Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 74577 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 373(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74577 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 373(@200wpm)___ 298(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
“I’ll have Scotti ask if any of the Mallicks have a pill or two to spare. They’re always hurting something,” he added.
It was the nature of their jobs, after all, as loan shark enforcers.
Our sister, Scotti, had married into the Mallick family, making them all of our extended family as well. And when you needed something, that crew either had it themselves, or knew someone who did.
“Wouldn’t refuse a pain pill,” I admitted as he shot off a text and I tried to sit up straighter, only to fall back with a string of curses.
“Is it so fucking hard to ask for a little help?” King asked, moving toward me, and reaching for the forearm of my good arm, pulling slowly until I was against the cushions, my ribs pulsing in pain as I awkwardly set my cast on the coffee table.
“This thing feels like it weighs five-hundred-fucking pounds,” I said, gesturing toward it.
“Looks like it,” he agreed as his phone buzzed. “Scotti is with Shane. He says he can drop a half-used bottle by. And a recommendation for an ortho he’s used.”
That saved me from having to do any research myself.
“Good,” I said, sucking in as deep a breath as my ribs would allow, and letting it back out just as slowly. “I feel like I can barely fucking move,” I griped.
“Because you’re probably still supposed to be laid up in a hospital bed,” Kingston said, shaking his head at me. “Always were a stubbon ass.”
That was fair.
No matter how my mother or he tried, they couldn’t keep me down. Not when I was sick or hurt. Which usually ended up with me making myself a lot worse, and being down for longer than I originally would have needed to be.
“So… this AJ thing…” Kingston said. “What about if you came to stay with me and Savvy?” he suggested. “Or if not us, Nixon and Reagan? Scotti and Mark. Or Rush and Katie. Hell, if you don’t want to be around kids, go stay with Helen and Charlie Mallick,” he suggested.
Those were all options.
Not so much my family with kids. Because kids were forgetful. And the idea of one of them ramming into my leg or slamming into my side made me cringe.
But Charlie and Helen were an option.
Just… not the one I wanted.
“I’m staying here,” I said.
“Atlas, come on,” King said, sighing. “You need someone to keep an eye on you. And, again, it’s not your problem, but AJ needs a place to live.”
“So, she can live here,” I said.
“With you?” he asked, dubious.
“Yeah. I mean, it’s gonna be up to her if she’s willing to stay,” I said. “But… I mean, I want to be in my own place. And it wouldn’t be a bad thing to have someone around if I need a hand with something.”
To that, King nodded.
“Well, I guess all we can do is ask her,” he said, moving into the hallway. “Hey, AJ, can you come back out here when you have a second?” he called. “We have a possible arrangement to talk to you about.”
CHAPTER FOUR
AJ
I didn’t mean to lose it in front of Kingston and Atlas.
But there’d been no stopping the panic attack when it started to take over me. And when I panicked, I cried. It was a frustrating but unavoidable part of the process.
I cried when I was frustrated as well.
And angry.
Hell, I cried if I needed to make a phone call I was nervous about.
I just… cried a lot.
And this house, this was my fresh start, the beginning of my new life. A chance. For things to be better. For me to build a life that I loved.
Hearing that it was being ripped away from me just when I’d started to get comfortable had been overwhelming.
I hadn’t been prepared for just how upset I’d been. I’d barely made it into the privacy of the bathroom before the tears started to flow as my heart slammed against my ribcage, and my breathing got fast and shallow.
I never used to have anxiety.
I’d been such a laid-back kid and teen.
It wasn’t until I turned seventeen that the anxieties started. Back when…
Nope.
No.
I wasn’t going there. Not when I was already feeling so out of control.
I leaned against the bathroom wall, eyes closed, trying to focus on my breathing until I could feel the tension loosening up in my chest, could expand my lungs completely again.
I grabbed some tissues, blowing my nose, then grabbed a washcloth, soaking it in cold water, before pressing it into my tear-red eyes.
Down the hallway, I could hear the muffled voices of the men speaking. Likely deciding how long they could possibly give me to collect my things and put me out on the street.
What would I do without this house?
Maybe I could find something short-term. A house rental. An apartment sublet. Just… something until I could figure out my next step.