Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 82715 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82715 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
“I’m aware of that,” Dad said grimly. “Idiot’s already dead, though.”
“Say what?”
“Yeah.” He was quiet for a few moments. “Started seizin’ on the way out of town. By the time we got to where we were goin’ fucker was already dead.”
“What the fuck?”
“Head wounds are un-fuckin’-predictable,” he mumbled. “Don’t tell your brother.”
“I won’t,” I sputtered in disbelief. Otto didn’t need to know he’d killed a man. He was too young to carry that weight.
“It’s over,” Dad said tiredly. “All taken care of.”
“I know I fucked up,” I told him, staring into the living room.
“Good,” he replied instantly. “Lucky for you it turned out okay.”
“Yeah.”
“Next time—”
“There won’t be a next time,” I said, cutting him off.
“There’s always a next time. Thankfully, you’re not a fuckin’ idiot, and you’ll learn from this.”
“I thought he was gone.” I ran my hand over my face. “Fuck, Dad. I thought he’d gotten the message.”
“Unfortunately for him, he was an idiot,” my dad grumbled. “Go take care of your family. I’m goin’ to bed.”
“Alright,” I said, talking to myself because he’d already hung up.
Light was beginning to filter in through the windows as the sun came up, and I knew I wasn’t going to be able to sleep. I just stared at the living room, picturing Emilia standing there frozen with Rhett in her arms. Parker holding her their at gunpoint. Fucking taunting her.
I got up quickly and strode into the room. Less than ten minutes later, the recliner was on the sidewalk out front with a free sign on it. It was a nice chair—someone would pick it up.
I was moving the couch into a different spot when Emilia made her way silently down the stairs.
“What are you doing?” she asked quietly, her voice hoarse.
“Redecoratin’,” I replied, straightening. I rubbed at the back of my neck, a little embarrassed. Maybe it had been a stupid idea, but I’d thought that it might help if shit looked different when she came back downstairs.
“I like it,” she said with a small nod. “But now you’ll have to move the TV or you won’t be able to see it from the couch.”
“Shit,” I muttered, glancing at where the television was mounted to the wall.
“You didn’t have to do this.”
“I know,” I acknowledged, turning back to look at her.
“Did you sleep at all?” she asked gently.
“Nope.”
“Yeah.” She sighed, crossing her arms over her chest. “I kept waking up thinking I’d open my eyes and he’d be standing in your room.”
“He’s not gonna be back,” I assured her.
“You didn’t see him,” she argued. “He was so sure that I took that money.”
“He won’t be back, Emilia,” I repeated firmly, hoping she wouldn’t ask any questions. I wasn’t forbidden from telling her, no one had given that order, but the less she knew about her old boss, the better for her.
“Oh,” she breathed, understanding dawning on her face. “Okay, then.”
“You’re safe, sugar,” I said, taking a step forward. “I swear I won’t ever let somethin’—”
“Michael,” she said, lifting one hand to stop me. “I think me and Rhett should stay with your parents until I find a place.”
“What?” She couldn’t have surprised me more if she’d slapped me.
“We tried, you know,” she murmured with a shrug. “But living together isn’t working. This isn’t working.”
“Sugar, I know I let you down,” I said, my heart starting to thump hard in my chest. “I fucked up. I know you can’t see past that now—”
“That’s not what this is,” she said, shaking her head. “Not at all.”
“Then why do you think you need to move?”
“I needed you at the club yesterday,” she replied, her eyes sad. “I was scared and embarrassed, and I needed you, and you bailed.”
“I already told you—”
“You bailed because you’re still angry at me,” she said, talking over me. “And I get it, okay? I do. But I can’t just live here, waiting for the day that you decide to forgive me for something I didn’t feel like I had any control over. I can’t live like that, half in and half out and walking on eggshells so you don’t get pissed and take off for a few hours… or for good. I thought I could, but I can’t.”
“I’m not goin’ anywhere.”
“You’re saying that because of what just happened,” she said, lifting her hands in supplication.
“I’m sayin’ it because it’s the damn truth.”
“Keep your voice down.”
“You want me to tell you I love you? I love you. There. Done. You’re not movin’ out.”
Emilia scoffed. “Yeah, that’s exactly what I was looking for.”
“I told you,” I said, stepping forward. “You leave and there’s nowhere on this earth I won’t find you.”
“You won’t have to look,” she sputtered. “We’ll be two miles away at your parents’ house.”
“No, you won’t.”
“Why are you making this so hard?” Her hands balled into fists.
“That’s what she said,” I replied, the words falling off my tongue with zero thought.