Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 97426 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97426 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
“What the fuck?” I breathe.
I jump from the truck to see what was tossed from the car. Lex makes it there first. The scream that comes from her lips as she drops to her knees turns my blood cold.
“Kid, Kid, oh no. Jenny, oh no, no, no. Please hold on. Please.”
Leo pulls out his phone to call for an ambulance. Once he hangs up, he gets to work doing what he can. She looks bad.
I know from torturing people myself she was worked over for hours and her arms are broken. Her eyes are both swollen shut and her lip is busted.
“Don’t talk, sweetie. Help is on the way,” Lex sobs as Kid groans and tries to say something.
“Who did this?” Leo nearly growls.
“Kelex,” Kid breathes just barely.
“What?” Leo says.
“Not safe. Don’t trust. Kelex… Not safe.”
I narrow my eyes. I know she’s not saying Kelex did this. Why the hell would he beat this woman like this? It doesn’t make sense.
I think back to Uncle Blake’s words. He’s changing. Ulysses Kylix is a psychopath, but I never thought Josh would become like him.
“Mayven is inside with AJ. She’ll stay here with him. I’m going to make a visit. You good?” Pit says.
“Yeah, I’ve got them, but maybe you should hold off on that visit. This couldn’t have been him. This looks like she’s been taking a beating for days. Look at the fading bruises. They’re not all fresh.”
“What does that mean?”
“He hasn’t been here. He took off the night we were at the restaurant with Uncle Blake. His flight is due in the morning. Besides, this isn’t like him.”
Pit pulls a hand down his face. “Fuck.”
“What’s that?” I ask, seeing something tucked in her waistband.
Lex reaches with a shaky hand to get the paper. It’s a photo. I squat behind Lex and take it from her.
It’s a photo of me, Pit, and Kelex. I look up at Pit and hand him the photo. He takes a look then looks back at me and lifts a brow.
“You stay here. I’ll go to the hospital with them,” I say, changing our plans.
“You read my mind. Watch your back, bro.”
Chapter 53
All Your Fault
Alexis
I’m so exhausted, but I refuse to leave. Not until I can hear her voice. I can’t believe this happened.
Who would do this? As I look at my friend, tears stream down my face. I can barely recognize her. Both her arms are broken and she has a few broken ribs.
Kid is so small. She looks even smaller lying here. I want to hear her laugh.
I’d do anything to see her smile. I’d take anything over this coma they’ve placed her in. I wish I knew who did this.
“I’m so sorry, sweetie,” I whisper.
“This isn’t your fault.”
I turn to find Leo standing with his white coat on. He’s been in to check on Kid almost every hour on the hour. He looks tired and so sad.
“It was that guy. I know it was. If this is anyone’s fault, it’s his and mine.”
“How would this be your fault?”
“I never should have made it like I wasn’t interested. I tried to play hard to get… You know, make it like I didn’t care either way, so she’d want me over him.
“Make her see what she was missing and break them up. He was only stringing her along and lying to her. She deserves better. I fucked everything up.
“That’s why she didn’t want to date me in the first place. I’m too young and immature for her.”
“What guy, Leo?”
“I don’t know his name. All I know is he would always text and she’d get weird. After the first few times, I told myself to play it cool. Don’t make it seem like I was too pressed.”
“Then she stopped texting. And tonight…”
I stand and move over to him to take his hand. “I don’t think this is your fault at all. You’re smart and one of the most responsible twenty-six-year-olds I know. She thinks the world of you, Dr. Leo,” I say and grin up at him.
“I think she’s amazing. I wish things had turned out differently. I don’t care about the age gap.
“She makes me smile and laugh. When I’m around her, I feel normal. It’s been hard dating girls my age.
“I’m a weirdo to them. While they want to party, I need to work or study. Jenny never made me feel bad about that.”
“Jenny?” I lift a brow. “She allows you to call her that?”
His cheeks turn pink. “Yeah.”
“Then you’re doing better than you think.”
He looks beyond me at Kid lying in the hospital bed. His eyes soften. “I hope so. I want her to let me see her through this.”
I give him a warm smile and another squeeze of his hand. I hate that I don’t know what’s been going on with Kid. She’s been taking care of me, but I failed her.