Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 148704 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 744(@200wpm)___ 595(@250wpm)___ 496(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 148704 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 744(@200wpm)___ 595(@250wpm)___ 496(@300wpm)
“You said no one would be here,” the man barks at my brother, his lip curling when his words make me jump.
Seconds later, a third man appears, having stepped out of my bathroom and my eyes shoot wide, shock and confusion coiling my muscles.
“You…” I breathe, my gut twisting.
“Hello again, Davis.” The man comes closer, the familiar black hat, the one he wore each and every time he came into the diner, hanging from his hand, bloodied and bent. His blue eyes are locked with mine, hazed over, yet wide with adrenaline.
Everything in me screams to run, that something is off and to take myself as far away from it as possible.
Trying to appear calm while unease stabs at my every nerve isn’t easy, but I manage to keep my steps slow and steady as I round the counter, putting distance between myself and the men, my brother included.
My mouth opens, but I’m not sure what I planned to say, and then Memphis’s groan has my head snapping back.
“I didn’t think she’d be home.” He pants, his breathing labored as he grips his side, the color draining from his face. “Ignore her, she’s no one.”
A pang hits my chest, but I ignore it.
“Memphis, we have to get you to the hospital. I can drive, I—” My hand reaches into the bottom of the bowl, my attention snapping to it. “Where are my keys…” It’s not really a question, more my way of trying to retrace my steps, but my brother answers.
“I told you.” He kicks off the counter, and I reach out as he stumbles back, but it’s no use. He falls into the chair behind him, nearly tumbling to the floor. “We flipped.”
I stare at my brother, at the wounds on his hands and the gash on his head, at the dirt covering his jeans and his laces soaked a cherry red… to the wristband on his left arm.
Gone when I got home, stumbling in after the two-in-the-morning last call.
The single-shot bottles in the gutter near the curb that could have been anyone’s… but likely are not.
Tears prick my eyes, and I clench my jaw to keep them at bay. “You’re drunk.”
The lanky man, Black Hat Guy, laughs, and I jolt, shifting right as he moves left on the other side of the countertop.
“Relax, Davis.” Black Hat Guy demands, my name leaving him in three incoherent syllables.
“Yeah, Davis, relax.”
My head snaps toward the big guy, and I clutch my phone tighter, my limbs beginning to shake. Using my thumb to unlock the screen, I quickly lift it, hit number one, and draw it to my ear. “You need help.”
The line rings once and then the phone is torn from my hand, a large palm wrapping around my bicep. I gasp, whipping around to come face-to-face with wild, dark eyes.
“No cops!” the man shouts, his words so harsh and booming, so close, speckles of spit wet my face.
I nearly whimper as he crowds me even more.
“I… I—”
The man’s arm flies up, and I flinch when he chucks my phone across the room, a small squeal leaving me as it smashes against the wall. His gaze is hard on mine, slowly snapping up over my head.
“Handle your bitch, Memphis.”
Yes, please, Memphis! Do something!
My heart sinks, my pulse threatening to knock me out as I dare a look at my brother.
My brother’s eyes are half-closed, his body slumped against the chair. “Go to bed, all right? We gotta lie low.”
He keeps talking, his words a mess of things I can’t make out, but my body is shaking so badly, I can hardly stand. The man in front of me stares at me impatiently, and I realize Memphis told me to do something and I’m clearly expected to do as I’m told.
My steps are so slow and thought out, I’m sure I look off, stiff and robot-like, but it feels like a safer bet than running and slamming the door behind me like the terrified woman I am. With restraint I didn’t know I had, I gently close my door, having to try twice to turn the lock into place, I’m trembling so badly.
The second I’m locked inside, my hands fly to my mouth, my tears overflowing as silent sobs rack my body. I allow myself no more than seconds of panic, as it threatens to swallow me whole. I try to take a deep breath and lower myself onto the edge of my bed.
My leg begins to bounce, and I count quietly to myself in sequences of ten.
No more than a minute passes and then there’s a harsh knock on my door.
“Open up!” Black Hat Guy. “You better not be on the phone in there!”
Tears spring into my eyes, and I look to the patio. Even if I could climb up to the top, I can’t squeeze through the wooden slats.