Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 78598 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78598 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Legend stepped in front of me, presence bearing down. “Are you sure you don’t know who any of the others are? Mariner or Cavendish must’ve let a name slip. Or you saw them hanging around someone? Think, de Souza.”
“What do you think I’ve been doing since I was pulled out of that water,” I hissed. “I’ve done nothing but wrack my brain. Those bastards murdered my sister and left me for dead. No one wants to find them more than me!”
He held up his hands. “Okay, you’re right, but... Is it possible there are still gaps in your memory? Did everything about the night they attacked come back? Do you remember how many there were at least?”
“I... yeah.” Familiar pressure built between my temples. “It was Zoey and five others. Cavendish wasn’t there.”
“Are you sure?”
I bobbed my head. “I knew his build. His voice. He wasn’t there. With him and Zoey gone, that leaves five.”
“Unless they recruited more people in the last two years,” he reminded. “But five is a good place to start. What else do you remember about them? Height, build, anything.”
I eyed him. “Why are you so okay with this, Legend? Cairo is pissed. I can’t guess what Jacques is thinking. But you’re not looking at me any differently.”
He made a frustrated noise, carding his fingers through his hair. “I’m not going to pretend I understand what’s going on with you. Masquerading as your dead sister for two years. That’s way the hell beyond me. But...”
Tensing, my breath trapped in my throat.
“I can’t think of a single thing you’d gain by doing that. Can’t even say you did it to get close to us, since we came after you. Something terrible happened to you and you didn’t deal well. You’re fucked up, de Souza. Just like the rest of us. I’ll cut you some slack until you prove you don’t deserve it.”
“Slack?” I whispered. “I want more than slack from you. Tell me things haven’t changed between us. That me, you, and Roan are still... me, you, and Roan.”
Dark locks shadowed those light brown eyes. “I wouldn’t expect more than the slack.”
He loped off, joining Paris and Roan’s conversation. I hung back, not nearly as stung as I should be. Legend may feel that way now, but he’d change his mind. He’d change it a lot easier than Cairo and possibly Arsenio, because he said the entirely wrong thing if he wanted to break up with me.
“You’re fucked up, de Souza. Just like the rest of us.”
That’s what always bonded us. That’s why their revolving door of girlfriends would end with me. The Bedlam Boys had to hide their true selves with everyone else, but they never did with me. You don’t walk away from that kind of bond.
“Would you guys give us a minute?” Roan asked. “I sense the lovely wallflower in the corner wants a private conversation.”
Legend didn’t move. “Roan.” Warning laced his tone.
“I’m good, Legend.” He probed his eyes—a silent communication passing between them.
“It’s all right.” Paris stood up. “I’m off to get that list of contraband items for you. Hope you’ve got a good stash spot.”
Roan clutched his heart. “Paris.” Already a pretty name, but there was something seductive about it when said in Roan’s smoky rasp. “If you weren’t my friend’s sister... Eh, I’d still give it a shot.”
Paris laughed. I did not.
“Careful,” I said.
Roan’s brows shot up. He looked way too amused for someone plucking my nerves. I would accept a breakup as easily as I’d accept them flirting with other people in front of me. As in not at all.
“Come, Legend.” Josephine linked through his arm. “Let’s grab a bite ourselves while they talk. Paris, you’ll come with us and forgo buying any such contraband.”
Felt like an eternity before they were gone, and it was just us.
I claimed an empty seat beside his bed. “How are you?”
He shrugged and paid for it with a wince. “Look worse than I am.”
“Did they tell you the Crows were arrested? They’re in hospital beds too. But unlike you, they’re cuffed to them.”
“I heard.” Dropping his head back, wavy reddish strands brushed his pale forehead. “Doesn’t mean much though. Why do you think they rolled into our town acting like they already owned it? The Crows have been doing whatever the fuck they want, and buying themselves out of trouble since Daddy stopped wiping their shitty bottoms. I wouldn’t expect any judge in Hunter’s Crest to do more than slap them on the wrist.”
“The Crows aren’t doing whatever they want now.” Slowly, I slipped my hand across the sheets, resting my fingers on his. Roan didn’t pull away. “You guys put a scare in them that has the Crows wishing their Daddy still wiped their shitty bottoms, because they’re shaking too hard to do it themselves.”