Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77236 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77236 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
“Sounds good,” she said in a sleepy tone that told me she was likely going to pass right back out once I left.
Which was fine.
She needed her sleep.
We had no plans.
But when the dog and I made it back to the house, I walked in to find Siana’s phone blaring from her purse.
The entire time she’d been with me, the damn thing never rang.
I figured that maybe it was her mom, and smiled to myself as I made Frida’s breakfast, thinking her very straight-laced mom radar was likely going off, knowing her good girl had just been to a party, gotten drunk, then had sex with a guy with ‘bad news’ written all over him.
When it started to ring again after I put Frida’s bowl down, though, I decided to fetch it for her, not wanting her to miss any sort of important news.
Sure, her family sounded small. And her relationships were strained. But she would want to know if something was wrong.
I walked her purse to the bedroom as it continued to ring.
“Ugh,” she grumbled. “Turn off the alarm,” she added, waving at me from her position on her belly.
“It’s your phone,” I told her, watching as she came awake suddenly, eyes wide, scooting up to a sitting position.
“My phone?” she asked, like she might have been mistaken.
“Yeah. Several times since we walked in. Didn’t know if it might be important,” I said, handing her the purse.
“You could have looked at it,” she said, frowning at me as she dug it out. “You could have answered it,” she added, then squinted at the screen.
“What’s the matter?”
“I don’t know the number,” she admitted, watching the call as it went to voicemail. “It’s probably just—“ she started, but then the phone began to ring again, making her jump.
“Baby, just answer it,” I said. She said she hated talking on the phone. But sometimes it couldn’t be avoided.
Sucking in a deep breath, she swiped across the screen, then tapped a button, holding the phone out.
“Hello?” she asked.
“I hear I have a sister I never knew about,” a male voice filled the room, making my brows pinch.
But it was only a second before I saw the relief wash through Siana like a wave as she recognized the voice.
“Kylo!” she said, smiling over at me. “You’re awake.”
“Been up for a day or so, but doped outta my fucking mind. Soon as they cut the meds and I sobered up, figured I had to ring your ass. Guess I should thank you for saving my lowly life, darlin’,” he said, still sounding a little groggy and weak to me.
But who the fuck knew how much damage those bullets had done. It was a miracle he was alive at all.
“Anyone would have done the same,” she insisted. “So, you’re okay?” she asked.
“Okay enough. Way I hear it, lost some of my intestines which sounds gnarly as fuck. But I’m breathing, so I consider that a win. You been worried about me, darlin’? Enough to lie to the nurses? Miss Rule Follower?” he added.
“Well, ah, it’s actually kind of…” she started, but cut off when I shook my head at her.
“It’s kind of what?” Kylo asked.
I motioned to myself and her, then made a motion to far away.
“Ah, would it be okay if I come visit?” she asked, getting a nod from me.
This was not a conversation I wanted to have over the phone. It was too easy for him to lie if he wanted to. And I needed to know these fucking guys’ names.
No, I didn’t want Siana going back to that apartment, to her old life. But I also needed to make sure she was safe if she happened to just be in the general vicinity.
“Yeah, sure. Got me outta the ICU now, though,” he said, rattling off his new room number.
“Oh, that’s good news,” she said. “I just have to… wash off this hangover,” she admitted, shaking her head at herself. “And then I will be there.”
“Hangover? You? Did my shooting drive you to drink, darlin’?” he asked, sounding amused. “‘Cause I’d be okay with that. If there’s anyone in the world who needed to let their hair down, it’s you. Chug some water, eat something greasy, then come see me. Got a feeling we need to talk.”
“Yeah,” she agreed, but Kylo had already hung up.
“I only said me and I because I didn’t want him getting all squirrelly about you coming, then tell the staff not to let me in or something like that,” she said.
“Smart thinking,” I said, nodding.
“I obviously want you there. I don’t think I would be good at telling if he’s telling me the truth,” she said. “I imagine you’re better at that kind of thing.”
“Hopefully,” I agreed. “That’s the food,” I said as there was a knock at the door that made Frida go apeshit.