Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 74655 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 373(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74655 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 373(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
He isn’t as mean to me when I do a good job. He mostly leaves me alone for a few days, and that feels nice, because when I’m alone, I’m not so afraid. I can read books and take myself to different places. Being alone makes me feel the safest I can feel, so, I’ll keep doing a good job, because, eventually, maybe he’ll leave me alone forever.
I went back to school today.
Summer is over.
I couldn’t be happier.
If I’m at school, I don’t have to be with him. Of course, most of the kids at school hate me, and they pick on me, teasing me about having no family, and having a dead mommy.
It’s not very nice.
Rebecca says people pick on other people, because usually their lives are just as bad.
That makes me feel better, to know maybe they’re just doing what they can to get through their own pain.
I’m sitting in my room, doing my homework, when my dad barges in. He doesn’t knock, or say hello, or ask me how my day was. Honestly, he wouldn’t even know I was home. I could be anywhere, and it would probably take him days to figure it out.
I’ve thought about running away once or twice. But where would I go? The city is big, and I’d end up on the streets, scared and alone. So, that’s probably not a good idea. Besides, as far as I know, Dad doesn’t have any family. Mom has parents somewhere, but I don’t think she liked them very much. Or maybe they didn’t like her, because she married Dad.
I heard them fighting about it once.
“You have a big job on the weekend,” my father says, his voice gruff. “It’s important. The most important yet. You’ll need to do this perfectly. There is no room for error. I’ll be giving you a list of what you need to get, and you won’t be leaving until you get it.”
I swallow.
That doesn’t sound good.
“This man ... he’s dangerous. And mean. You’re going to have to put on your best show to even get into his house. Cry if you have to. Hell, make yourself bloody so he’s forced to consider helping you. Whatever it takes. And I mean whatever it takes. Whatever he wants, you give him. This is important, if you screw up ... Well, trust me, you won’t want to.”
I swallow and weakly nod.
“You won’t be going to school tomorrow, we need to get this one hundred percent perfect.”
“But it’s only my second day back ...”
I stop talking when I realize what I’m doing, but it’s too late. My father’s big, hard hand lashes out and he slaps me, right across the face. It’s so hard I go flying from my chair and land on the floor in a heap. Tears burn under my eyelids, but I know better than to cry. I clench my eyes shut, pain burning through my cheek, and stay on the ground.
“Don’t you ever speak back to me again!” he roars.
Then he storms out.
I lie on the floor like that for a while, maybe even a few hours, I don’t know. My hand is cupped over my cheek, but it’s not doing much to ease the pain. My head is throbbing, and my heart aches. I swallow back my tears, over and over, until they finally disappear. I don’t have time to cry. Crying only makes him angrier.
I have to get stronger.
I have to.
Or maybe, I’ll die here.
Right here in this house.
With him.
-8-
NOW – KODA
Thank. Fuck.
When I hear the distant voices moving closer to the cabin, my shoulders ease just a tiny bit. Yesterday was hell. Barely two words were spoken between Charlie and me. She was off all afternoon, staring at her phone, and then losing herself just looking at nothing, not even me. She didn’t eat. She went to bed early.
It’s fucked.
I need something to break it up.
I stand out in front of the cabin, arms crossed over my chest, and watch as Malakai, Amalie, Maverick, Scarlett, Mason and Boston come into view. I nod in their general direction, and it’s Scarlett that skips over first with a big smile on her pretty damn face.
“Hi there, Koda. Is Charlie still alive?”
I stare at her, then grin. She’s one of the only women I actually like. I’d go as far as calling her a friend, and I have very few of those with a pussy. I don’t do women very well. But Scarlett, I can handle her.
“That depends on what you class as alive? She’s still breathin’ ...”
She shoves my chest lightly. “You’re awful. Where is she?”
I jerk my head toward the house and Scarlett waves to Amalie. I nod and smile at the shy, beautiful girl that captured Malakai’s heart, and she smiles back, lifting her hand in a wave. When they’ve disappeared inside, I walk over and shake Malakai’s hand. “Glad to have you here, brother.”