Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 85274 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85274 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 426(@200wpm)___ 341(@250wpm)___ 284(@300wpm)
Maybe Jameson was right...
Needing to escape before I start crying, I quickly mutter an excuse about needing to use the bathroom and take off toward the restroom.
I’ve barely made it there, when arms gently wrap around me from behind.
“Let me go!” I yell, already knowing from the scent that it’s Lincoln.
“Stop, please,” he says, spinning me around and pushing me against the wall. “I’m sorry.”
“You seem to be saying that a lot lately,” I say dryly, sniffling back my tears. “I don’t even know why you followed me.”
“Because I could tell you were upset.”
“Yeah, well, now your family might think you actually care about me, and we know you don’t want that.” I glance to my left and nod toward the women’s restroom. “Hey, look...If we’re quick, you can fuck me in there and make it back out before we need to order, and nobody will ever know.”
“Kitten, please stop,” he murmurs, pressing his forehead against mine. “I didn’t want to lie, but—”
“Auntie Ellie!”
“What the hell is going on here?”
“Ohhh, Daddy, you said a bad word!”
We both jump and glance over, finding Micah and Brooklyn standing in the hall.
“Brooklyn, go use the bathroom,” Micah bites out.
Once Brooklyn has disappeared into the bathroom, he asks, “What’s going on?”
I wait for Lincoln to answer, refusing to lie and hoping he won’t either, but when he says, “It’s complicated,” my heart shatters.
“Actually, it’s not,” I tell Lincoln, fed up with his shit. “You and me, we’re done. Done fucking, done living together, and done being friends. There, now it’s uncomplicated.”
Pushing him away, I take off out the back door, needing to get some fresh air. It’s a beautiful day out, so I chose to walk here since the restaurant was close. After rounding the corner of the building, I step onto the sidewalk to head back to the hotel.
I’m pulling my phone out of my back pocket to let Sienna know I left when someone bumps into me. I’m not expecting it, so I stumble to the side, trying to catch my balance. But before I can, I’m shoved again, this time harder.
“Ow,” I hiss, unsure what is happening. In a flash, someone grips my bicep tightly, shoving me toward the street. Just then, my name is called, and when I try to turn to see who it is, I’m catapulted forward, losing my footing in the process. In an attempt to protect my belly, I twist my body, praying I land on my side. My butt hits the cement first, and for a split second, I think I’m going to be okay. But the force is too strong, and I bounce off the ground, my head smacking against the concrete. Then, everything suddenly goes black.
As I lose consciousness, my last thought is that I hope my baby is okay.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
LINCOLN
The second the words it’s complicated come flying out of my mouth, I want to take them back, but it’s too late, and now I need to do damage control. But before I can try to explain to Micah what’s going on, Ellie snaps on me, telling me we’re done, and then takes off out the back door.
“Fuck!” I bark, knowing I messed up. I wasn’t expecting to have a goddamn family gathering the morning after telling Ellie I want more with her. I thought we’d discuss shit further once I got back, and then shortly afterward, I’d sit down and have a conversation with my brother and parents.
“What the hell is going on?” Micah asks. “Are you fucking Ellie?”
The door slams closed, and I run after Ellie. I can deal with Micah later. Right now, she needs to be my priority.
When I get outside, the brightness of the morning momentarily blinds me, but my vision adjusts just in time to see Ellie turn the corner. The hotel is only a couple blocks away, so she must’ve walked here. I pick up my pace so I can catch up with her, and when I turn the corner, I spot her on the sidewalk, only she isn’t alone.
My first thought is that she ordered a ride, since the black town car’s door is open, but when I get closer, I see the hooded figure isn’t helping her into the car but dragging her toward it. And he’s got company. Another hooded figure is standing by the door, and someone else is in the driver seat.
She screams out in pain, confirming my thoughts: they’re trying to kidnap her. I yell out her name, hoping to get her attention. Only instead, it gets the attention of her would-be captors. The guy holding onto Ellie shoves her in the opposite direction, and since I’m not close enough to catch her, I can only watch helplessly as she stumbles backward, her body hitting the ground while her head bounces against the cement like she’s on a trampoline and not the hard, unforgiving sidewalk.