Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 115400 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 577(@200wpm)___ 462(@250wpm)___ 385(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115400 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 577(@200wpm)___ 462(@250wpm)___ 385(@300wpm)
It’s a long three hours by the time the driver pulls to a stop outside my apartment block. The moment the door opens, the fresh air hits my face, and I’m reminded of the night I was snatched off this very sidewalk.
A shiver sails down my body, but I’m too exhausted from the emotional rollercoaster to pay it much attention. “You good?” the driver asks.
“I ummm . . . I’m not sure actually,” I say, struggling to get my voice above a mere whisper. “When I was first taken, I lost my bag that had my keys and everything in it. I’m not sure I can get into my apartment. Actually, I’m not sure I even still have an apartment.”
“Mr. DeLorenzo was sure to take care of that, Miss. Your home is just as it was before you left, and your rent is up to date.”
“Oh—”
“You should be able to find the spare key above the door frame.” The driver glances at me through the mirror, and I force a smile across my face, but it falters when he goes to open his door. “Let me help you with your bags.”
Waving him off, I scramble out of the car and peer at him through his open door. “No need. I won’t be keeping any of the things Killian gifted me. Please take them back to him. They’ll only get stolen around here, and truth be told, if they’re in my apartment, I’ll probably end up burning them before they even get a chance to be stolen.”
“You sure, Miss?”
“Positive,” I say. “Thanks again. And please let Krista know not to bother packing up the rest of my belongings. It’ll only be a waste of her time.”
He offers me a friendly smile, but I see the pity in his eyes, and not being able to handle it, I turn and make my way into my apartment complex before he gets a chance to destroy me further. The old, rickety stairwell looks just as unloved as it’s always been as I make my way up, clutching the railing to avoid plummeting to my death on the creaky steps.
My apartment is on the third floor, and by the time I reach my door, my whole body is ready to give out. I push up onto my tippy toes to feel the top of the door frame for the key, and finding it a moment later, I make quick work shoving it into the lock.
The door opens, and as I walk in, I feel as though I’m taking a step back in time. This place has been my home for so long, but now it feels foreign—like it no longer belongs to me. All my things are here, but my heart belongs somewhere else.
It’s a small apartment, and before I’ve even closed the door behind me, I see the wad of cash and the phone that’s been left on the kitchen counter. Everything constricts within me. The last thing I want are his handouts. After all, they’re only here because of his ridiculous need to clear his guilty conscience.
Closing the door behind me, I make a point to flick the lock, put the chain on, and deadbolt the door before finally making my way over to the kitchen counter and looking over the cash with a cringe. There must be at least ten grand here—the type of money I would have killed for before my life was turned upside down.
Taking the phone, I power it on and wait the agonizing seconds for everything to load before opening the contacts list. There’s only one number programmed into it with no name, but I have a good idea who it belongs to.
Then just because I’m a petty bitch when I’m hurting, I open a new text and start typing.
Chiara — I don’t need your dirty, blood money or your stupid phone. I survived on my own before you, and I’ll be fine without you. I’m burning the cash, and the phone is going out the window. Thanks for nothing, asshole. I don’t need you.
Feeling pretty damn proud of myself, I turn the phone off and just to be on the safe side, I take the little sim card out and leave it on the kitchen counter right where I first found it. Truth be told, I doubt I’ll actually burn the cash. Money like that doesn’t come around often, and in these times, it’s always smart to have something hidden away just in case, but that’s all it’ll be. I have every intention of returning to work and picking up right where I left off. Assuming work and college will take me back.
Exhaustion quickly claims me, and I take myself off to the bathroom and run a warm bath before stripping out of the clothes Killian bought for me. From now on, it’s back to my normal shitty clothes, my normal shitty bed sheets, and my normal shitty life.