Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 74949 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 375(@200wpm)___ 300(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74949 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 375(@200wpm)___ 300(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
Translation: Neither of us would make it through. They would make sure of it.
“There’s nothing to talk about,” I forced past my lips, hating myself for each and every word. “I’m not here to worry about the past. It’s done. I just want to work and keep my nose clean. Didn’t Parrish tell you that? He’s up my ass every day.”
Frank stiffened, his brows creasing. Rex darted a glance at him, and fuck…they didn’t know. Parrish hadn’t told them I worked with him. Why would he keep it a secret?
Rex recovered first. “He would love to be up your ass all day, or to have you up his. I always figured my baby bro swung like that, but he stopped hiding it about five years back. I think he wanted your dick when we were growing up too. You gay now? Doesn’t that crap happen in prison?”
Well, shit. I hadn’t known Parrish was gay. Not that it mattered. Not that either of our sexualities should matter to them. “I liked dick before I got locked up. Just not yours.” I winked.
“Is that why you couldn’t satisfy Becca?” Rex laughed. “I can’t wait to tell her.”
I didn’t bother explaining that you could like men and women and that body parts didn’t make up people’s gender. They could think what they wanted.
“There’s nothing to tell,” I reiterated, wanting them gone. “I can’t talk about something that didn’t happen. We all know what I did.”
“Good boy.” Frank nodded, and then they got into their truck. I didn’t move, standing there while they turned around, pulling up until they were about two feet from me, but they didn’t hit me. They stared at me until I moved out of the way, got in my truck, and scooted it aside so they could drive away.
The second they were out of sight, I sped down the driveway, heart still in my throat, stomach twisting in worry. I jumped out and ran straight into Grandma’s house. She looked up from the table, where she was doing a puzzle. “Well, what’s gotten into you, running into the house like that?”
I let out a breath, trying to play it off. “Nothing… I just… Nothing.”
She gave me a smile, still loving me despite thinking I’d killed someone, despite all the bad things I’d done in my life. She loved me, and I wasn’t going to let a damn thing happen to her.
“Do you want to help?” Grandma asked.
Puzzles weren’t my thing, but still, I said, “Sure,” and took a seat at the table with her because if I didn’t stay with Grandma, I might do something I couldn’t take back and end up in trouble again.
CHAPTER SIX
Parrish
I groaned when I saw my dad’s name flash on my cell screen. It wasn’t often that he called me. We didn’t have much to do with each other, since he thought I considered myself too good for him and Rex. When he did call, I always knew no good would come of it. For a split second I considered ignoring it, but my dad wasn’t the kind of man who was easily ignored. He would make my life hell until I answered him and he got whatever it was he wanted out of me.
“What?” I gritted out, leaning against the back of my couch. It was early Saturday afternoon, and all I wanted was to enjoy my day off, but it didn’t look like that was going to happen.
“Come over. I need to talk to you.”
“I’m busy,” I lied.
“Get your ass here, Parrish. I said, I need to talk to you.”
I closed my eyes, shaking my head. Jesus, would this shit ever end?
“I’ll be there in an hour. I have shit to do.” It made me feel better to push him off for a little while at least, which was ridiculous, but I’d take my wins where I could get them.
“Fine. See you then.” Before the call ended, I was pretty sure I heard Riven’s name in the background, which set all my senses on alert. They likely knew I worked with him and were upset I hadn’t said anything to them. I couldn’t quite figure out what was going on there. Riven had been the second son my dad wished I were. No matter how hard I’d tried back then, I hadn’t ever fit in with them.
But I never understood why Rex got with Becca so easily, and why he never went and saw Riven when he was locked up. In some ways, it could be excused because my family steered clear of law enforcement, but then, why hadn’t they had any contact since Riven got out? And why had Riven made it so clear he wanted nothing to do with them?
Shoving to my feet, I grabbed my keys and headed out early. Forget my little one-hour lie.