Total pages in book: 150
Estimated words: 136791 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 684(@200wpm)___ 547(@250wpm)___ 456(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 136791 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 684(@200wpm)___ 547(@250wpm)___ 456(@300wpm)
This is the Cade people whisper about—the one they're afraid of messing with. I don't think Kaleo's afraid of him, though. Kaleo thinks he's some big, bad guy. He's honestly a little pathetic. Most of the people he runs around with are half his age. He just gets them into trouble.
"Micah just got picked up by LAPD," Kaleo says.
"Sounds like a personal problem to me," Cade retorts. "Doesn't explain why you're in my park."
The other guy with Kaleo mutters something under his breath.
"What'd you say?" Cade growls, taking a step toward him.
"I called you a snitch, motherfucker," the guy says, enunciating each word.
"I didn't snitch on anyone," Cade snaps at him, his voice dark and threatening. "If Micah is in jail, his own stupid ass got him sent there. He shouldn't be selling pot to kids outside the fucking middle school."
"You'd know all about what happens at the middle school, wouldn't you? You spent enough time there trying to get in January's pants." Corey leans around Cade like he's trying to get a better look at me. "Hi, little monster," he says, pitching his voice deep like he's mimicking Cade. "Did you finally let him tap that sexy ass like you let me?"
Before I can even process what's happening, Cade lunges at him, a savage snarl rumbling in his throat. “Don’t fucking call her that!”
I scream when he plows into Corey, knocking him to the ground. They roll around in the grass, with Cade throwing punches while Corey tries to defend himself. Corey is no match for Cade, though. He can’t even get Cade off him.
“Don’t fucking speak to her, you motherfucker,” Cade roars, his fist connecting with Corey’s face in a sickening crunch.
"You going to help him out or just stand there?" Kaleo barks at the guy beside him.
The guy with him jumps forward and grabs Cade before throwing him off Corey. Cade lands on his hands and knees in the grass. Before he can get back on his feet or even try to protect himself, the guy kicks him in the ribs, laughing viciously.
Corey jumps to his feet and grabs the back of Cade's hoodie, holding him while the other guy rears his foot back, kicking him in the stomach again and then again.
My terrified scream echoes around us, my throat aching. My knees tremble, black spots swimming in my field of vision. I've never been so afraid in my life. I rush forward to help Cade, but Kaleo clamps his hands around my waist, dragging me backward.
"Let me go!" I scream, kicking as hard as I can.
He grunts when my foot connects with his knee. He releases me, holding his hands up and laughing like he was trying to help me out or something.
I desperately want to punch him in the face.
"Cade!" Titan roars from somewhere behind me.
Relief rushes through me at the sound of his voice and I choke on a sob. Spinning around, I see him, Quan, Boots, and Mark racing toward us across the parking lot.
Kaleo sees them, too, and swears loudly. "Corey, Dante, enough," he snaps, which has fury churning through me. He was perfectly fine with Cade being outnumbered a minute ago. But now that he's outnumbered, he's calling his boys off.
What a coward.
I spin back around to see Dante kick Cade again before Corey lets him go. Corey's lip is split open, and he's got a black eye and a cut on his cheek. His nose is bleeding too. He looks bad.
Cade jumps to his feet and lunges for Corey. His hoodie is ripped and he has a red mark on his cheek, but he doesn't otherwise appear to be injured. He's mad as hell as Titan grabs him, and Kaleo grabs Corey, keeping them from going at each other again.
"Get him the fuck out of my park, Kaleo," Cade demands, breathing hard. "And don't come back here." He locks eyes with Corey. "Say another fucking word about January, and I swear to God, you won't get up next time, motherfucker."
"You running your mouth about my sister again, Corey?" Titan growls, taking a menacing step in Corey's direction.
Corey flips him off before Kaleo shoves him to get him moving.
"Stay out of my park, Kaleo," Cade says, his voice so soft I'm not even sure if Kaleo hears him until he chuckles like he finds Cade's warning funny.
We all watch until Kaleo, Corey, and Dante disappear over the hill on the far side of the park, and then Cade turns to look at me. His expression softens for a minute, and then he frowns, glancing at my brother.
"Titan, take her home." He shoves his feet into his shoes…and then walks away.
"Cade!" I shout after him, but he doesn’t turn around.
I don’t see him again until he shows up on my doorstep hours later, looking like his world is crumbling. He's moving slow, as if he's in pain. The red mark on his cheek has turned into a bruise.