Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 60576 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 303(@200wpm)___ 242(@250wpm)___ 202(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60576 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 303(@200wpm)___ 242(@250wpm)___ 202(@300wpm)
Ouch.
“Am I wrong?”
I bite my lip, not sure how to answer.
His words hurt, but they are somewhat true. I have lived in my father’s shadow for so long, I don’t know who I am outside of it. I don’t know who Mera Sloane really is, if not the Shadow Butcher’s daughter.
“I don’t know anymore,” I admit, honestly.
“Hear him out, Red.”
With that, he gets up, crushes the joint out on the dirt, and leaves. I don’t move, my head spinning in a blissful high that I’m wanting to enjoy for a second longer before I go and face reality. I’m not even sure what that reality is. This has changed everything, and I’m not sure where to go from here.
I don’t know who Wolfe really is, and if I’m truly honest with myself, I don’t know who I am, either.
Pushing to my feet, I go straight back to my room, closing and locking the door. My body aches, my heart hurts, and my head is spinning. Walking over to the bed, I fall down onto it, the flood of tears coming, even though I inwardly beg them not to. I roll to my side, sobbing until it hurts. I didn’t ask to be born into the life I was given, and I’m tired of trying to figure it out.
The pounding on my door has me swiping my tears away and lifting my head, but I don’t say anything.
“Open the door.”
It’s Wolfe.
I’m not sure I can face him right now. Each look into his eyes shatters my heart a bit more. I was a fool to let myself fall for him. I should have kept my distance, never set foot in this club. Honestly, I should never have come to this town at all.
“Know you’re in there. You either open the door, or I’ll kick the fucker in.”
He’s in that kind of mood, is he?
Fine.
I’ll take Knox’s advice. I’ll let him speak.
Then, I’ll pack my things and leave this club, never looking back.
At least then I know I have done the right thing.
Pushing to my feet, I walk over, opening the door and turning before I even cast my eyes over him. I hear his booted steps as he walks in, then the door closes behind him. I don’t turn and look, I can’t. If I see him, I don’t think I’ll ever stop crying. I’m tired of crying, and more than that, I’m tired of feeling that sting in my chest when I think of the feelings I’ve developed for him.
“Look at me.”
His voice is firm, but possibly kinder than I’ve ever heard it.
“I’m scared to look at you, Wolfe. I don’t think I’ll be able to stop this pain if I do.”
He steps up closer to me, his chest so close to my back that I can feel the heat radiating off him. “Turn around, Mera. Look at me.”
I close my eyes, and more tears drip from my eyes, but I do as he asks.
I turn.
When I look up at him, I see the flash of shock wash over his face at the state of me. I know I look like a hot mess. Reaching out, he takes my chin and uses his other hand to swipe the tears from my cheeks. Why does he have to do this now? Be kind? He’s done nothing but shatter every piece of me, and now he chooses to show me some level of kindness.
“We need to talk.”
I nod, pulling my face away and walking over to the bed, sitting on the end of it. He doesn’t sit; instead, he stands with his arms crossed, no doubt wondering where to start.
“Just tell me everything,” I say, staring at my hands. “I want to know all of it.”
“Met your dad when I was a boy, around fourteen or so. I was in a bad fuckin’ place, and when I say bad, I mean bad. My father was a drunk, my mother worked the streets, and most days, we barely had enough food to get through. My little sister died when she was only six months old, and it fuckin’ destroyed me. She was the only thing I had.”
My heart breaks because nobody should have to experience that.
“I was at the bar one evening, trying to persuade my mother to come home. She was drunk, causing a scene, and I was desperate. She lost control and started hitting me in front of everyone. Your father intervened. I don’t know why he was there, but I’ll never forget him in that suit, his hair impeccably styled, looking like he didn’t belong. Yet, he stepped in and got me out of there.”
I know the version of my father he is talking about because it’s the one I grew up seeing.
“He helped me, cleaned me up, and got me a job. Then, he got me into a house for homeless youth, and that’s where I met Caleb. He had a similar story, and he took a liking to your father. Somehow, he became a staple in our lives. He would come by, visit, take us fishing, and teach us the things our fathers wouldn’t.”