Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 112736 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 112736 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 564(@200wpm)___ 451(@250wpm)___ 376(@300wpm)
My head throbs, the pounding pain matching my racing heartbeats. And the panic is no longer almost all-consuming now, it’s completely consuming me.
I have to get out of here.
The walls are closing in on me and the floor is moving under my feet.
My eyes feel like they’ve disconnected from my brain and what they’re showing me is a broadcast on a screen, not what’s actually in front of me.
I have to get out of here.
It feels like I’m moving in slow motion as I walk up to Levi.
When I finally reach the couch, he tips his face up to look at me and smiles.
It takes an eternity for me to get my throat to move enough to croak out, “Sweetheart, you need a bath. We need to wash the butter off your face.”
Levi’s smile falters and he glances nervously over at Hammy.
Hammy nods his head in encouragement. “Go on, little buddy, listen to your momma. We can watch more when you’re cleaned up.”
Sliding off the couch, Levi comes around to me, and when I move my arm to take his hand, the motion feels mechanical.
I walk up to the door of the bedroom I slept in last night like I’m a damn robot.
Just as I pull the door open and start to usher Levi inside, I notice movement out of the corner of my eye.
I turn my head and Steve freezes in place, one foot hanging over the threshold of the sliding glass doors.
I keep turning and see both Hammy and Poster Boy standing stiffly in place like they got caught doing something.
They’re going to try to stop me.
Realizing this seems to magically dispel whatever it was that came over me and I’m able to finally get my ass in gear.
Once Levi is in the bedroom, I slam the door behind me and lock it.
I wasn’t lying when I said Levi needs a bath so I rush him through one wishing I could take one as well. Who knows when we’ll get the next chance, because I swear once I get in my minivan, I’m not stopping.
I’m just going to keep driving and driving until I can’t drive anymore.
Thankfully Levi doesn’t put up too much of a fuss as I dress him then dress myself. Once I’ve got my purse, keys, and sunglasses on, I grab his hand and tug him out of the bedroom.
Hammy is still near the couch but he’s standing now.
Steve is the closest to me, standing in front of the sliding glass doors, and he jumps a little when he sees me. “Ma’am?”
I ignore them both and head for the front the door.
“Ma’am?!” Steve calls out behind me, his voice panicked.
Yes-men, the both of them. I knew it.
Neither one of them tries to physically stop me, they’re probably both afraid Coy will kill them if they touch me.
They just huff and puff behind me, saying, “Ma’am. Ma’am, where are you going?” over and over.
I don’t get stopped until I actually reach the front door and it swings open.
Poster Boy steps inside, wiping something off his hands against his jeans, and scowls at me.
Straightening and blocking the way out, he says, “You can’t leave, Allie.”
Hammy and Steve crowd in around me and I feel my hackles rising.
It’s almost like being back at my parent’s house again…
Mentally shaking the feeling off, I lift my chin and say with a curl of my lip, “I need to go to Walmart for a few things. Please move out of my way.”
Poster Boy spreads his feet and crosses his arms over his chest, standing his ground. “Sorry, can’t let you do that. Boss man’s orders.”
I knew he wouldn’t let me get away easily, but I’m not giving up without a fight, dammit.
“Really?” I ask as if I’m confused and purposely look to Hammy and Steve. “Is that what Coy really said? He said I couldn’t leave the house? I could have sworn he only wanted you guys to protect us. Not keep us prisoners…”
I watch doubt flicker across their faces and have to keep myself from smirking as they both glance at Poster Boy nervously.
Poster Boy’s expression turns downright icy as he looks back at them and sharply shakes his head.
Fucker. I’m still not ready to give up though.
“Poster Boy, please,” I say and try to look embarrassed. “I really have to go… I need… woman things…”
Poster Boy’s eyes narrow with suspicion. “What kind of woman things?”
I make a big show of biting my lip and shifting on my feet. I even glance down at Levi like I don’t want him to know what’s going on. Then I lean toward Poster Boy and drop my voice.
Both Hammy and Steve lean with me to hear.
“I started my period,” I whisper, but not too low. I want all three of them to hear me. “I don’t have anything on me, so I need to go to the store to buy tampons.”