Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 129980 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129980 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
She’d felt alone for a very long time. Nobody had touched her since her sister had died. She didn’t want anyone to get close to her. She moistened her lips. “She came into my room that night.” Her voice was husky with pain. “She came in and lay down on the bed right next to me. I had my books strewn all over the bed, and Janine kind of pushed them onto the floor, and we both started laughing. And then she started crying. That’s when she told me she had to leave Quentin before her self-esteem was completely gone and she could never look her children or me in the face or at herself in the mirror again.”
Quentin had been gone again that evening, as he had so many other nights when Janine had told her she’d had enough. She had everything in place for all of them to leave. She was taking the children and she wanted Azelie to go with them. They would move out of the house to a smaller place Janine could afford on her own. She hated that Azelie had had to contribute or they couldn’t afford the rent in the neighborhood where Quentin insisted on living. Azelie had told her of course she would go.
“By that time, I didn’t like Quentin or his sense of entitlement. I despised the fact that he cheated on my sister and didn’t work or contribute financially.”
Janine was very much like Azelie—she had a personality that needed to nurture others. She enjoyed taking care of her man. She didn’t mind that she was the one earning the money or that she cooked the meals and cleaned the house. Even after the children came along, it had been Janine who took care of them. Quentin, more and more, spent time with Alan at the club. He came home drunk, reminding Azelie of her mother when she would show up belligerent and stinking of alcohol.
“He must have realized Janine was taking the children and leaving him. I don’t know if he saw the suitcases or what tipped him off.”
She pressed her fingertips to her mouth, shocked that she kept talking to him when she was so careful not to talk to anyone. It didn’t help that he knew her boss. She had a distant relationship with Alan, but she was afraid of him. After doing his books for so many years, she knew he was a criminal. Not just a common petty criminal, but he was involved in things she didn’t want any part of. She didn’t want to know about them. No one generated the kind of money he had, especially the way the payoffs came in, without being super dirty. The kind of dirty she feared could get her killed.
She never should have told a virtual stranger that she’d fixed Alan’s books. What kind of power did this man have that she was blurting out intimate details of her life to him? She wanted to run from the coffee shop and hide in her tiny studio apartment.
“Zelie.” He said her name softly, in that velvet voice that seemed to turn her inside out. “You’ve been through a lot for one your age. I can’t change the past, but I can do my best to make your future as safe and as happy as possible.”
Azelie had no idea how to respond. She didn’t believe anyone could keep her safe. If a man could kill the woman and children he was supposed to love and cherish, how could she ever believe in anyone? Her father had abandoned her. Her mother had done the same, just slower, choosing to drink herself to death. Azelie had lived with Quentin from a very young age, yet he had attempted to kill her along with her sister, niece and nephew. There were no feelings there. None. She didn’t—couldn’t—allow herself to believe in anyone. That way led to disaster. She was barely keeping her head above water emotionally as it was. Keeping to herself was the most intelligent strategy she could have.
“I’ve got work to do this afternoon and promised a friend of mine I’d go to a club with him tonight. Tomorrow, around five-thirty, will you meet me here?”
She didn’t answer him. Couldn’t. How could she agree when she wasn’t certain she could resist him?
“Let me have your phone number, and I’ll give you mine.” He already had his cell out and was looking at her expectantly.
Azelie had no idea why she complied, but she found herself exchanging information with him.
“I’d like to take you to one of the nicer restaurants. Wear a dress for me. Something short and clingy to show off your beautiful figure.” He tipped his head to one side, his eyes going silver. “With your coloring, you could pull off red. Or deep purple. Vibrant. Your hair is gorgeous. Wear it down. Smoky eyes. Silver would look beautiful on you. Surprise me.”