Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 115964 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 580(@200wpm)___ 464(@250wpm)___ 387(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115964 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 580(@200wpm)___ 464(@250wpm)___ 387(@300wpm)
We were silent, but our movements were frenzied.
It was quick, though I held off, waiting until she climaxed. As soon as she did, I unloaded into her and stilled, holding her as our bodies quaked.
I bent down, my forehead resting on her shoulder.
She ran her hand up and down my back, gently, as tenderly as I had undressed her. She pressed a soft kiss to the side of my neck.
I looked up, my eyes meeting hers.
I didn’t know what I was looking for. Was I making sure she was okay? Looking to see if she condemned me? Hated me? Still needed me? My head was a mess when it came to her, but I couldn’t leave her. Though I should.
I should walk away from her.
I should send her off, make her live a new life, a normal life.
But I knew she wouldn’t do that, and I knew I could never leave her.
I groaned, holding her close for one more moment, and then set her back down. Grabbing the bag, I found the wipes and cleaning products. We cleaned up.
Once we were dressed, we walked back to the truck, side by side.
I didn’t hold her hand, and she never reached for mine.
43
Ash
“This is your new room, sweetheart.”
She opened the door and inside were two beds. A little girl was sitting on one of them, a doll in her hand. She looked up…
I jerked upright, realizing I’d been leaning back against a tree.
A campfire was lit up in front of me. I was hoping it wasn’t the one used to burn everything else.
Jake glanced over, “You okay?”
I nodded, a quick move up and down. “Yeah. Nightmare.”
He frowned, his face lit by the small campfire he’d built. “I know you got Raize, but he ain’t here. You want to talk about it?”
I almost laughed. He had no idea. “No. Just...different life. How long have I been out?”
He shrugged. “An hour, or so.”
A snore came from the other side of the fire.
Bronski was still out, and the ground was hella uncomfortable.
Jake sighed. “I can do it. You want me to do it?”
Did I? “I don’t know.”
I also didn’t know why I didn’t just do it. Get it done.
It seemed so cold-blooded now, and maybe Raize was right. I wasn’t ready for this—to do it this way. Self-defense was a whole different ballgame, and maybe I was still sticking to some sort of line? I’d crossed over so many that sometimes I forgot I’d even had them.
“So, you have a sister, huh?”
I eyed him warily. Jake knew about my sister, but nothing else. We hadn’t talked about the cop and missing poster incident from earlier either—not that he or Cavers would ask.
“Yeah,” I offered.
When I didn’t say anything more Jake asked, “What’s going on with you and Raize?”
I frowned. “Thought the grocery store was our talk about him and me?”
He chuckled, reaching forward to poke the fire. “I’m bored. Give me something.”
“What about you and that woman of yours?”
“She’s free. Carloni’s dead.”
“Would you want to find her, if you could?”
He didn’t answer right away, staring pointedly at the fire. “No. I’d steer clear of her, hoping she got free and stayed free.” His gaze flicked back to me. “Can I ask you something?”
I eyed him. “About Raize?”
“No.” He grinned, chuckling before he got serious again. “About your sister.”
Oh. I steeled myself.
“Is she why you’re doing all this?” He gestured around us. “It’s kinda obvious you’re not the normal girl that gets pulled into this life.”
My heart felt heavy, because Brooke was one of those girls.
I just knew it. Felt it.
I hated it.
My voice came out raspy. “She got pulled in by a Romeo pimp.”
He made an understanding sound, like a grunt tinged with sympathy. “I’m sorry.”
I nodded, my eyes suddenly blurry. “Yeah.”
“Leo Gettsicky.”
Both of us jumped to our feet.
Bronski was awake and watching us, his eyes full of pain, his face one giant grimace. He shifted, trying to relieve the pressure on his arm, but he couldn’t move. He closed his eyes, resting his forehead on the ground, and heaved out a deep breath.
“Don’t suppose either of you is inclined to help me out here?”
Jake scowled, cocking his gun. “We’re supposed to kill you.”
“Of course you are. Let me guess—Maxim decided to make a move? He’s taking out Igor and Roman? All their men?” He looked between us. “Which doesn’t make sense. You’re both with Raize, and he’s with Roman. Isn’t he? Was our intel bad about that?”
“Shut up while we decide what to do with you.”
Bronski barely acknowledged Jake, his eyes only on me. Gritting his teeth, he was able to lift himself to a sitting position, though his hands were tied behind him, and he heaved another deep breath as his shoulders slumped forward. “That’s better.”
Jake snorted. “We’re so glad.”
I hadn’t spoken to Bronski.