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)
Anger and frustration fill me. I still don’t know what happened between us. She blocked me and that was it. The only reason I left it alone is because I figured it was for the best.
So much has been going on since. I’ve become that other person. Mary and the kids are the only reason I’ve been able to push him back down in the last month.
Something deep inside tells me this is my chance to find out what went wrong. I get the sense I will forever regret not taking this call. Swiftly, I look around at the guys as they laugh and watch Pit chase after Skittles, tripping and fumbling drunkenly along the way.
Seeing no one’s paying me any attention, I snatch up the phone quickly and turn to rush into the house. I jog up to my room for the night and shut the door behind me.
I stop to think about what I’m about to do for a split second. Just long enough to remind me how much I’ve missed her. Hitting the green button, I then bring the phone to my ear.
“Hello, Shawna.”
She gasps before silence follows. A million asshole things cross my mind to say, but I swallow them down. I’ve never wanted to be that guy to her.
“What’s wrong, baby girl? You don’t miss me?”
“Hey, Kelex,” she whispers.
“Nah-uh. You know better. That’s not my name to you. What’s up, gorgeous?”
“Is my cousin there?”
“She is, but I thought we could talk for a sec. At least long enough for you to tell me what happened between us.”
“I wanted something you didn’t.”
“Says who?”
“Your actions.”
“What actions?”
“Listen, this is a bad time for this. Please, I need to speak to Ven.”
“What’s wrong? Are you in some kind of trouble?”
“Listen, things have changed. I shouldn’t be talking to you. Danny wouldn’t like it.”
I snort. “Who the fuck is Danny?”
“Um, he’s my boyfriend,” she says quietly.
“Danny who?”
“Danny Clavier. You wouldn’t know him.”
My mind races to place the name. When it clicks, my head nearly explodes. A sweet girl like Shawna has no business with a piece of shit like that.
“Baby girl. I know I told you you could do better than me, so why would you end up with someone the total opposite of better? Wait, is he the reason you sound off?”
“I can’t really get into that much at the moment,” she whispers.
“Listen to me. I don’t know what you think I did, but… I’m still here for you. If you ever need me and I do mean ever, call. I’m still your person.”
“Okay, I have to go.”
“Shawna.”
“Yeah?”
“I miss you. I’ll be waiting.”
She hangs up without another word. I stand with my jaw working. I don’t like Danny Clavier. He’s one of Julio Marquis’s lap boys.
Blake has been keeping an eye on them both. Marquis has been smart in keeping his wife away from the elite circuit, so I haven’t had access to her. However, Marquis’s right hand, Javier, has allowed his bigmouthed wife to mingle happily and freely.
When she speaks of Danny, it makes my gums itch. Now that I know Shawna is the sad girlfriend who he cheats on, I’m sick to my stomach. The violent rage that rolls through me is all-consuming.
I dial the first person who pops into my head. I wanted to stay far away from Marquis and his races, but I know someone who’s been salivating to get into them.
“Hello, ass face. What happened? Skittles had enough of your pretty ass. You want me to come pick you up?”
“Fuck you.”
“Not interested, but I’d nail that new assistant you have. She’s hot as fuck.”
“Listen, do you still want into those races?”
“Marquis’s? Hell yeah.”
“I’ll front you the cash. I just need some information.”
“You do know Marquis is going to want to meet you? He’ll know I don’t have that type of cash to carry a team. The guy is thorough.
“Sitting down with him doesn’t look good for your good-boy image. Hell, carrying my team could fall back on you. That’s why I didn’t ask you for the money. I’ll find another way.”
“You don’t have to ask. Set it up,” I say and hang up.
If that motherfucker has hurt her, I’m going to let out Mr. Hyde. He’ll wish his mother were never born or that the bitch swallowed.
Baby, what have you gotten yourself into?
My phone rings, bringing me out of my thoughts. I look down and my entire body runs cold. I close my eyes and put the phone to my ear.
The sobbing is all I need to hear. I can’t breathe. Words won’t even come.
“What am I going to do, bro? What am I supposed to do? Mama, Mama, don’t do this to us. What am I gonna do? She’s gone, J. She’s gone.”
Shawna
“Can I get your car?” the valet asks as I stand outside the restaurant.