Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 125020 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125020 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 625(@200wpm)___ 500(@250wpm)___ 417(@300wpm)
I thought the night would never end. Seeing Ox and Lex war it out musically with so much passion almost made me grab Shawna and call it a night. I was the first one to get up to leave when Ox mauled Lex’s face.
“That was fun,” Shawna says, breaking into my thoughts. “Are all of you guys’ trips like this?”
“Usually there’s a lot more pranking and crazy shit.”
“Crazy shit like what?”
“Midnight snowmobile rides. Naked skiing. Name it, we’ve done it.”
She snickers. “Really?”
“Yeah, we’ve done some crazy shit over the years.”
“Why did almost everyone look so shocked that you could sing? Have you never sang for them before?”
“No.”
“But you used to sing when you were modeling. I remember you posting a few videos.”
I grin and move my face to the crook of her neck. “Not everyone stalked me back then.”
“I didn’t stalk you. I was just a follower. You were so talented.”
“It’s okay, baby. I picked up on the stalker vibes a long time ago.”
“Shut up, Josh.”
I laugh and suck her flesh into my mouth. “Honestly, none of us liked each other before… Ven brought us together. Before that, I didn’t know her, even though we did run around some of the same circles.
“Once we became friends, all of that was over. I stopped singing and all of that,” I say and shrug.
She reaches to lace her fingers with mine. I begin to play with her fingers as we fall silent for a moment. I get lost in my thoughts until her sweet voice pulls me back out.
“Maybe we should just come clean and fess up?”
I sigh. I had been hoping this wouldn’t come up, but I’m not going to fight with her about it. I have no proof it’s not a good time.
“If that’s what you want.”
She turns to look me in the face. “Really?”
“Yes, really. You want to do it together?”
“I don’t know? Maybe I should tell her alone.”
“I’ll do whatever you want.”
She sits silently for a beat. I can see her thoughts racing. I know my wife. This isn’t what she wants. She’s just not ready to ask for what she truly wants… the truth from me.
Because I’m a bastard still hiding my secrets, I don’t press. I take her lips to change the subject instead. I’ll step on those grenades when the time comes.
Chapter 65
Come Clean
Kelex
Three weeks later…
“Why am I here?” I say to Blake.
He’s called me to his place at butt fuck o’clock in the morning. I’m cranky and I need him to spit it out so I can go back home and climb into my bed. It’s bad enough I was up all night fielding calls about an incident at one of our festival locations.
At this point, I don’t believe anything that’s been happening in the last two weeks is a coincidence. I’m also annoyed with Blake and my grandfather. I feel like they’re allowing this bullshit.
“I need to talk to you.”
“Okay, I got that. What about?”
“I’m going to reveal who you are to Pit. It was brought to my attention that Ox already knows. Your pappoús has made his choice.”
“Finally. It’s about time,” I say in relief.
“Hold on. I think there’s something you should know. I’m choosing to tell you what your grandfather hasn’t. I think it’s become important for you to know.”
I fold my arms over my chest. “Okay, I’m listening.”
“Your mother wasn’t hit by a drunk driver. That story Ulysses has been feeding you all these years has been bullshit. She and her friends were in a car accident, but it was because a device was placed on the car that incapacitated your mother’s ability to operate the vehicle.
“That hit created a world of chaos. The women in that car were all connected to powerful families and or men with power.
“Your father stood to benefit from the type of confusion it caused because it turned the table against itself. Everything imploded from there. However, none of us wanted to believe he would do such a thing. Ulysses has done some crazy shit, but this…this was over the top.”
“Are you standing here telling me my father is responsible for my mother’s death?” I seethe.
“That I’m still not sure of. We tried to siphon out the truth but kept hitting a wall. Basil and my father grew tired and had planned to leave it alone.
“That was until a certain chain of events started. We knew that door was opening again. We also know that while your father is the one who keeps opening it, he’s blind to the consequences and repercussions of his actions.
“Okay, so why should I know this now? What do you think will change?”
“Your mother and her friends were the consequences the last time your father wanted to make a power play. This time you and your friends seem to be the targets.”