Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 80572 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80572 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
His shoes are gone. His clothes are gone.
I sit up and remember today’s payday.
People like it when they get paid. I don't. It's a vivid reminder—if it's payday, that means I have more money in the bank. The more money I have in the bank, the closer I get to leaving here. I always knew I couldn’t stay. Then why does getting closer to my goal make me feel so—sad?
I remind myself that my sister is waiting for me. And I wonder if it's a lie that I tell myself that she'll be okay. That I'll even be able to get back to the fellowship and rescue her.
The more time that passes between when I left and when I actually return, the more I doubt my ability to do this on my own.
"Sergio?" I know now he's not going to answer, because he's gone. I look around the room with a growing sense of dread. I can’t help calling for him, as if he’ll mysteriously show up. I’m letting my imagination get the best of me.
I throw off the covers and look for a note or something that tells me he's gone and where he's gone to.
He's always here when I wake up.
I pick up my phone and see a text notification. My heart beats a little faster when I see it's from Sergio.
You were sleeping so peacefully I didn't want to wake you. I have an urgent matter to deal with. I have to go, Eden. I'll be back. I had to go immediately, because it's time sensitive but I'll be back tonight.
And that's it. I don't know why the dread continues to grow, making me faintly nauseous.
I click the phone button to call him. Thanks to Marialena I now know how to use this thing.
The call goes to voicemail.
I suppose things like this happen all the time in the ordinary world. People have places to go. People leave each other messages, texts, letters…
But I can’t help but wonder if something’s wrong.
I swallow a lump in my throat and open up my bank account. Flo helped me set up this one and Quinn showed me how to use it. I open up my balance and stare.
That's… way more money than I'm supposed to have in there. That's… crazy money. I even shut off my phone, start it up again, and open the app again, staring at the numbers.
I have enough money to save Starla. I have enough money to do… a lot of things now.
I have enough money to leave.
I close my eyes and try to center myself, but I feel off-kilter. Sergio is gone on an unknown mission, which is not out of the ordinary, because he's a man that does things he doesn't tell me about. He's someone that can't work out in the open, because he's a criminal. I know this, but I love him anyway.
I love him.
But I don't know how we can go on together like this.
I try to make myself believe that I am worthy of love, but right now, all I can think about is what to do next.
I open up the app again and stare at the numbers. Why did I get paid so much money? Maybe somebody made a mistake. This is the kind of money it should’ve taken me five years to make.
I put the phone down.
I know I have to go back for Starla. I have to talk to Sergio about that first, because I know I can't do this alone. All it would take would be for me to encounter the wrong person. If Seth is there…
I take a shower, then let Daisy out of her crate. I brush my teeth and my hair. I even put on a little makeup because Quinn showed me how to. And I dress in my new clothes. I wanted to burn the old ones, but they were gone when I came back.
Since our night on the yacht, Quinn and Marialena have redone my entire wardrobe. I have slim-fitting jeans and buttery soft leggings. I have skirts and dresses and formfitting tees. Nothing’s too flashy, and somehow, it's all just… me. The new me, anyway. Classy, a little trendy, well-made, and… beautiful.
After I finish getting ready, I go out to the kitchen.
It's a Friday, and we have a big crowd coming in tonight. I know now that Sergio is giving me more jobs than I need, more jobs than he needed to, because maybe he wanted to keep me here. I know clubs like this don't normally have extravagant menus, but he likes my cooking, and he knows I like to cook.
I take Daisy out for a walk, my mind clouded with all of the decisions I need to make. I've gotten used to relying on Sergio, and I'm not sure how I feel about that. I need to depend on myself . I can't wait on a man to make my decisions for me. I hold up my chin and walk with confidence down the street, but my mind is in turmoil.