Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 76396 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76396 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Oh thank god.
Not that Slater scares me, he doesn’t, but the thought of it just being him and I, everywhere I go, terrifies me. He’s intimidating, and I wouldn’t know what to say half the time. Staying here, well, that’s going to be weird enough. I know I don’t have much of a choice, and I also know Erin won’t like it, but I know I have to do it. I’m not safe. And the only person going to keep me safe is going to be living in this house with me.
I’m terrified.
I find it hard enough fitting into social situations, and Erin has become somewhat of a comfort bubble.
The very idea of having to stay here is scary.
I know I’m not overly comfortable, but, as I said, I also know I have no choice.
I try to push it from my mind, because the more I think about it, the more I’ll stress.
And I have enough to stress about.
Maybe Erin can stay with me a few nights?
Or Scarlett.
Or one of the other girls.
Someone.
My phone rings, and I reach into my pocket and pull it out, seeing Erin’s number on the screen. I answer it immediately.
“Oh thank god, I just got all the messages,” she says as soon as I answer. “What happened? Slater said I need to call as soon as I get the messages, and Tatiana tried to call, and you...tell me you’re okay, Ellie.”
“Not really. I’m at Slater’s house. Come past and I’ll explain everything.”
“What happened?” her voice is low and frantic.
“He came to the bakery, when I was there. I’ll tell you more when you get here, please, I need you to hurry over.”
“I’m coming, right now. Send me the address.”
I hang up the phone and send the address.
Slater stands and walks over, kneeling in front of me with a bandage. He wasn’t finished cleaning my hand when I moved. I don’t say anything, I just stare at him, not noticing everyone else staring at us.
“He’s not goin’ to get anywhere near you again, do you understand me?”
I hold his eyes.
He holds mine.
And for a moment it feels like the rest of the world disappears.
I nod.
“Do you trust me, Ellie?” he asks.
I hold his gaze, and this time, I don’t hesitate at all.
“Yes, I do.”
And I do.
I have to.
He might be the only thing to save me.
~*~*~*~
THEN- SLATER
Six months later
“Gotta stay on the low, Slater,” Lincoln says. “Fucked up, bad. Sold drugs to the wrong person, now I got people after me. Big people. Shitty people. People who are going to want blood.”
I stare at my brother, horrified by what he’s tellin’ me. “How bad is it, Lincoln?”
“Bad enough that I gotta go away for a while. Kept the trail clean, never gave my real name, address, nothin’. So they don’t know anything about me. They won’t link it back to any of you, I made sure of it.”
My chest tightens, and I glare at my brother. He’s smart, but somehow, he’s fucked up. Bad. “Runnin’ ain’t goin’ to fix it. We need you, Lincoln. Fuck me, how do you think I’m goin’ to keep it all goin’ when you’re gone. Dad is going to need money...this house...”
“I’ll have you covered, Slater. I’m fighting still. It’s bringing in the cash. Not much but it’ll be okay.”
“And is it fuckin’ worth not seeing any of us?”
Lincoln’s eyes flash. “For now, it is. For your own safety, it is. You gotta hold things up here until I can figure out what to do. I can’t be seen around any of you, if I am, they’ll link it back and I can’t have any of you coppin’ the heat for me.”
“Fuck,” I bark, grabbing my hair and tugging. “How could you be so fuckin’ stupid? I told you this would end badly. I fuckin’ told you but you didn’t hear me, and now we’re all in fuckin’ danger, and we’re losing you.”
“You’re not in fuckin’ danger, Slater!” Lincoln barks. “I told you they can’t trace it back.”
“Bull-fuckin’-shit. They’re smart. You know they’re fuckin’ smart. They’ll find out what they need to know, and it’ll be us they come lookin’ for.”
“Fuck,” Lincoln bellows.
“Running won’t fix it. Let me help. Let me help you fix it.”
“How the fuck you think you’re goin’ to help me fix something like that, Slater? What’re you goin’ to do, go and get all their fuckin’ money back!”
“Yeah, that’s exactly what I’m goin’ to do,” I growl.
It only came to me then, but it isn’t a bad idea. I can go in, sell some drugs, get some extra cash, make them happy and wipe Lincoln’s name clean.
“You fuckin’ so much as go anywhere near them, Slater, and I’ll beat the ever lovin’ fuck out of you,” Lincoln growls.
And I’ve had enough.
He can take control, if it makes him happy, but I don’t fuckin’ have to listen to it anymore. Not now. I do just as much as he does to keep this family running, so I’ll be the one to help fuckin’ fix his mistakes.