Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82860 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82860 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 331(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
When she asked me what was wrong, I told her I was tired and might just read a little then go to bed. Without a peep, she hugged me, told me it was good to have me home, and left to do her nightly duties.
So here I am, in bed, pretending to read while totally moping. My brain, preoccupied with thoughts of my family, didn’t even alert me to the fact that Nox was standing at the door watching me in silence.
When he cleared his throat, I wondered just how long he was standing there watching me watch the wall.
Looking up at him, I ask, “Everything okay?”
Nodding, he walks across the room and sits on the edge of the bed. “Yeah.”
I’m sure there’s nothing but confusion written on my face, but he doesn’t say a thing. Just pulls out the sleek, black cell phone and dials a number. Putting it to his ear, he speaks into the cell, “Ready? Yeah. Thanks.” Then hands me the phone.
Cautiously taking it from him, I slowly place it to my ear and listen. I hear people chatting, laughter, and music being played softly. A girl comes on the line giggling, she sounds confused. “H- hello?”
Holy shit! I know that voice!
“Terah?” I almost shout this.
“Lily!” She almost blows my eardrum when she squeals excitedly.
Her enthusiasm is obviously catching, because without thinking I throw myself into Nox’s lap, bouncing.
Thank you, God!
Nox expels a strained, noisy breath with every bounce as if I’m suffocating him, but I ignore it and ask my sister in a rush, “How are you? Are you safe? Do you know where you are?”
Terah chuckles, “Good to the first, yes to the second, and you know better than to ask me the third thing.”
I sigh, “I know, I know. I just thought-” Cutting myself off, I shake my head and mutter, “Doesn’t even matter anymore, I’m so damn happy to hear your voice! You have no idea!”
She teases in a baby voice, “Aww! Did you miss me?”
Without thinking, I tease back in my own baby voice, “Yeah. I miss you lots.” I say lots as wots.
Nox chuckles at our stupid conversation, but I don’t even care. In my elated state, I pull down my barriers and lean back into him. And I could almost swear that Nox inhales deeply, smelling my hair.
Right now, I don’t give a shit.
I’m so happy that if he asked, I’d take off my panties for him to sniff.
Terah spends the next few minutes filling me in on our time apart.
The person who took her from our house that day is a guy called Jonathon. And Jonathon is an absolute sweetheart. He and Terah are close. They’re good friends according to my sister. Which, in Terah speak, means she’s head over heels for the guy.
This should worry me because I don’t know this guy, but right now, I’m just so happy for her that the only advice I give her is to be careful. Terah tells me about Jonathon’s second, Takeshi, and his third, Sean. They’re also good guys. Good guys who are laid back and from what I hear, absolutely nothing like Nox. They let her pick out movies for movie nights, and they let her blast music if she’s in the mood; so basically, she feels like she’s on vacation.
Knowing Terah, an hour after she was taken, she would’ve made friends with everyone. We’re different like that. My dad’s constant paranoia has rubbed off on me.
After telling me all about her new home, she asks, “So, how’s your safe house? Are the people nice?” Suddenly serious, she adds, “They’re treating you okay, right?”
Filling her in on almost every detail, I tell her about being blindfolded and my lashing out, not trusting the people here, and about Nox being a hardass. I tell her about my foiled escape attempt, minus the hair pulling thing, and that the people here are really cool too; it just took me a while to notice. I mention that we had a small scare the other day to which she freaked out a little, but I reassure her I’m fine.
She asks quietly, “So, do you know why we’re here?”
Knowing I should tell her, I fight myself for only a second before I lie in perfect calm. “Not a clue.”
She sighs, “I miss you more than anything, Lil, but I know that dad wouldn’t do this unless there was a good reason.”
Oh, honey. You don’t know the half of it.
Agreeing with her, I mutter, “Yeah. I know. I love you, Rahrah.”
Chuckling, she whispers thickly, “Yeah, babe. Love you, more.”
Then she’s gone.
My smile melts into nothing. The void in my chest opens, sucking me into nothingness. Nox wraps an arm around my waist, holding me tight. Grounding me.
He continues to hold me while I cry through most of the night.