Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 74022 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74022 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 370(@200wpm)___ 296(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
Growling, I stand and walk into the house, jeans still unbuttoned at the top. I reach the front door and open it, seeing an unfamiliar face.
A man stands, his eyes on mine, a grin on his face.
Who the fuck is he?
I’ve never seen him before in my life.
“Well well, what are the odds I’d be so lucky? But it would appear, today is my day.”
I open my mouth and growl, “Who the fuck—”
And that’s as far as I get.
Before he plunges a needle into my neck.
And my entire world goes black.
~22~
NOW – CHANTELLE
Well.
That didn’t quite go as planned. I certainly didn’t plan on going in there and having sex with Boston, and then walking out as he sat almost blankly. I hoped my words would penetrate. I hoped they’d get through. But I don’t think they did. I just...don’t think they got in there. It’s hard to know. He was so closed off compared to what he usually is. It’s like he has just given up.
And that terrifies me.
Because I don’t want him to give up.
I know Penny forgiving him will mean everything, but I don’t know if she’s going to give that.
And can anyone truly blame her?
After all, she did see something horrific and that would have scarred her. On its own, it would have been bad enough, but coming from a man she adored, it would have felt even worse.
But he was protecting her.
Surely, she can see he isn’t a monster?
I consider going to her, but I have enough to worry about right now, like the fact that I still haven’t told Boston I’m pregnant. Hell, after today, I don’t even know if I’m going to. I honestly don’t know a damned thing right now, except my mind is a blurred mess and I’m not sure how to get it back to thinking clearly.
I arrive home, and sigh loudly when I see Yolanda standing at my front door, hands on her belly, clearly waiting for me.
Dealing with her and Enzo, that’s a whole other problem I’m honestly not looking forward to right now. The club has enough to deal with, they don’t need extra drama from me. But, they do have to be dealt with. I’m just not entirely sure how to do that just yet.
I take a deep breath and get out of my car, walking very slowly and hesitantly up to the front door. For all I know, she’s about to pull out a gun and shoot me. Anything is possible when it comes to the desperate love she seems to have for Enzo. I don’t know why, I’d never want someone who was in love with my sister first. Each to their own, I guess.
“I will call the police,” I say to her, approaching cautiously.
She turns more towards me, and I can see she’s been crying. Hard. Her face is puffy and red, and there are still fresh tear streaks on her face. She’s clutching that belly like it’s going to get up and run away from her.
“I’m not here to start anything with you, Chantelle. Hell, I shouldn’t even be here.”
I cross my arms and keep my distance, “Then why are you here?”
She looks around. “I’m...I’m here to warn you. Then I’m leaving. I’m leaving town, and I’m never coming back. Enzo is out, and he’s...lost his mind. I thought, I don’t know, that we would have this magical reunion and run off together. But he’s...different now. He hurt me.”
She reaches down and lifts her shirt, and her stomach is bruised – deep, dark marks marring her skin. My eyes widen and it’s only then I see them up her arms, too.
“Have you been to a doctor?” I gasp.
She nods. “They tell me the baby is okay, somehow. I don’t know how, but I’m not taking the chance he could change that. I’m leaving, and I’m not coming back. I should have done it a long time ago, but I was stupid, and selfish, and whatever...that means nothing now. I won’t put my child in the hands of a monster.”
I’m not entirely sure I believe her, but I nod anyway. It takes a lot of guts to do that, if that’s really what she’s doing and this isn’t some sort of trap. It’s hard to tell, to be honest.
“Is this some sort of trick?” I ask her. “Because I swear, I’m about at the end of my rope.”
She shakes her head. “No, it isn’t a trick. But I understand why you think it would be. I’m not here to set you up, once I leave here, I’m gone. Nobody is going to see me again. I’m here to tell you that Enzo is taking Boston. He probably already has. He had it all perfectly planned. He’s going to use him to get the money he needs from you. I’m warning you because, I don’t know, it might give you and the club a small chance. But Chantelle, please know, he will kill him. Without hesitation. That man is a monster, and in all honesty, he scares me. I don’t know if me warning you is going to help Boston in any way, but I can tell you, Enzo is alone. He’s acting alone. Be smarter than him, and you might just get Boston back in one piece.”