Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 59471 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 297(@200wpm)___ 238(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59471 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 297(@200wpm)___ 238(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
“True.”
We hear a car pull up, and I turn, staring at the front door. Our house is very open, and we can see right out over the ocean. It’s all white on the outside, and the inside is painted a light, breezy blue. Soft cotton curtains cover the open windows, flapping constantly with the ocean breeze. It’s a very tropical little place so we picked furniture to match the beachy vibe. We are right on the sand, literally. We step out the front door and onto the beach.
The floors are all wooden, and have paintings of flowers, surfboards and ocean sunsets on the walls. The kitchen is large, with white tiled counter tops and shiny silver fittings. It’s four bedrooms, and we all have one each as well as a spare. The front of the house is set out with a huge deck and white painted chairs and a swing seat that Cody loves.
It's perfect.
It’s peaceful.
It’s just what we needed.
“Oh ... my ... god!”
I’m snapped out of my daze when I hear Ava’s voice. I turn to stare at whatever it is that has her screaming out like that, and I stop breathing. Jenny is coming up the front steps, and she’s being followed by four men. I know those men. I know them nearly as well as I know myself—Ace, Angel, Rusty, and Bull. I’m numb, my legs tingle and my skin prickles. When they step inside, I’m still standing completely blindsided by the scene before me.
I didn’t think I’d see them again.
I thought they’d given up.
I had accepted they weren’t in my life anymore.
“Willow ...”
Ace speaks, his voice careful, but I can’t grasp the fact that he’s standing in my living room. Hot, angry tears well in my eyes, and I fight them back. I haven’t cried for months, I refuse to start again now. How could they come here after they left me on my own and refused to help me? They were my family, I loved them like my own brothers, and they chose to let me suffer.
To leave me alone.
“What are you doing here?”
It comes out as a harsh whisper, my voice has betrayed me and gone into hiding. Ace stares at me for long moments, his eyes narrowing at my expression, I can see the pain in his eyes, but I have no pity for him. “Kid, we wanted to help out.”
“Don’t call me that!” I snap, shocking myself with how harsh my voice comes out.
I cover my face and take a deep, calming breath. I can’t deal with this. Not right now. I need air. I glance at Ava, who now has Cody in her arms, and knowing he’s safe, I rush past them, slapping Ace’s hand away when he reaches out for me. I hurry out the front door and down onto the sand. Each breath is like fire in my lungs. How could they come back and think it’s all just going to be okay? Why do they want to help me now, when they wanted no part of it when I needed them the most? I walk down the long stretch of beach, just needing to get as far away from them as possible.
“Come on, Willow. Wait!” Ace’s voice whips in the breeze, but I don’t stop.
Moments later, a strong hand curls around my arm and swings me toward him. My hand raises and connects with his face so hard he stumbles backward and falls onto the sand. Anger—anger that I’ve held in for so long—finally comes to the surface. Fury rises, and I leap on top of him, slamming my fists into his chest over and over. He grips my arms, yanking me down so he can wrap his arms around me and hold onto me so tightly I can’t move.
“How could you?” I yell into his chest. “I loved you guys, I trusted you, and you all left me alone. Now you think you can just come back? How dare you, Ace?”
“I know,” he whispers, his voice hoarse. “I know what we did. We were following orders, we thought it was for the best. At that point, it was just too dangerous for you to try and save him. It would have only ended badly. We thought we were helping you out.”
“What’s changed?” I snap, shoving myself off and rolling onto the sand beside him. I push up and sit, tucking my knees to my chest and burying my face in my hands. I can’t wrap my mind around this, it’s all too much.
“Cody.”
It’s one, simple word, and yet it has me snapping my head up.
“What did you say?”
“I said Cody. He changes everything.”
“How dare you,” I whisper, my voice like steel. “You didn’t want to help me, you just sent me on my way, heartbroken and alone, and now you want to help because of my son?”