Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 79338 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79338 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 397(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
He's silent for a bit, enough that I'm sure something horrible happened, but I don't push. Some things shouldn't be rushed. I stroke his leg softly though. I want him to know I'm here, that I'm listening. It helps take my mind off my discomfort.
“He missed a fucking turn. None of us were used to driving something with that kinda horsepower. The tires lost contact, and we just skidded and skidded until we slammed into an electrical transformer box. It was for the street lights, or something. Didn't matter. The whole fucking thing flashed like goddamn lightning, and the next thing I knew the car was burning and my buddies were screaming. I tried to get them out, I really did. Red, he… I think he was dead already. He wasn't moving. I tore open the door and pulled the seat forwards, but then the transformer blew up.” Even through his leg, I can feel his pulse racing. “I got thrown back. Maybe that was a fucking blessing, 'cause when I woke up, they weren't screaming anymore. I was the only fucking survivor. And then the cops came.”
I shift carefully so I can reach up and run my fingers over the rough skin on his neck and shoulder. “Is that where your burns came from?”
“Yeah. I didn't even notice them until later, I was so fucking outta my head. We were just stupid kids. I suppose it could’ve been worse, we did it to our fucking selves, right? We didn’t take anyone else out with us. But none of those kids fucking deserved that, you know? I was luckier than your brother. I sat in for four years, but since I was young and not the driver, I got off easy.”
“Easy?” I whisper and kiss his arm. “Doesn’t sound it. How old were you?”
“Barely seventeen. Mack told you about what he does, right? We met in the same program for teenagers, but I fucked up too bad. Zero spoke up for me, though. It helped me get a lesser sentence.” He sighs once, then is quiet.
“Is that why you're called Reaper? God, are you still punishing yourself for that?”
Just a little chuckle of a laugh. “Yeah, pretty melodramatic, right? I got the scythe on my back the day I got out of prison. One of the guys I was in with helped me with the design. I got it to remind myself, but also because it’s just fucking cool. Mack kept in touch when I was serving time. He started out as a kind of mentor, but after a while we were just friends. Sometimes I think about what my life would be like now if I’d stayed home just that one fucking night. Maybe we would’ve joined the Eagles together, but I’ll never know. Mack sponsored me after I got out. This is my second chance and I’m not going to fucking blow it.”
“You were still a kid. You can’t blame yourself.”
“C'mere.” He pulls me closer, pressing our naked bodies together and pressing his face into the crook of my neck, kissing it softly.
I want to wrap him up and make it all better somehow, but we're naked on a narrow platform in the middle of a rushing river after being run off the highway by people who tried to kill us. It's not my first choice for a place to have a heart-to-heart to get to know each other better, but it's almost peaceful. Romantic might be stretching it.
“I asked Mack to help Danny if we get him out of prison.”
“That’s not a bad idea.” Reaper’s breath tickles the little hairs at the back of my neck when he sighs. “He’s going to have to walk his own path at the end of the day, but having someone who gives a shit makes a huge fucking difference. And he’ll have you, too.”
“You mean if we don’t die out here.” I’m mostly joking, but not completely.
“We’re not going to fucking die. If I have to, I’ll try to get to shore,” he growls.
I shudder at the thought of plunging back into the river, and it sets off a hacking cough that tastes a little like mud. “Don’t you dare leave me here on my own.”
He chuckles, but it sounds tired. “I’ll do my best. I’d hate to leave you with only Mack and Scrapper as options.”
“Exactly. I’m getting used to having all of you around. All for one and one for all, right?” I stroke my fingers through his hair, smoothing out a knot. “I’m sorry I dragged you guys into this with me. I keep thinking about Mack and Scrapper. What if they—”
“Stop. You didn’t make us do anything we didn’t want to do. We know better than you what people are capable of, and they’re big boys, they know what the fuck they’re doing. Whoever ran us off the bridge was focused on you and me.”