Total pages in book: 176
Estimated words: 167257 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 836(@200wpm)___ 669(@250wpm)___ 558(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 167257 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 836(@200wpm)___ 669(@250wpm)___ 558(@300wpm)
I shook my head before pulling out the photo that had gotten me into this mess. This time, however, I don’t fixate on the four teenage boys who had grown into men—into kings.
I was focused on her.
The gorgeous girl posing between them.
She had “It Girl” written all over her with her curly reddish-brown hair and pink velour tracksuit from Baby Phat. The jacket was cropped, exposing her silver belly chain and flat stomach, while the matching shorts showed off her long golden legs. She was smiling at the camera like it was the happiest night of her life.
Maybe it had been.
I still didn’t know who she was or what had become of her. Flipping the photo over, I read the words on the back for the thousandth time.
Golden, Roc, Joren, and Rowdy with Jada at the V-Day bash.
Could Jada have been the one who’d sent the letter and photo?
“Okay, pretty girl. Order’s up.”
I quickly stuffed the photo back in my purse and walked to the counter to pay. “How much is it?” I asked when Fred simply handed me the bag without giving me a total. Rowdy better at least pay me back.
If not, I’d find some way to take his balls as restitution.
“It’s taken care of,” Fred announced while handing me an empty styrofoam cup. “Hope you like fish. I threw a little something in there for you as well.” He disappeared again before I could thank him, whistling a tune I didn’t recognize.
Grabbing the bag, I moved over to the drink station to fill the cup half full with sweetened tea and the other half with lemonade.
One Arnold Palmer coming right up.
I checked the time and darted out the door after realizing my lunch break had ended ten minutes ago. Crossing Temperance was fairly easy since it was the middle of the day, and most businesses on this street had been forced to vacate. I planned to talk Tuesday into delivering Rowdy’s food, but the reception desk was empty when I walked through the front door.
Grumbling, I headed into the workshop, hoping to find him there—around witnesses—but his station at the end of the middle row was also empty. I truly must have been desperate because my gaze darted to Joren’s station next, then Roc’s, and Golden’s, before accepting that I was going to have to be an adult about this.
Fine.
I started up the stairs, feeling the bottom of the bag as I climbed to make sure Rowdy’s food remained hot while I hunted him down. I wouldn’t put it past him to be hiding on purpose so that he’d have a reason to punish me or send me back.
Music spilled from underneath his closed office door, so I knocked and waited.
I caught the sound a moment too late, the quiet chatter of multiple voices speaking low on the other side, and the sudden hush that told me it was too late. They’d heard my knock.
The door was snatched open before I could leave the food and run.
I was met by brown eyes so dark the pupils were barely noticeable, and then Joren wordlessly stepped back to let me inside when I tried to hand him the bag.
Asshole.
I slowly entered the room, the thick cloud of smoke stinging my eyes and the smell of weed assaulting my nose. The smoke was so heavy I could barely see three feet in front of me. Or the three other figures huddled in the dark.
“‘Bout fucking time,” Rowdy griped. I didn’t notice him standing beside me until he rudely snatched the bag from my hand. “This shit better be hot too, or your ass is going back.”
The smart response on my tongue was cut short by the distinct sound of the door slamming closed, shutting me inside with them. Joren walked past me and returned to his seat in front of the desk while I swallowed nervously at the rustling sound of the paper bag filling the otherwise pointed silence.
“Ay—what the—I ain’t order this.”
My eyes had adjusted to the dark enough now to see Rowdy frowning down at the open takeout tray with distaste. For a paranoid moment, I panicked, thinking Fred had set me up before I remembered his kind offer.
“What is it?” A voice I recognized as Roc’s spoke through the smoke and dark. Relief at having at least one ally in the room almost overcame my anxiety. Almost. I wasn’t naive enough to think Roc’s loyalty wasn’t first and foremost to his partners.
“A swordfish sandwich.”
“Shit, I’ll take it.”
My lunch was tossed across the room, and before I could tell him it was mine, Roc tore away the foil, eating half the sandwich in one bite.
Huffing a breath, I noticed Golden sitting still on the sofa next to him. He tensed a little when he noticed my attention, and then I watched, fascinated, as the panic slowly left his eyes, and he forced himself to relax before turning his head and ignoring me.