Total pages in book: 192
Estimated words: 182641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 913(@200wpm)___ 731(@250wpm)___ 609(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 182641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 913(@200wpm)___ 731(@250wpm)___ 609(@300wpm)
“My sister.”
“Sister.”
“Yup. Your boys, they stepped in when the people around us failed.” Or some suit-wearing fucker did on their behalf. “Got us out before worse could happen.” I trace the tattoo on my left fist.
Like before, I could come to and point the smoking barrel at my mother’s head and pull the trigger for a third time.
“Got you out …” she trails off, glancing at Maddoc once more. “Like they saved you?”
I saved me, saved my sister, so I don’t say anything. This isn’t a shit-talking chat, and it’s starting to sound like too much of a therapy session for me.
Maybe I smoked too much tonight.
Maybe I know my time here is almost up ’cause there’s somewhere else I’d rather be. And that selfish part of me I never knew I had is burning a bigger pit with each passing day, melting the single-minded side that has only ever wanted one thing, my sister happy and safe in a life she chooses.
I want more now.
I want for me.
And I want to fucking stab myself for it.
“So where is she? One of the girls in the home?” she asks of the group home, wondering if she’s met my sister without realizing it.
“Nah.” I shake my head. “She’s away from here, as she should be.”
“Bass—”
I serve her with a pointed look. Nope. Not doing this shit.
I said what needed to be said to find out what I needed to know—the Brayshaws didn’t tell their new queen anything about me, so chances are they don’t know more than I do. We were only kids when I was brought here, so why the fuck would they?
If there’s someone I’m going to ask about the woman who brought me into this world, it’s becoming clearer it ain’t them … but maybe their dad can help if I can get him to accept my visit.
The hairs on my neck stand in the next moment, my muscles growing stiff, and I know.
I’m about to jump up, but Raven’s words make me pause, confirming what I already figured out.
My rich girl is here.
“And, uh …” I can hear her fucking grin without looking at her. “How about the chick who looks ready to castrate you while also looking like someone pissed in her Pradas?”
I scoff, keeping my face blank and forcing myself to joke with her. “You even know what Prada is?”
“Fancy shit, Collins told me all about it.” She grins.
A low, forced laugh leaves me, and I wait several seconds before slowly looking the way she did.
There she fucking is, Damiano at her side like a good little soldier. This time, I allow my features to harden. Downing the beer because I know she doesn’t expect me to, and small creases form along her temples.
Letting my head fall back lazily, I eye Rocklin while speaking to Rae, so she can read my lips clearly from where she’s standing. “She is the opposite of you—a follower. A rich bitch who only dates rich boys.”
She’s not a follower, I know this, but she did follow her daddy’s rules out of fear, and she needs to get past that. She’ll never have what she wants, what she’s worth if she doesn’t.
It’s not something anyone can do for her. The girl’s gotta figure out how her damn self, to spot the crack she keeps missing, holding on to that family before all bullshit he ingrained in her.
I scoff at the thought.
Damn, she looks good, pissed off and a little tortured, but good.
Her big green eyes beg me to come to her while her sharpened features dare me to deny her.
Cute, Rich Girl. Still pretending you’re in charge when you never have been, not when it comes to you and me.
After a moment, I move my eyes back to Raven.
“Wanna make her jealous?” she jokes, and an instant laugh breaks free.
In my peripheral, Rocklin jerks, but someone keeps her in place.
“Nah, I’m not in the mood to fight your boy tonight.”
“Ah, come on, you can hold your own.” She smiles. “I mean, at first.”
I smirk at her as I push to my feet, letting her keep her little opinion of her man. No need to ruin it for her.
“You’re good people, Bass Bishop.” She offers me her fist, so I push mine into it.
I pull a pre-roll from my pocket and slide my headphones over my ears as I nod goodbye.
I don’t look at Rocklin once, heading in the opposite direction she’s standing, but I know she’s coming.
Pulling my phone out to send a quick message to Hayze, I find he’s already sent one my way.
Hayze: your girl’s here. Six total.
Me: Leave.
Rocklin needs to do the same. She’s got no business being here.
And lookee, lookee … no fucking guard on her tail.
Again.
Rocklin
“Do you want to go to The Enterprise? Maybe wind down and—”