Series: Like Us Series by Krista Ritchie
Total pages in book: 241
Estimated words: 236417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1182(@200wpm)___ 946(@250wpm)___ 788(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 236417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1182(@200wpm)___ 946(@250wpm)___ 788(@300wpm)
“No,” I force out, my eyes flaming. “Is that seriously how you see me? You think I’d just look at the lineup of girls like they’re….” I can’t even finish the fucking statement—I’m burning alive. “Fuck you, man.” I heat in place. “You wanna call me a dropout, a slut, a meth-head, a loser—I don’t care, but I’m not someone who’d intentionally prey on Luna. The fact that you think I did, just to what? Be a part of the families? It’s more fucked-up than I actually am, so fuck you again.” I adjust in my seat, lit on fire and I contemplate rolling the window down.
I feel Ian checking on me a few times, but I’m glaring out the window. Unable to even look him in the eyes right now. ‘Cause I just wanna pry them out of his skull.
Everything he said courses back through my brain, and I end up snapping back, “And don’t ever fucking talk about her like that again.” I know what he was implying.
I think Ian is going to be quiet, but he ends up saying, “I was going to say Luna is the most sexualized in the media. Doesn’t mean I believe that.”
I work my jaw, trying to calm myself but I feel like there’s too much dirt already piled on top of me.
The car ride is five-times as strained.
Vance whispers to Ian, who just shakes his head a few times, and the handful of moments he tries to meet my gaze, I cut it to the window. Away from him.
I swallow a fiery pit in my throat. “I left for a reason, you know,” I tell the car window more than them. “You think I’m just like my family, but I left ‘cause I was nothing like ‘em.” I lick my dry lips. “And Farrow—yeah, I followed him. Just like you followed your brother. But I didn’t think…I didn’t plan this. I’m not with Luna because of her family. Or because of Farrow. Or because the world thinks she’s fucking easy. I’m with her ‘cause we see in each other what few people see in ourselves. The heart of her is so beautiful it hurts to talk about it at times.” I take a sharp breath. “My whole life, I’ve been running towards a light at the end of the tunnel, and you can think it’s fame or money or whatever sick thing you wanna believe about me—but that’s not the heart of me. It’ll never be. ‘Cause the light is her. It’s the feeling I have when I’m with her. When I see her. When I’m afraid she’s gone. It’s Luna.” My voice breaks, and I rub a hand down my face, my body tensed up.
I try to ease back in the seat and focus on the drive.
Ian and Vance say nothing. I don’t want them to. I’m hoping they remain absolutely fucking quiet.
My phone buzzes.
I check the text.
LUNA
I heard back from Tom. They never left the Cobalt Estate. They’re still there.
Yeah.
I’m not even surprised at this point, but I am relieved they’re not in harm’s way. They’re safely tucked in those silky blue Cobalt sheets. Best news of the night. But it’s sitting alongside the worst news: This whole search party is a sham. A setup.
41
PAUL DONNELLY
Biggest question of the night: Where the hell are Ian and Vance taking me?
Luna messages again.
LUNA
Do the other bodyguards already know Tom and Eliot are at The Cobalt Estate?? Why’d they ask for your help??
Pulling my eyes off the car window, I send back:
Explain later. I’m good tho. Don’t wait up for me.
I add another quick text beneath it:
Love you, space babe 😘 👽
I can’t concentrate on my phone. So I don’t check her reply right away. Vance has turned down several roads. Missed them all. We bump along the roughly paved street, and I see…more farmland?
It’s dark. The moon is gone. I can’t see shit—other than what looks like a barren grassy field.
Once they pull up next to two parked SUVs, I know we’re not alone. This was a group effort.
“Get out,” Ian orders, but I’m already jumping out and walking into the beam of the headlights. It’s where the rest of Epsilon waits.
Cruz Jr. and Greer are smoking cigarettes. Others are on their phones, but they put them away as soon as I come into view. Exhaust plumes from the ass of the cars. They left them running.
My blood is so hot, I can’t even feel the cold wind against my face. “We breaking bread or breaking bones?” I quip.
“You tell him?” Greer asks Ian as both Wreath brothers join the fold.
“Not yet.” Ian stuffs his hands in his bomber jacket.
“Tell me what?” I ask lightly.
I think they’d rather have me on edge ‘cause the first thing O’Malley says is, “How’s Luna?”
She’s safe. The glare I give him could scorch the earth. Any joke I could make just explodes in my head. I’m already amped from the car ride. “Why do you care?” I ask.