Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 97426 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97426 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
I smile. “I’m here if you need anything.”
“Thanks. There is something I’ve been wanting to ask you.”
“Go ahead.”
“I hate to bring this up. It’s just I feel like Uncle Blake and my mom left out more of this story of ours and this shit is far from over. Any time I try to dig for myself, I’m not liking the reactions I’m getting. What do you know about your mom and how she died?”
My chest starts to hurt. I look down at the table in front of me.
“I’m sorry, bro. I shouldn’t have asked.”
“No, it’s cool. I was so little, but I remember that day. She never came to pick me up. It felt like I waited all day, but she never came. When Dad finally did, he looked so lost. I waited for days for her to come home before I realized she wouldn’t.
“Uncle Blake won’t tell me what happened. I get shut down just like you. All I know is she was from money, and I have family in Greece.”
I don’t say that those two details connect to Vander City and the other secrets I still hold. The secrets that will someday get me the answers I’ve always wanted. I was promised that with patience, it would all make sense.
One day the score will be settled for Mom and Dad. Since the day I met my grandfather for the first time, I’ve been patient. Pit narrows his eyes at me as if he can read my thoughts.
“Hey guys,” Skittles sings as she and Shawna walk in.
I pick up my phone and pull up my wife’s number. I start a text but shake my head and delete it. I’m not opening that door.
Chapter 16
No Return
Alexis
I stand packing the things I bought yesterday. I stop and hold the dress to my chest. I’m having a baby. In a few more weeks, I won’t be able to fit into half the things I purchased.
It still doesn’t feel real to me. I’m going to be someone’s mom. My heart pangs. Anthony will be a great dad. I know he will.
I hear Kid enter the room behind me. Instead of looking her way, I finish folding the dress. Without turning, I speak my thoughts out loud.
“I was thinking. We can drive into Vander tomorrow. I’ll look for a place and go from there.”
“Lex,” Kid says shakily.
I turn to find her staring at me with tears in her eyes. All the blood has drained from her face. I clench my shirt over my belly.
“What? What is it?”
She moves closer and hands over the envelope in her hand. I take it and pull the items from inside. On top are pictures of Ant climbing from a truck that looks like he just smashed it into a car.
The next few pictures are of Will Pitman. He’s driving out of the gates of an estate.
“That’s the Pitman estate,” Kid breathes beside me. “I bet that’s the night of the fire.”
I keep flipping through the photos. There are others of Ven climbing from cars, Shawna with some guy. My chest aches as pictures of my aunt and uncle, along with Blake Knight, come up.
Then there are old pictures of them and my dad. They don’t seem to be in Vander or Bridge Lake. Which is nothing new. They never dealt with him out in the open.
I get to the last typed page and my breathing stops. I flop down on the bed, feeling as if all the life has been drained from me. I read the letter over and over like the words will change.
You have more to lose these days. So many who will burn from your actions. Don’t step foot in Vander or Bridge Lake. We have more power than the DA had. Don’t try us. And don’t think about calling your uncle. One call and they all fall like dominos.
“This changes everything,” I sob.
“I know, but I promise I’m going to help you find a way. There has to be a way.”
I close my eyes as my return home slips through my fingers. This can’t be happening. Just when I thought running into Anthony that night was destiny’s way of bringing us back together.
Why is this happening?
Chapter 17
Curious
Ox
I head up the back way from the basement of Fuck Off. These steps lead to the passageway between Pit’s round table room and the card room.
I hear talking in the card room and turn for it. The door sits slightly open from when I went down. I need to remember to pull it shut harder.
It’s Kid’s voice that has grabbed my attention. Not pushing the door open to reveal myself, I move closer to listen.
“I just wanted to make sure you made it back safe,” she says to whoever’s on the other end.
“No, no, I didn’t have any problems. How are you feeling?”