Total pages in book: 150
Estimated words: 136791 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 684(@200wpm)___ 547(@250wpm)___ 456(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 136791 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 684(@200wpm)___ 547(@250wpm)___ 456(@300wpm)
My hands sting from a dozen small cuts as I drop the shards into the trash. I wash the blood off under cold water, watching it spiral down the drain with an odd sense of satisfaction. If only washing away my sins was that easy.
Fuck. I need air. I need to fucking move or I'm gonna start smashing more shit.
My boots crunch gravel as I stride out to the deserted street as I lean against my bike.
The night is as restless as I am, wind rustling through the leaves with a mournful whine. At least it’s not fucking raining, though. I got so tired of that shit in Seattle.
Los Angeles isn’t any better, though. At least not this neighborhood. The stench of smog and cheap liquor clinging to the night air has a way of making you feel dirtier by the minute. I inhale deeply, taking it all in. The grit on the wind, the sirens in the distance—they’re a part of me as much as my scars.
An engine rumbles somewhere nearby, followed by gunshots, the familiar sounds pulling me out of my self-loathing for a moment. My gaze lands on January’s darkened house. It sits quiet and unassuming like it holds no deadly secrets. Like it wasn't the goddamn epicenter of my world once upon a time.
A memory so strong it almost knocks me off my feet slams into me.
Then – Age Sixteen
"I need a favor." Titan drops down onto the bleachers beside me. He reaches out and snags my book before turning it toward himself. "How the fuck do you and January read this shit?" he asks, shaking his head.
"You'd have to be able to read to understand," I tell him, holding my hand out for the book. It's Voltaire…which Titan would never understand. He's smart, but he doesn't give a shit about literature. Like most guys our age, the only thing on his mind is pussy. I'm not interested in girls, at least not any I plan on telling him about anytime soon. January is too young for me—only thirteen—and she's his baby sister. He'd lose his mind if he knew I've been in love with her for longer than I can remember.
Instead, I focus on keeping her safe. Titan and I do a pretty good job of it since forming the MC. People act like we’re a fucking criminal gang or something, but we don't deal drugs, and we don't start the bullshit fights and turf wars we end up in. All we're trying to do is to keep that shit away from our neighborhood and our families.
It's not enough for me, though.
I want to make something out of myself, do something with my life that matters. Something that gives me a shot at getting January and Ma Lucia out of here for good. I don't want to be the poor little orphan boy my entire life. I want to be good enough for January someday.
"Touché, fucker," Titan says with a laugh and then tosses my book to me.
I slide a Post-It note inside to mark my place and then slip it into my bag before turning to face him. Like usual, his hair is spiked up with enough gel to embarrass most men. He doesn't give a shit what anyone else thinks. That's why we get along so well. Neither of us cares what anyone else has to say. The only opinions that matter to me are his, January's, their mom's, and Ma Lucia's.
"What do you want?" I ask him.
"I need you to walk January home today," he says.
"Already planned on it." We escort her to and from school every day. It's been that way for years. Don't know why he'd think today was any different.
"Without me," he says and grins, showing his teeth. "Mandy wants to talk."
"You're still trying to get with her?" I shake my head at him. She strings him along like a little puppy, but he just keeps going back for more. There's no point in even trying to tell him she's fucking half the football team. He doesn't care.
I don't think it bothers him that she's tried to get with me more than once over the years, either. I've never had any interest in her, but she keeps trying. It's fucking ridiculous.
"What makes you think I haven't already been with her?" he asks and waggles his brows.
"Because you'd never shut the fuck up about it if you had."
"So you'll walk January home and hang out with her until I get there?"
I push myself to my feet, trying not to let my excitement show. If he wants to deal with Mandy's drama again, that's on him. He never listens so there's no point even trying to tell him that he's an idiot. But the thought of escorting January home by myself? Of spending time alone with her? Yeah, I'm all over that.