Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 78850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78850 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Grabbing my bags, I ignore the music and other sounds coming from their room. If I focus on that, I’ll throw up, and I need to get out of this shithole.
Not seeing anyone, I throw my carry-on and handbag over my shoulder and pull my large Louis Vuitton bag down the long driveway.
“Raven?”
Shit, it’s Iain yelling at me. Just keep walking, just keep walking, plays in my head. Christ, I’m a mess.
“Hey, Raven. What are you doing?” He catches up with me. The floodlights come on.
“I’m leaving.” I keep walking until I get to the gate.
“I’m assuming Mr. Powers has no idea you’re going?”
“Look…” I heave my bags over to my other shoulder, trying hard not to start crying again. “Can you please open the gate? I have a friend coming for me.”
He simply stares at me.
“Fine, here.” I take off my Rolex, a gift from my dad when I graduated high school, and hand it to him. “Please, take it. Just fucking open the gate.” I shove the watch at him.
He looks at the watch and then up at my face. “I don’t want your watch. And you know I need to let him know.”
“Do you?” My voice is getting loud. “Because he’s busy fucking my mom and some other whore… and I can’t… I can’t stay here.” And here come the tears again. It’s like I can’t stop or control myself.
“Raven.” He sighs and looks over at the house. “I still have to.” His voice is gentle.
“Please, take my watch. I don’t have cash, but I can send you some when I get situated. But, Iain, I’m begging you, I have to get out of here.” I try to hand him my watch again, but he shakes his head.
“Okay. Great, you do what you’ve got to do.” I toss my watch into my handbag and look ahead, waiting for Brody. Maybe I should call the police.
“Where are you going?” he asks, his voice flat.
“I don’t know, but I have friends. You don’t need to worry about me,” I say, still staring at the gate.
“It’s my job to worry,” he states as Brody comes speeding up in his BMW. He barely stops and is out of the car, his thin body looking like he’s ready to do battle.
“Open the gate.” Brody’s typically calm voice sounds rather frantic.
“Iain.” I look at him. “Please, let me go. Trust me, Jett and my mom don’t care.” I wipe my cheeks, trying to stop the insane tears from flowing.
His brown eyes go from me to Brody. “Do you need money?” He reaches into his wallet handing me a lot of cash.
“No. My mom was kind enough to give me an American Express Black Card so I’d leave. I’m good.” My voice drips with sarcasm.
“Just take the cash. You never know when you might need it.” He tucks it in my bag.
“Thank you. I’ll pay you back.” I sniff, and the tears that had slowed start right back up.
“Listen, man. This is unacceptable. Raven is not a prisoner. Open the gate or I’ll call the police,” Brody yells at Iain who smirks.
“He’s rescuing you, huh?” He arches a brow at me but pushes a button on his phone and the large, wrought iron gate opens.
“Yep.” I say over my shoulder as I walk toward Brody who grabs my luggage, tossing it into his trunk.
“Raven?” Iain calls out.
“Yeah?” I stop and turn, though Brody reaches for me.
“Cheer up. Things always work out the way they’re supposed to.” He smiles, then turns and walks up the driveway. The gate closes, and Brody puts his arms around me. I want to scream back at Iain, What does that mean? or You don’t understand, but he’s too far away and it’s pointless. He doesn’t get my pain.
“Jesus, Raven, you scared me. What happened?” Brody pulls back so his eyes can assess me.
“I can’t talk about it now. Just get me out of here.”
He nods and walks me over to the passenger seat as if I’m made of glass, so gentle… The complete opposite of Jett. He’d have pulled me in tightly and held me, letting his strength assure me that everything was okay, that he was there, and that I didn’t need anyone but him.
Except Jett is a monster, not my knight in shining armor. How did I lose sight of that so fast?
I drop into the passenger seat and let Brody fuss over me, not really listening to his rambling, hearing bits and pieces of how he’s gonna take care of me and I’ll stay with him.
“I’m going to Spain, Brody.” I look over at him. At least he looks like he’s been in the sun, so his coloring is better.
“Spain? What about school?” He almost misses a turn.
“I’m done with school for right now.” I look back out the window, leaning my head against the cool glass.