Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 68858 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 344(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68858 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 344(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
“We’ll talk soon,” he promised before stepping away. I watched him head towards the side parking lot where a black Benz sat idling with two large SUVs waiting behind it. He gave me one last disarming look as he got in the passenger seat. I caught a glimpse of another man in a suit, his younger brother, before the car disappeared from view, exiting the lot with the other vehicles in tow.
I checked to see if anyone had witnessed us talking together and saw the man who had been guarding the doors was gone as well. What the hell just happened? I didn’t know where to begin trying to figure out why he approached me. His unexpected attention spun my thoughts into chaos. Now that he had departed, a wave of delayed anxiety crashed over me, a visceral reaction to his proximity.
The worst thing about it was that there had to be a reason. Could Evie have been caught in his dangerous orbit? The mere thought twisted my stomach into knots, a bitter taste of fear mixed with loss. I rubbed my brow and sighed. I wasn’t sure how long I’d been outside but going back into the venue was out of the question. The fact no one came out to bother me was a silent affirmation that whatever decree he’d given held a disturbing amount of power. A low whistle cut through my thoughts. I looked up, eyes narrowing as a figure approached.
Recognizing her, I abandoned all pretense of decorum. I took off, poise be damned, moving as fast I could in my heels, trying not to fall and bust my ass.
“No one seemed to know where you were,” she said as soon as she was close enough to throw her arms around me, pulling me into a bone-crushing embrace. “God, I missed you,” she breathed, raw emotion in her voice. I hugged her back just as tightly, catching a whiff of her rose-scented perfume.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t make the service. I came here straight from the airport.”
“It’s fine, Mel.” I shoved down a swell of emotion and blinked back tears before pulling away.
“I take it you’re out here to get away from everyone in there?” she nodded towards the large brick building.
I nodded. “I couldn't stomach it any longer.”
“And no one would dare say shit about it, if they don’t want an eight-inch Louis V shoved up their ass.” She surveyed me from head to toe, her perusal softening into a smile. "You look good, El."
Her infectious grin sparked one of my own, clearing away some of the fog from within. I appreciated her not outright asking the common questions. The grim secret that my sister wasn't in either of the caskets was known only to my family and whoever was responsible for her disappearance. I longed to confide and vent to her, but the danger that could put her in had me biting my tongue.
“You look amazing, too,” I returned her appraising compliment meaning every word. The beautiful woman in front of me was the same Melody Bellucci I’d been best friends with since middle school, but her outward appearance was almost that of a stranger. Her messy, lopsided ponytail had been replaced with silky dark curls piled on her head in an elegant updo. A classy navy dress clung to a beautiful body with generous curves that had once been petite and always covered by oversized hoodies.
“I want to say I’m glad you’re back, but considering the why, I’d feel like a vain bitch.”
“I can’t believe I’m here either. Never thought I would be,” I replied with a wistfulness I couldn’t hide. “But what are you doing here? I told you to finish your trip.”
“Hm, lounge on a beach and drink cocktails, or go home to support my best friend who I haven’t seen in far too long, on what has to be one of the hardest days of her life? God, the decision was such a hard one to come to.”
I ignored her blatant sarcasm. “Did Peyton come with you?”
Just as I finished asking, he came around the corner half jogging to reach us.
He threw his arms around me as Melody had, but where her hug was bone bone-crushing his was debilitating. “I’m so fucking sorry, babe.” He shook me side to side, crushing my face into his solid chest.
“Don’t break her, Peyton,” Melody chided, smacking his muscled arm.
“Oh, please. She can take a lot more than this.” He let go and smiled down at me with a wink, his hazel eyes full of concern. Peyton was one of the only people I would accept it from.
I smirked at his lobster-patterned bowtie and blonde coiffed hair. Unlike Mel, he really hadn’t changed a bit. He fully embraced who he was, and I loved that for him.