t think about running off,” he commands. “We have a lot to discuss.”
Tears burn at my eyes, but I blink fast so I can keep him in my sights. I’m just far enough from the loud party, I’m not sure anyone would hear if I screamed. What happens if I do scream? Jordy and Kayden run to my aid and might get shot?
“What do you want to talk about?” I ask calmly. “You have more poems?”
“A fuck ton more,” he says, flashing me a handsome grin. “I can’t wait to read them to you. Like old times.”
I start to turn and run, but he tackles me to the ground. My scream threatens to escape, but his hand covers my mouth. The gun in his pants digs into my ass. I freeze when he rubs his hand up my thigh, dragging my dress up with it.
“Stop moving, Roux, or it’ll hurt. Don’t make me hurt you.”
A sob escapes me and tears rush out. My entire body trembles as he pets me like I’m something to be treasured.
“Shh, don’t cry,” he whines. “It’s just me. Wes. Your friend, but we’re going to be more, Roux. You’re so fucking smart and pretty. We had a connection, but you got spooked. I swear to God I can be better. I can keep you safe from that gangster.” He reaches between us and pulls the gun out, setting it on the ground by my face. “I love you.”
My crying becomes hysterical when he starts to tug my panties down. Wes is stronger and fucking crazy. He easily pins me down. Once my panties are at my knees, he starts undoing his pants. I start to black out, fear overwhelming me.
“What the fuck?”
The voice is familiar. Someone I know and trust. I cry out to him.
Wes is ripped from me with the force of an F-5 tornado. My savior pounces on him, pinning him to the ground. He slams punch after punch into Wes’s face. I manage to yank my panties up and pick up the gun.