Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 27296 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 136(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27296 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 136(@200wpm)___ 109(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
“There’s nothing really interesting about my life.”
“A pretty little thing like you? I find that hard to believe. I bet you get into all types of adventures.”
Kaliah, shook her head. “That’s very kind of you to say, but no. I basically go to work to a very boring job, I come home, watch some television, go to bed and then start over again. I like to read and crochet for fun.”
“There’s nothing wrong with a peaceful life. Things are pretty quiet around here at Serenity Falls. How about spending time with your family and friends?”
“Honestly, I’m not super close to my family. I’m the typical middle child and my siblings are excellent at everything they do. At least that’s what my parents constantly tell me. I’ve been accused of being boring which is why I’m an afterthought to them most of the time. As for my friends…well, we were supposed to go to Green Springs for the annual Halloween festival because it’s a huge deal but I learned that they only asked me to come along because someone else dropped out.” She shrugged to give off a nonchalance she didn’t quite feel.
However, to her chagrin, a tear spilled from the corner of her eyes which she hastily wiped away. “Maybe it’s for the best that the car is out of commission because I don’t have to spend the week pretending I don’t hear their sly remarks about me or act as if it doesn’t bother me when I’m excluded.” Kaliah didn’t know why she was telling this stranger her life story as if she was on a psychologist’s couch but there was something comforting about this woman.
Trudy stood and walked around the table to take the seat next to her. She patted Kaliah on the shoulder. “Don’t waste your tears on those who don’t deserve them. Besides, I have a feeling that your life is about to change.”
CHAPTER 5
“Fuck you, Hendrickson! Your boy was just as responsible for last night as my brothers were.” It took every ounce of willpower in Colt’s body not to pounce on this pompous asshole.
After surveying the results of the bar brawl last night, Colt was certain he’d get a visit from Rolf Hendrickson, one of the town’s council members who was in charge of enforcing the laws of Serenity Falls. Rolf was not a fan of the Black family and Colt suspected it stemmed from a grudge carried over from when his parents were still alive.
There were rumors that Rolf had something to do with his parents dying but Colt could never prove it. Besides, his priority became his two younger brothers.
Rolf Hendrickson’s eyes flashed bright red and he bared his lengthened canines. “Yet, my boy is the one who’s dead.”
“You’re the one who pushed to make these challenges legal. You said that it would keep the peace if things are settled the way nature intended them to be. You did it because those boys of yours were gutting residents with impunity.”
“Now just wait a minute. My boys—”
“Are dangerous. In fact word around town is that Darren had planned on challenging Leland to a fight. You know my brothers rarely go to that bar anymore yet from what I heard, they received an invitation from one of Darren’s cronies about some information he heard about our parents.”
A rush of red covered Rolf’s entire face going to top of his gray roots. “Now don’t go lying on my boys or their friends. Everyone in town knows it’s your brothers with the reputation for destroying things. They have a higher body count than anyone in Serenity Falls.”
“Every single one of those deaths were a result of a challenge. You know, the challenges you and your buddies on the council made legal. You know the town rules as well as I do. You may be on the council but that doesn’t mean you and your family gets special privileges.”
Rolf advanced on him and stabbed his forefinger into Colt’s chest. “My boy didn’t deserve to be put down without just cause.”
Colt who had the older man by nearly a foot stared pointedly at the boney finger pressed into his chest. He released a low growl that made his entire body rumble. “Do I by chance take this as a challenge?” The heat in his eyes and the thick coarse hair that popped up through his pores signaled that he was very close to unleashing a side of him he’d fought hard to suppress.
He wasn’t as eager to fight as Leland and Zeke but he never backed down from a fight if it meant protecting his own.
Rolf may have been a calculating weasel, but he wasn’t stupid. He immediately backed away with his hands up. “No challenge has been issued. But hear me out, Black, there will be retribution for what your family has done to Serenity Falls, you mark my words.”