Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 77398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
“Seven years. She’s old enough to know better too. My General Manager called me when he saw her dancin’ wit’ Sean. Ain’t nobody like Sean. She’s too good for him, always has been. That son of a bitch is a hustla, runs the area, wheelin’ and dealin’ whateva he can get his hands on. He preys on the weak and has had his eyes set on Camila since we were kids. For some reason her stupid ass saw good in him, and after realizin’ she fucked up, he won’t let her go.”
“So what you’re saying is she has the worst taste in men?”
“I don’t know.” He crossed his arms over his chest, bobbing his head. “You tell me?”
I growled, pushing off the door, rounding the hood of my car. “It’s not like that between us.”
“Says the man who came to her rescue.”
“I did it for my kids. They love her.”
“Did you watch her shake her ass for your kid’s sake too?”
I looked at him, cocking my head to the side while opening the driver’s door.
He lifted up his phone, answering my silent question, “Cameras. I’m sure you know all ‘bout ‘em.”
I growled again.
“Wanna tell me what happened tonight? What made her wild out?”
I simply stated, “I’m an asshole.”
“Oh, honey, I already knew that.”
Despite my splitting headache, I scoffed out a chuckle.
“She lives off Rosen Blvd, apartment 301.” He smiled wide. “Her jammies are in the top drawer.” Nodding toward the gun tucked in my slacks, he added, “Want me to get rid of the gun?”
Ignoring his last statement, I thanked him, slid into my car, and drove off. The ride to her place wasn’t long, and if I thought the streets surrounding the club were bad, they were nothing compared to the shithole she lived in.
I pulled up to the front of the six-story building that should have been condemned. The old brick was crumbling, a few windows had been boarded up, and the front entrance lock was dangling off the metal frame.
“How the hell do you live here?” I rasped, gazing at her passed out silhouette as I parked my car. Making sure I could still see it from her apartment window, or else I’d definitely be waking up to a stripped-down car.
Is this why she doesn’t own a vehicle?
More dark thoughts loomed in the back of my mind as I carried her up the wrought iron stairs to the third floor. Taking in all the peeling paint and graffiti on the walls throughout the dark, dingy halls with every step. The smell of drugs ran rampant in the air, and who knows what else on the way to her apartment door.
Needles.
Pipes.
Cigarettes lined the crevices in the corners of the shithole she called home.
It stirred memories of how many homes I was placed in that looked exactly like this. Causing me to feel like the worst piece of shit, not knowing the conditions the woman who was taking care of my kids lived in.
Bailey would be so ashamed of me.
For fuck’s sake. Could this get any worse?
“Hey! Who the hell are you, and what are you doin’ wit’ my woman?!”
I jerked back. A little boy was suddenly standing in front of me with an uneasy expression on his face.
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me, punk! I know ‘bout predators like you. Givin’ drugs to girls, so you can do whatever you want to ‘em! I ain’t gonna let that happen to my girl! I’m callin’ the cops!”
“Little man, calm down,” I reassured, nodding to him. “No need to call the cops. I’m her boss.”
“You’re Dr. Pierce?”
Did she talk about me?
“Yeah.”
He reached out his hand. “Let me see your driver’s license.”
“Alright, fair enough. But let’s get Camila inside first and then I’ll show you.”
“Fine.” He abruptly turned and opened the door to what I assumed was his place. “Ma! I’m stayin’ at Camila’s!”
“You’re staying?”
“I don’t know you,” he replied with attitude in his tone. “Just cuz you’re her boss don’t mean shit to me.”
“Watch your mouth, kid.”
He rolled his eyes. “My name’s Curtis. I ain’t no kid. Come on.”
I followed him because what other choice did I have at this point. He pulled out a key from his back pocket and unlocked her sorry excuse for a door. The boy led me inside and turned on the lights, nodding toward her bed in the corner of the smallest, shittiest studio apartment I’d ever stepped foot in.
The whole space looked like it was falling apart at the seams.
If it wasn’t for the fact I lived two hours away and she was three sheets to the wind, I’d drive us back to my place instead. Too late for that now.
I gently laid her down on the mattress, propping her head up with a pillow. I removed her shoes next and grabbed the throw blanket at the end of the bed to cover her still body.