Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 46344 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 232(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46344 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 232(@200wpm)___ 185(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
Dwayne was known as The Nightmare, regardless of who he was working for. It helped him and instilled fear into anyone who was close.
Following Caleb out back to the office, he entered the large, luxurious room. Beast, as always, was behind the desk, looking very royal.
“You had a long day,” Beast said.
Dwayne didn’t say anything, staring at his uncle who was also his boss.
“I see. We’re going to stick with the silent treatment.”
“What do you want?”
He took a seat, aware of Caleb sitting back and Beast’s focus was on him, yay.
“The Charity girl.”
Dwayne hadn’t told anyone about his meetings with her. “What about her?”
“We’re not idiots, Dwayne. We know you’ve been seeing her, even though you really shouldn’t.”
“What I do on my down time is my concern.”
“Her family is worried,” Beast said. “I got a call from her dad. They were wondering if I’d be willing to find out what’s wrong with her.”
Caleb laughed.
Dwayne smiled. “We’re not security experts.”
“It got me thinking about you. You’ve been seeing her.”
“She asked for my help, and I’m providing it.”
“What are you charging her?” Beast asked.
Dwayne’s jaw clenched.
“You’re doing it for free?”
“I think it’s safe to say that our boy may be pussy-whipped,” Caleb said. “It had to happen. There’s no way he could be doing the shit he does without getting a release anywhere.”
“Nothing is happening, and don’t even think for a second to lecture me about her age. If my memory serves me well, both of you fell for eighteen-year-olds. Let’s just say I’m following in my family’s footsteps.” Dwayne had no intention of falling for Charity or having anything more with her. She deserved better than a man like him. He liked being around her. She was a sweet woman. Right now, she was struggling with her life and the changes that were happening, but in time she’d be different and she’d no longer need him.
Her company helped him a great deal.
Since seeing her, he was more focused, grounded if that was even possible. His need to kill had lessened. Most nights he went out to find a reason. Now, he didn’t need one. Whatever Charity was doing to his head, he needed it to stop. In his world, people preyed on the weak, and he refused to join the ranks.
“I’ll stop seeing her,” he said.
Even as he spoke the words, he knew the execution of it was going to be torture.
****
The following week, Charity arrived at his private warehouse to continue training, and as she checked her watch, she realized he was over two hours late. Glancing down at her cell phone, she realized she didn’t have his number or any way to contact him. Whenever she needed him, he always arrived. After waiting another hour, she knew he wasn’t coming.
Dwayne was a lot of things, but being this late wasn’t one of them. He wasn’t going to show up. Instead of driving back home, she made her way to the forest where he’d taken her not too long ago to shoot some cans.
As she parked, there was no sign of his car, but then she doubted she’d even know if he was following her unless he wanted her to know about it.
Tapping her fingers against her leg, she glanced around, taking deep breaths.
She didn’t like this panic that was consuming her.
The days she spent with Dwayne helped her a lot, and right now, he was avoiding her and she was trying not to freak out. What had she done wrong? Had she done anything wrong?
When they parted ways last week, everything had been fine, and now, nothing.
She turned in a circle, and she couldn’t see any sign of him. Heading back to her car, she glanced around, but there was nothing but the open road and the forest, along with one lonely sign letting travelers know the direction they were heading.
Again, she didn’t go home but instead headed to the mall.
She got a ticket and parked. Deciding against the elevator, she took the stairs, going to the third floor of the mall first.
As she entered the large building, noise enveloped her, which she hated. She wasn’t a noise person these days, but at least she wouldn’t have to lie to her mother when she asked.
Grabbing a chocolate milkshake from one of the stands, she paid, and then began to gaze into the window of each shop. Some of them were designer, and even though her parents could afford it, Charity never liked to spend her money on such luxury clothing. She walked from one shop to another, trying to let the mall distract her in some way. As she rounded a corner she came to a stop when she saw a couple of her old friends.
They’d not hung out in such a long time. Being around them was difficult. In the days after being saved by Dwayne, she’d not wanted to be around anyone, and her friends didn’t help.