Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 84871 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84871 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
Jerking my head from my nephew to Aisha, I see her eyes widen in response. She gives me a nod to let me know she has things handled.
“Kaden,” I grit out. “Come on. Let’s take a walk.”
He groans but obeys. Even though I don’t see my family much, I still keep up with them. Kaden is Rhiannon’s youngest boy. At thirteen, he’s already falling in with the wrong crowd.
Once we’re several feet away from the van and out of earshot, I put my hands on my hips and frown down at the scrawny kid.
“What are you doing, Kaden?”
He crosses his skinny arms over his chest and shrugs. “Going for pancakes.”
“You should be at home with your mom, not riding around with a guy who’s clearly been drinking,” I hiss, pissed at both him and his mother. “This is dangerous.”
“Mom doesn’t care,” he mutters, not making eye contact with me. “You don’t either.”
The guilt I feel when it comes to my sisters’ kids once again punches me in the gut. I want to be the aunt he needs by pulling him to me and hugging him, but I’m on duty and he’s in trouble.
“I’m going to call her to come pick you up,” I tell him. “And we both care. You know that.”
His lip curls up and he gapes at me as though I’ve lost my mind. “Do you know when the last time she bought groceries was? Me neither. Mikey and June, our neighbors, feed me more than she does.”
Anger chases away any lingering guilt. He looks a little bony, but I thought maybe it’s the age. Is Rhiannon really so far up Lenny’s ass that she’s letting her youngest starve?
“Where are Lucy and Trevor?” I ask. “Why aren’t they making sure you eat?”
“Lucy moved in with Grandma and Aunt Nevaeh. She’s been with them since Christmas. Trevor is never home and always off with his stupid friends.” Kaden scowls at me. “You’d know this if you cared.”
I don’t let the guilt trip work this time. I’m not his aunt right now. I’m the law. And right now, Aisha is giving Dennison a breathalyzer test. If he’s been drinking and driving with a minor in the car, the law will have to intervene.
“Once we sort out what’s going on here,” I tell him, my eyes darting back over to Aisha and Dennison, “I’m taking you back home.”
Kaden winces and a flicker of fear shines in his blue eyes. “Whatever.”
Taking a step closer, I study him. He smells like he hasn’t bathed in some time. There are dark circles around his eyes from apparent lack of sleep and his hair is greasy. The kid looks exhausted and tired.
Exactly like I did at thirteen.
When all I wanted was for someone to rescue me from my shitty home life.
I had no one, but he does.
He has me.
“Are you safe?” I ask, eyes locking with his. “Tell me the truth, kiddo.”
His eyes water and he stares down at my feet. “I hate him, Aunt Sloane. I fucking hate Lenny.”
I’m not sure what’s going on, but until I get to the bottom of it, I’m not letting my nephew go back to that man who’s been nothing but an anchor weighing my already fragile sister down.
“You’re coming with me. We’ll get you some food and talk about what’s going on. Maybe you can stay with me a couple of nights or something.”
He searches my gaze, hope brimming in his eyes so bright I’m nearly blinded. “Really? I can stay with you?”
Before I can confirm, he launches himself at me, hugging me tight. My eyes sting with emotion, but I quickly blink it away.
Rhiannon needs to get her shit together and quick.
I’m tired as hell that our family keeps repeating the same mistakes, making each new generation of children suffer from the choices and consequences made by those who were supposed to love and care for them.
I’ll be there for Kaden because no one was there for me.
Dempsey
“There’s coffee and then there’s coffee,” Tate says, emphasizing the second time he uses the word.
“Coffee is the same everywhere. McDonald’s is closer. Why not just grab your iced coffee from there?”
We stop at a red light and he looks over at me, shaking his head in mock frustration.
“Coffee is not the same everywhere. If you’d actually try it, you might like it, and then we could be better friends.”
I snort out a laugh. “I tried it once. It was fucking sick.”
“You got the wrong kind obviously. I’ll make you a connoisseur yet. Just wait.”
I’m amused that he’s driving us to the other side of town just to get iced coffee from a place he and Willa deemed the best of Park Mountain. I never agreed to get coffee for myself. I’m along for the ride and in desperate need to escape my prison.