Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 103356 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 517(@200wpm)___ 413(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103356 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 517(@200wpm)___ 413(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
Ryleigh took pity on her and climbed up onto the seat next to her. Lilac wrapped her arms around her, running her hand over Ryleigh’s dark blonde hair. She glanced over at Opal, who was staring at them both worriedly.
“I’m fine. I’m sorry I’ve been worrying the two of you. But none of this is your fault, Ry. I was the one who decided to . . . to sleep with Tanner.”
To fall in love with him.
“I can’t believe he found us in Hopesville,” Ryleigh said, looking pensive. “And that it took us so long to lose his goons again.”
When she’d spotted Stefan’s goons in Hopesville, they’d hightailed it out of there. They’d been on the move for months, too afraid to settle in one place.
But things were different now. They couldn’t keep running like this.
Regret sat like a brick in her tummy. What must Tanner think of her? She hadn’t even been able to text him goodbye. Had he turned up at the bar only for her to stand him up?
Yeah, he had to hate her.
“Stefan’s going to find us again,” Lilac said. Fear filled her. Not for herself. But for Ryleigh and Opal.
And Kye.
“He can’t get his hands on Kye,” Ryleigh whispered.
“There’s no fucking way we’re letting him fucking touch Kye,” Opal said with a scowl.
“What shall we do, though?” Lilac asked.
The other two women, her best friends, shared a look. And she knew what their answer was going to be. She could feel it. They’d been heading down this track ever since she got a job at that bar, hoping to meet one of the Malones.
“We’ve got to go to them,” Ryleigh whispered.
Yeah. They did.
Or at least, Ryleigh did. They’d help her and Kye. Lilac was sure of that. If she’d learned nothing else, she knew the Malones took care of women and children.
At least, ones that didn’t cross them.
“Do you think they’ll accept us?” Ryleigh asked her.
God. This wasn’t what she deserved. None of it. Right now, Ryleigh should be enjoying this stage of her life. Not on the run, scared, worried about the future.
Worried about you.
Lilac had to pull herself together. At least long enough to get them to Haven.
And then she could leave.
“We’re nearly out of fucking cash,” Opal stated. As usual, her hair was teased up to about five times its normal volume. She liked her skirts short and her shoes high. Her make-up could best be described as loud. A lot like the woman herself.
And she was the kindest person Lilac had ever met.
Loyal to a fault. There was nothing that Opal wouldn’t do for them.
“We’ve got to do something, and we all know it,” Opal stated. “So, is this the best fucking option?”
Lilac stared at Ryleigh who was staring out the window. They’d found a place to park up last night, but they’d have to head out soon before someone came along and called the cops on them.
There was a toilet in the vicinity but no showers, so they’d all washed up as best they could with the cold water from the sink.
But Opal was right . . . they had to do something. They were running out of cash and options.
“We’re going to Haven,” she said.
Ryleigh took hold of her hand. “You’re sure? Maybe we can think of something else.”
Lilac let out a breath. “No. We probably should have gone there months ago.”
Maybe they would have if it wasn’t for Lilac and her broken heart. Perhaps, even now, they could have been safe.
“Nope,” Opal said. “We did the fucking best we could. We had to get rid of those assholes, then lie low for a while until things died down. Still don’t fucking believe all that hype. It can’t be real. Women being looked after and cared about.” She made a scoffing noise. But Opal was probably the most cynical of them all. “We still need to be sure that they can protect Ryleigh and Kye.”
“And you guys.” Ryleigh’s head shot up, looking over at them both in alarm. “You two are staying with me. Right?”
Lilac glanced over at Opal. The other woman looked uncharacteristically unsure.
“You have to stay!” Ryleigh cried.
“They won’t want us to stay,” Lilac said. “Or me, at least.”
“Well, they don’t get a say, right?” Ryleigh said. “All for one and one for all. Right?”
“We ain’t no musketeers,” Opal told her. “This hair isn’t going under no hat. That would be a crime.” She fluffed her hair. Lilac hated to think about how much damage all the hairspray it took to keep her hair like that was doing to the environment.
But right now, she didn’t have time to worry about the environment. She was busy trying to keep them all alive.
“Okay, so we’re not the musketeers,” Ryleigh said. “We’re like Shrek, Fiona, and Donkey.”
“I’m Donkey!” Opal said.
They stared at her.