Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 60309 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 302(@200wpm)___ 241(@250wpm)___ 201(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60309 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 302(@200wpm)___ 241(@250wpm)___ 201(@300wpm)
But I’m not.
I don’t know what that says about me. That I’m not scared to die. Maybe.
“You’re crazy!” one yells at Declan and pulls off his ski mask. “We weren’t doing anything!”
The second guy lifts up his goggles and glares at me. “You can’t fucking sick your bodyguard on anyone who shares the same air as you!”
I glower, my muscles burning.
Declan is speaking quickly into his mic. Probably for back-up.
They’re acting like they didn’t just try to jump me. Just so they can save their asses. Maybe they wanted my wallet. Maybe it was something else. I won’t ever know. Because they’re never going to admit to it.
I stare unblinkingly.
This was supposed to be a drama-free trip, and this’ll change everything. If hotel security is involved, this will hit the press. If we involve police, this will hit the press.
I’m in one piece.
They’re a neutralized threat.
“Just let them go,” I say to Declan.
He ignores me.
I’m fifteen, but I feel so much older. I can’t leave to my room because my bodyguard hasn’t checked inside yet. And he’s already fucking told me not to go there.
I’m left to wait.
Do nothing.
I swallow a rock in my throat. Part of me aches to scream out all of this amassed frustration, but I stay still and release my grip on my switchblade. I cross my arms.
Waiting.
More of my family’s security arrives, and they talk to the two guys. I whisper to Declan about not wanting to press charges.
“It’s up to your parents,” Declan whispers back.
Fuck.
I don’t want my parents to worry about me. I really don’t want them to know what’s happened either. “Let me tell them,” I say to him. Knowing it’s better if I explain what went on.
He reminds me that if they ask him questions, he has to answer. I’m a minor and all of that. I know.
I know.
But I’m taking control of my own life in any way that I still can, and after he checks my room—no one broke inside—he leaves me alone and stands guard in the hallway.
I sink onto the edge of the bed, and I dial my mom and put the phone to my ear. Chances are, she’s with my dad, so I’ll be able to tell them together.
The line clicks after two rings.
“Moffy!” She sounds happy to hear me, but then she pauses. “Wait, is everything okay? Shouldn’t you be on the slopes?”
“I’m okay. Is Dad with you?”
“Yeah, bud. I'm here.”
My shoulders are still squared. Like I’m preparing for another doomsday. I crack my stiff neck. “So uh, there were these two idiots in the hallway of the hotel—I’m alright,” I say quickly, hearing my mom suck in a breath. “They just tried to scare me.”
“Did they touch you?” my dad asks, voice so sharp-edged it could slice the air.
“No. They weren’t even close.” My knee is bouncing. I need to swim. Christ, I crave to dive into the water and release these pent-up feelings that I can’t even reach.
“You’re okay?” my mom asks again.
“I’m okay.” I shut my eyes. I’m okay.
“I’m flying out there—”
“No, Mom.” I lick my lips, so cracked now that I taste blood. “I promise I’m alright. By the time you get here, I’ll already be on a flight to the lake house.”
“How old were they?” my dad asks.
“I don’t know.” They were wearing ski masks. “Maybe in their twenties?” They sounded younger more than older. “I don’t want to press charges or anything. It’s not that big of a deal, and I don’t want to turn it into one.”
“Let me call security first, bud,” my dad starts, but I interject fast.
“This is my life, Dad. I don’t want this to hit the front page. Nothing happened, and they’ll spin a narrative that says something did.”
They are the media.
They are people on the internet.
They are you.
I get it. Theories are fun and wild things. But I’m real. And those theories have serious impacts on my day to day. If I can minimize that, I’m taking it.
It’s not that easy to convince my parents. They love me. They want to protect me, but thankfully they understand where I’m coming from. After about an hour, they agree not to involve any police and to just let these guys go.
Our private security team will keep an eye on them so they don’t return. During our phone call, more security already booked flights to Vail within the next hour.
“We love you,” my mom says over and over.
“I love you too.” We hang up, and I change into my swimsuit. I grab a complimentary pool towel off the shelf, and I exit my hotel room.
Declan is here, and a few other security are with him. But the mayhem is gone with the two guys. Everything is taken care of.
“Thanks,” I tell Declan, genuinely grateful that he was here. I know my parents are too, and I’m betting Uncle Ryke will be attached to my side like he’s my second bodyguard for the rest of the trip.