Total pages in book: 16
Estimated words: 14798 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 74(@200wpm)___ 59(@250wpm)___ 49(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 14798 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 74(@200wpm)___ 59(@250wpm)___ 49(@300wpm)
“I said, why’d you go and do that, Allison?” he asks me again, lifting his brow just enough to let me know there’s no wrong answer.
“T-to thank you for saving me from that maniac, of course!” I exclaim, trying to sound lighthearted about it, but it's clear my little peck was more akin to turning all three keys on a nuclear device.
That’s the impression I get from the rush of heat between my legs that makes me squirm in my seat, desperate for the chance to get that close to him again already.
Killian hums low with approval, relaxing to the point of almost looking normal. It’s what I imagine meeting a celebrity up close would be like, but I can’t help feeling myself falling deeper by the second for someone I know the whole world would want to tell me is nothing but bad news.
Trouble. Big trouble. With a capital ‘T’.
I know, I know. I’ve seen for myself just how much trouble this guy’s carrying.
Almost panting by the time he says anything, the dim street lamps of the crumbling suburbs have given way to the fiery glow of looming overhead freeway lights.
I can’t take my eyes off Killian. Studying him, I guess, and he knows it. But maybe I’m not wanting to or not ready to know exactly what makes Killian tick… or what he’s done.
Mom and I didn't exactly have much of a family reunion back there. But it's the longest we’ve spoken without screaming and the first time I've seen her in about nine months.
Just watching Killian… happy like this. Feeling at ease for the first time in my life with someone. Maybe it is like he said. Destiny.
“I think you should call your mom, but wait a while.”
Again, I nod without thinking. Agreeing to anything and everything out of his mouth. Even mentioning my mom doesn’t change my growing and most likely dangerous fascination with him.
“Where are we going, exactly?” I finally ask. So far, everything Killian has done really does look like he’s running on some kind of schedule. But no way could anyone have planned anything he’s done so far. He just makes it all look… easy.
He slows down, and the interior of the car fills with red flashing lights. My heart stops at the thought that it's all over. That we’ve been busted after all.
But it’s only a railway crossing. The clang of the bells syncopates between pulses of red light, which makes me realize just how fast my heart’s been beating.
“I’ve got something to do, and there’s no way I was leaving you back there…”
I open my mouth to say something, anything to try and make some more sense of what I’ve really gotten myself into.
The blast from a train’s horn makes my ears ring. The steady mechanical sound of freight moving at five miles an hour lets me know I have at least a few minutes before we’re moving again.
“I almost didn't come back,” I finally manage to explain, but really I’m just thinking aloud. “After Dad left because of her constant fear of him cheating, on top of her drinking, Mom got real bad. I left not long after.”
Killian isn’t fazed. It’s pretty boring hearing it out loud, really. I feel suddenly stupid telling him that, though.
“So, what was it you had to do?” I ask swiftly, desperate to change the subject.
“I have to kill someone. Shouldn’t take long.”
CHAPTER 5
Killian
Imeant what I said about liars, and I’ll never tell Allison a lie. Not even if it’s a truth she can’t understand.
But if she knows how it feels?
To have the face of someone you hate front and center of your mind for eight years, every second of the day. And that the only thing that keeps you going is knowing that soon, one day real soon, you’ll finally be able to make all of it stop.
I guess that’s what I should be explaining, but I figure the fewer details she knows, the safer she’ll be.
That and I’ve never been much of a conversationalist.
“Once I’m done,” I tell her, “we can grab a bite to eat if you want? It shouldn’t be too late.”
She disappoints me a little with her reaction, but I guess it’s to be expected. If I don’t tell her, I’m a dishonest man. If I do tell her, which I have, I’m kinda putting a wet blanket over what I know is going to be one very special night for both of us.
“What do you mean kill someone? Are you kidding me?”
I’m already giving her my best not-kidding face.
The last of the freight train carriages rattle past, and I turn myself in my seat to face her better. She looks more confused than scared, though. The last thing I want is to frighten her.
“Killian. There was no guy, remember? I was covering for you with Mom because…”