Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 97371 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97371 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
I look at the time and about eight minutes have gone by. I know I’ve made a huge mistake the moment I step outside and the door slams shut behind me.
I don’t find Lou, but some guy with a gun pointed at me. I try to back up, but another guy appears to block my way. My mind races, not settling on one thought. I register one thing though. There’s music playing in the distance.
It makes me think of Gio, Jace, and Ny. Strangely, my brain latches onto that thought.
“Did you hear me, bitch?” The first guy says, then slaps me across the face.
The slap is the trigger. I’m thrown back in time. I’m that small child again.
I’m crying as I stare up at the two older boys. One looks a lot like Dario and the other is a blond.
“Tears won’t save your life, Car,” Beth says gently.
More firmly, Auntie Gwen speaks. “Dance, baby. You have this. Dance with their asses. Lay them out, Carleen. Attack.”
I come back to the present and run the back of my hand across my mouth as I taste my own blood. I look up through my lashes at the one who slapped me. Both guys are a few inches taller than me, which makes me grin.
“Let’s dance, bitch,” I seethe.
I step in and send my palm into his throat. Spinning into him like my dance partner, I face my back to his front, bring down the wrist holding the gun with one hand and reach behind him with the other hand to grasp his neck and flip him over me onto his back.
I point the gun and go to pull the trigger, but the second guy charges me. He manages to knock the gun from my hand, but I stun him as I grab his arm and spin him, using his own momentum. I have his arm pinned behind his back. I release a yell as I twist it, then kick him in his back, sending him to the ground face-first.
I’m grabbed from behind by the neck. I kick to free myself.
“You’re not defeated yet, Car. Use your body. It’s your weapon. No man is expecting who you are. Show them.”
I snap my head back and the guy hollers. When I land on my feet, I spin and kick him in the chest. I keep attacking as he flies back. Tossing my open palms into his chest, I force him back until he stumbles onto his ass and I pounce.
While I kick his ass, the back door flies open, and Dario comes rushing out, looking like a raging bull. Music at the end of the alley grows loud. It’s a reggae song I know well. Uncle Talon plays it a lot. Popcaan sings about being firm and strong.
However, I don’t stop. I grab this bastard by the hair and start to bash his head against the ground as I hover over his limp body.
“Oopies, gyal. He done, done.”
I freeze, knowing that voice. I look up to find Uncle Kington. His amber-colored eyes are trained on me. He gives me a nod. I release the guy and stand.
When I look around, everyone has come out of the rink, and they’re all staring at me. However, the face that stands out to me is Auntie Gwen’s. She has tears in her eyes as she looks back at me. It all falls into place.
I remember everything. The training, my time with her, Ava and Beth and the times when I would train with Gio and Jace because they were bigger than the twins and could fight.
Denise, as everyone calls her now, rushes over and pulls me into her arms. “I’m so proud of you,” she whispers in my ear. “The one thing I needed you to remember, you forgot,” she chokes. “I couldn’t leave you like that. Gio promised he’d get you to remember. Honey, that was amazing. You’re ready.”
“Ready for what?”
“War,” Gio replies.
I turn to see him staring at me proudly. When I turn to find Dario, I see Uncle Kington whispering something in his ear. Dario stands with his jaw working as he looks at the guys groaning on the ground.
Dario goes to step toward one of them as he sits up, but Uncle Kington tightens the hold he has on his shoulder. He says something else, and Dario looks to me and closes his eyes before he nods.
Uncle Kington then looks to Gio. “I’ll do with these as I’ve done with the rest of their family.”
Two of Uncle Kington’s guys come and drag the three guys who attacked me to the hearse parked at the end of the alley. Uncle Kington moves to Gio.
“The deed is done, and the debt is paid. My brother can rest in peace now. You let me know if you need anything else. My crematorium is always open to you,” Uncle Kington says and shakes Gio’s hand.