Total pages in book: 157
Estimated words: 149510 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 748(@200wpm)___ 598(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 149510 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 748(@200wpm)___ 598(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
“I can’t believe Ace called you,” I grit out, shoving my arms into the sleeves of my shirt and dropping my cell into my pocket. I know he was trying to help, but I’m still fucking angry.
Ty shakes his head. “Ace didn’t call me. Thatch did.”
I nod but avoid Ty’s eyes as he holds open the door for me to get in his car, and I step away from the vehicle instead. I’m not getting in, no matter how much he wants me to. Ty slams the door then, falling into step beside me as I walk. Everything about him is annoyingly sad and concerned, and I want to slap it right out of him.
“How long have you known the truth?” he asks, matching his pace to mine as I walk down the garage ramp toward the second floor.
I don’t have to ask for clarification to know what he means. There was only one shocked brother in that police station conference room at Jeff’s revelation, and we both know it wasn’t me.
“Too fucking long,” I answer honestly. “You’re the whole reason I came here, to Dickson. I wanted to see how the other half lived. To see what it was like to be one of the lucky Winslow kids who didn’t have to grow up with the world’s shittiest father.”
Ty’s head jerks slightly at my words, just enough for me to notice in my peripheral vision, but he doesn’t stop meeting me step for step as we round a corner yet again, taking the ramp to the first floor.
“Finn, I’m so sorry that you’ve had to deal with him.”
“You’re sorry?” I retort on a harsh laugh. “Well, that fixes everything, doesn’t it? I guess I can forget all about watching Jeff beat my mom more times than I can count or defending my siblings when he gets rowdy at night. Because you’re sorry.”
“Finn.” Ty’s lips turn down at the corners into a stupid fucking frown. “You and I both know that’s not what I meant. I know how fortunate I am, and I know I can’t take away your pain.”
He’s so sanctimonious. So fucking magnanimous. I can’t stand it. I stop in my tracks and spin to face him, putting a finger to his chest and letting it all fly.
“You have no idea what my life has been like. You have no idea what my siblings’ lives have been like,” I tell him harshly, and I can feel the blood pumping to my forehead and neck and ears. “That’s right! I’m not your only long-lost sibling from that fucking derelict drunk. There’s also Reece and Jack and Travis and Willow. Reece is in California, but Jack, Travis, and Willow? They’re still living under that son of bitch’s thumb every day. Right now, I have to worry about what he’s going to do when he gets home and takes this shit with me out on them!”
Ty’s green eyes fill with unease and pity, and my vision tunnels. All I want to do is punch the sympathy right off his stupid face.
Impulse control officially spent for the day, I wing a fist right at him, but he blocks it with a startlingly quick catch. My hand trapped in his, I can’t move, and he pulls me into a bear hug that makes it impossible for me to push him away. My feet scramble, but he holds steady.
“Get the fuck off!” I shout as panic overcomes me, but Ty doesn’t let go. He holds on tight as I thrash the two of us all over that damn garage, whispering in my ear the whole fucking time.
“You can stop fighting, Finn. I’ve got you.”
“Let me fucking go!”
“I’ve got you, Finn. I’ve got you. You’re my brother now. I’ve got you.”
I let out a scream as the dam breaks on my emotion, and tears stream down my face. Ty tucks me even closer, rocking me back and forth and shushing me softly. “I, and the rest of the Winslow kids, am your family now. You hear me? You’re not alone anymore—we’re going to fight like hell for you.”
My whole life, all I’ve felt is that I was fighting for myself and my mom and my brothers and my sister. Fighting against a man who only wanted to make our lives a living hell. Fighting against all of the obstacles he purposely put in our way. Fighting. Fighting. Fighting.
I’ve never had someone to do it for me.
Tears still falling, I grip Ty’s sweatshirt with my fists as he pulls me close.
“It’s going to be all right, Finn. I promise.” When he’s confident I’m pulling it together, he gives one hearty pat to my back and then steps away to give me space.
I step back and swipe a hand down my face. There’s a part of me that feels like a weak, pathetic fool for being so emotional, but deep down, I know that’s just my father talking.