Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 65489 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 327(@200wpm)___ 262(@250wpm)___ 218(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65489 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 327(@200wpm)___ 262(@250wpm)___ 218(@300wpm)
“I not saying anything else without a lawyer.”
Ford huffed. “I feel sorry for whoever has to work up that defense.”
“Can you take it from here?” Miles asked.
Carter and Ford both nodded. Miles wrapped his arm around me and escorted me through the door.
I walked on ahead of him, passing the elevator and moving toward the large window at the end of the hall. I needed a moment. My head was reeling from everything that had happened. I leaned against the glass, trying to catch my breath.
I heard Miles’s footsteps behind me. “Are you all right?”
“Yeah, I just needed a moment. I’m a little overwhelmed.”
He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me back against him. “You were amazing in there, Benjamin.”
“Thank you. It felt good to just let some of my anger out.”
“Good. What do you need now? You can have absolutely anything.”
I laid my hands over his. “You are all I need. I wanted to find security, not only so my family wouldn’t be a threat to me, but so I could feel safe enough to fight back. You taught me that there are people who care.”
He kissed the top of my head. “I do care about you, Benjamin.”
“You and your friends have treated me more like family than any of my biological family ever have. I don’t care what my father or Jesse say or do. They mean nothing to me. I just want to be here with you.”
We stood there, looking out over the city, side by side, and I let myself truly hope again.
40
BEN
Once all the business with Frank was over, I was eager to get back to Miles’s penthouse and celebrate our victory, but Carter had gotten word from his friend at the fire station that we were allowed inside my apartment. I wanted to see how extensive the damage was, gather some clothes to take to the cleaners, and get Felix’s favorite toys if they hadn’t been lost.
Miles insisted on going inside with me. Things weren’t as bad as I’d feared. Everything smelled like smoke, but my bedroom hadn’t suffered much damage. I got the clothes I wanted for now and packed everything in a suitcase.
“My laundry service can make these smell like new,” Miles said.
“I…I don’t know what I’d do without you helping me.”
“I don’t know what I’d do if you’d been harmed. If you’d been home….”
I squeezed his hand. “I wasn’t, and it’s going to be okay.”
He got a call from one of his directors in LA, and I encouraged him to take it. While he was talking, I decided to take out the kitchen trash. The place smelled bad enough, I didn’t need rotten food and bugs to deal with when I came back for the rest of my things.
I signaled to Miles that I was going to take the trash downstairs, he frowned but didn’t protest. I mouthed that I would be right back.
I tossed the bag into the dumpster, but when I turned around, Jesse was there in front of me, pointing a gun at my chest. “It’s so nice to see you again.”
He looked rough, like he hadn’t slept in days. His clothes were torn, and he smelled like he’d been rolling around inside the dumpster.
“Are you happy to see me?” he asked.
“Jesse, what are you doing here?”
“I’m here to kill you, you fucking traitor.”
“Dad won’t like it if—”
“Dear old dad kicked me out, so I don’t give a fuck what he thinks. This is all your fault. You just had to be a slut and sleep with Montgomery, didn’t you?”
My mind raced as I tried to think of anything I could say to stall for time. Miles would worry when I didn’t return. “Jesse, I—”
“Shut up.”
“Please. I can help you.”
He stomped his foot and yelled louder. “I said to shut the fuck up.”
“Ben!” It was Miles. He burst from the back door and started to rush Jesse, but Jesse grabbed me, yanking me against him as he raised his gun, aiming at Miles.
No. This wasn’t going to happen. My family had done enough to hurt me. I wasn’t going to watch Jesse kill the man I loved. I slammed my elbow into his gut.
When he doubled over, I kicked his arm. The gun hit the ground.
Jesse recovered quickly and grabbed me in a chokehold. I dug my nails into his arm, fighting to keep him from cutting off my air.
“Let him go.” Miles had the gun now. It was pointed at Jesse’s head. “I said, let him go.”
Jesse tightened his arm around me. I kicked back at him, trying to force him to loosen his grip.
His body jerked before I registered the pop. I only realized what had happened when his grip on me relaxed. I stared at Miles. “You shot him.”
I started to turn around, but Miles pulled me to him. “Don’t look. It’s messy.”