Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 93312 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93312 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 467(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
“I have to tell you guys something,” I say, picking at my black nail polish. They both pause, exchanging looks. Thayer drops his pizza to his plate, pinning me with an expectant glare.
“The night of Danny’s memorial thing…”
“Spit it out,” Holden says before taking a swig of his beer.
“I went out to the parking lot to find you,” I say to Holden. “But you were already gone.”
“Yeah?”
I nod. “I saw Christian with his dad, and I don’t know what happened or why, but he started beating the shit out of Christian.”
I watch them both for a reaction. Maybe this won’t be a surprise to them. But their faces give nothing away.
“I ran over to help him, and your uncle wasn’t happy that I’d just witnessed it.”
“Did he touch you?” Thayer asks, his voice low and threatening.
“No.” I quickly shake my head. “He was trying to scare me, telling me how this was ‘family business’, but Christian stopped him before he could do anything.”
“Why the fuck are you just now telling me this?”
“Christian asked me not to. He was supposed to tell you himself.” I still don’t know if that was a one-off, or if it’s an ongoing thing. Not that it’s acceptable either way.
“He has been different lately,” Holden muses.
“You guys don’t seem surprised.”
“Samuel’s a dick.” Holden shrugs. “So are our dad and our grandfather. I wouldn’t put it past him. I just don’t know why Christian would take it.”
“I have a bad feeling about him,” I admit. “Grey said he got there before the ambulance on the day Danny died. At first, I just figured he had connections and someone tipped him off about the nine-one-one call, knowing he’s family. But why would he cover for Grey like that?”
“He knew Grey was blood,” Holden supplies.
Thayer shakes his head. “No. Samuel doesn’t give a shit about that. He’s gonna beat his own son but protect his half-nephew? That doesn’t add up.”
“Where is he now?” I ask.
“Fuck if I know. He’ll be here tonight, though,” Holden says, crumpling up a napkin before tossing it onto his plate.
“We’ll talk to him then.” Thayer reaches over to grab the leg of my chair, sliding me toward him, then he’s pulling to set me sideways on his lap with his hand on my thigh. “Anything else I should know?”
A few hours later, the house is full of people. Taylor had the audacity to show her face after everything. She waltzed in like nothing happened, but Holden cornered her, telling her to leave. She pouted about it not being fair because all her friends were here, so Holden told her if she wanted to stay, she’d have to apologize to me.
I’d like to say that I didn’t find a sick satisfaction in watching her fumble over her words with jealousy written all over her face as Thayer hugged me from behind, kissing my neck, oblivious to her presence, but that’d be a lie. Her apology was anything but sincere, but I didn’t care. She’s irrelevant to me and the people I care about, which is the best revenge for a girl like her.
Christian still hasn’t shown up, and I can’t say I’m not a little nervous to face him after betraying his trust. Hopefully, he’ll understand.
A commotion from out back has me pushing up onto my toes in an attempt to see over everyone and into the backyard.
“Motherfucker,” Thayer mutters, pushing his way through the crowd of people gathered in his kitchen, heading for the back door. I’m right behind, still not sure what’s happening, but once we step outside, I see Liam, Valen’s boyfriend, laid out in the grass, holding his bloody nose. Valen has her hands cupped over her mouth in shock, and Holden’s hovering above him.
“By the way, I fucked your girlfriend,” he shouts, throwing his arms out.
“Holden!” Valen yells, rushing to help Liam up off the ground, but he shoves her away, refusing her help.
What. The. Fuck.
“Touch her again, motherfucker,” Holden warns, taking a step forward, but Thayer steps in front of him, holding him back.
Liam pulls himself to his feet and spits in the grass, wiping his nose with the back of his sleeve before he turns to go back inside, and presumably, right out the front door. I run up to Valen to see what the hell is going on.
“Are you okay? What happened?”
“I need to talk to him,” she says, pointing toward the direction Liam went. “I promise I’ll call you later, okay?” She gives me a quick kiss on the cheek, and then she’s heading back inside.
“Valen…” Holden says, his eyes begging her to stay. She turns to look at him over her shoulder, hesitating, but then she turns back around, disappearing inside.
Valen and Holden? Holy shit. I know I’ve been distracted lately, but how did something like this escape my notice?