Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 55510 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 278(@200wpm)___ 222(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55510 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 278(@200wpm)___ 222(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
Akio and Benjamin took care of the other man, shoving him back and forth like they were toying with him. Except they were also punching him in the stomach and the back of the knees. I didn’t realize just how dangerous and trained they were until now when they were fighting right in front of my eyes.
For me.
I lifted my fingers to the cut above my eye, feeling something warm on my fingertips. I lowered my hand to see blood, making my stomach clench. I didn’t realize I’d hit my head that hard.
“Emery! Emery?”
I blinked and steadied myself, seeing Andrew hovering above me. I felt his hands cup my face, my heart faintly jolting at his touch. It was hard to believe that he was there for some reason like he was an angel infiltrating the darkness.
“Hm?” I managed to say as I peered up at him. Head trauma and alcohol didn’t mix well, and he was already starting to blur.
Andrew brushed his fingers through my hair, trying to get my attention, but I was fading away fast. He cursed beneath his breath as he glanced at the ongoing fight before looking back down at me.
“I’m going to get you out of here,” Andrew promised me before leaning down and scooping me up in his arms. He held me against his chest as he hurried out of the alleyway.
I still heard grunts and cries of pain from the alleyway, but they faded away as Andrew carried me to a black SUV parked a little way down the street. I was too tired to fight or to question Andrew, so I rested my cheek against his strong chest, feeling my eyelids grow incredibly heavy.
“You have to stay awake. Emery!”
His voice was the last thing I heard before I slipped into darkness.
10
EMERY
Dull noise flooded back to my ears as I stirred, breaking free from heavy darkness. I felt my body being rocked slightly, prompting me to open my eyes to see that I was in the back of a black sedan. Flashes of the attack rang through my mind, making me sit up in a panic.
“It’s okay. You’re safe.”
I turned my head to look at the driver’s seat, letting out a sigh of relief when I saw Andrew driving the car. I propped myself up on my elbows and let my heart rate gradually slow down. My entire body ached from the attack, but I was just glad that I was alive. It was all thanks to my bodyguards.
“Where are the others?” I asked him once I noticed no one else was in the car.
“An hour or two behind us. It’s safer to not move as a group. Less noticeable,” Andrew replied, his fingers holding the steering wheel firmly. His eyebrows were drawn down in a serious expression.
“Thank you for saving me,” I told him. I didn’t even want to think about what could’ve happened if the bodyguards hadn’t shown up.
“You shouldn’t have snuck out,” Andrew said in a stern tone. His eyes shot up to the rearview mirror briefly, and I could see the frustration written all over his face.
I sighed, figuring I would get chewed out sooner or later. It was a dumb idea that I had certainly paid the price for, but I wanted to live my life at some point.
“It was just bad luck,” I muttered.
“That was a deliberate attack. That wasn’t bad luck,” Andrew replied sharply. “We’re here to protect you for a reason, Emery. It’d be nice if you didn’t make things harder than they already are.”
I narrowed my eyes, not liking his attitude. I didn’t like being spoken to like I was a child.
“I get it. I messed up. I’m sorry, okay?” I said as I sat up all the way behind the passenger’s seat.
Andrew stayed quiet for a few seconds.
“We’re taking you to a cabin in the woods until the heat dies down. It’s not safe for you to be in the city right now,” Andrew told me.
My eyes grew wide in bewilderment.
“The woods? I’m not wasting precious moments of my life by hiding out in the woods!” I protested. It was already hell being stuck in my apartment. I couldn’t imagine how terrible it would be to stay in the woods without a phone signal or food delivery. What was I supposed to do?
“You don’t have a choice. Your life is in danger, and the only way to make sure you keep having precious moments of life is to hide you until we figure this out,” Andrew argued as he shook his head.
“I don’t have a choice? Are you serious? I’m so tired of people telling me what I can and can’t do!” I raised my voice, heat boiling in my face as I glared at him through the reflection of the rearview mirror.