Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 68858 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 344(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68858 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 344(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 230(@300wpm)
I turned my head so that I could respond. “Don’t be sorry. I need to hear these things; I just don’t want to.”
She gave me an affectionate squeeze and we moved up in line. A few guys emerged from the men’s room on the opposite end of the hall. My eyes met with a dark pair staring right at me. He looked pissed, and the way he was glaring made it seem as if I was the reason why. He looked familiar, but I couldn't place his name. He stumbled a bit, and I realized he was drunk off his ass. Melody caught sight of him and muttered a curse. I glanced at her surprised.
“Do you know who that is?” Before she could answer the man was suddenly right in front of me.
"Where is Evie?" he slurred, loud enough to attract unwanted attention. I backed away, trying to get out of his personal space. His breath was so foul that it made me want to gag.
"Get away from me," I demanded, bumping into the wall behind me. It suddenly clicked why this stranger looked familiar; he was one of the profiles who had talked to my sister online.
"Eva's dead, you asshole. How thoughtful of you to show up for her funeral," Melody stepped in, playing her role as a supportive friend perfectly.
"Leave her alone, Jay," one of his friends tried to intervene, but he shrugged them off and advanced towards me, trying to trap me against the wall.
Melody tried to block him from reaching me, but I pushed her aside when I saw his hand coming towards me. He grabbed my arm and yanked me closer, ignoring the growing crowd around us who were yelling at him to let go. The pain of his grip made me bite back a whimper as I struggled against him. "Let go," I snapped, feeling a surge of anger and fear rise within me. Without thinking, I punched him in the stomach with all my strength.
He let out a pained gasp and doubled over, glaring up at me with pure hatred in his eyes.
If looks could kill, I would have dropped dead.
"Just tell me where she is!" he snarled as he straightened himself up again.
"Get away from her!" Melody seethed, shoving him from the side. She started shouting something in Italian that I couldn't understand and shoved him again.
He stumbled and fell onto the marble floor before quickly getting back up. For a moment, I was afraid that things were about to get physical, and I might need to take off my heels and defend myself. The last time I had to do that was when three girls at my intermediate school tried jumping me and my sister. I heard a commotion from behind me, and suddenly two men were charging towards us, pushing anyone who got in their way. Jay's aggressive stance immediately turned submissive as he saw the approaching figures. His friends also tried to make a run for it but were stopped by a third man. Not wanting to stick around and find out what was happening, Melody grabbed my hand and pulled me away from the chaos, nearly colliding with Peyton who had been trying to come to our aid.
“We’re leaving,” he declared.
I had no reason to object. Going home sounded like a great idea for once. He must have had a driver on standby because there was a ride waiting for us outside of the club.
Peyton took the passenger seat, and Melody and I got in back.
“Are you guys, okay?”
“That dickhead didn’t touch me,” Melody answered.
“I’m fine,” I lied, doing my best to shake off what just happened. “What about your car?”
“Fuck that car. I’ll get it tomorrow. And I don’t drink and drive,” Peyton replied.
I slumped back into my seat, replaying what just happened. I’d never met that guy before, yet he recognized me right away. My sister was supposed to be dead. He clearly refused to believe it. I wasn’t sure what to make of that. Had she told someone that she was in trouble? It made sense, but who had she pissed off so badly that they came all the way to our shitty neighborhood to make her disappear?
I had come out to get some guidance and all I got was more questions I couldn’t answer. There was one person I could turn to that would make all of this so much easier. As loathe as I was to admit, and knowing what it would cost, I think I needed him.
But why did he want me?
CHAPTER NINE
MATEO
I set my phone aside and finally gave my attention to the three men across from me. Elias, Sergio, and a seasoned recruit we called Theo were all patiently waiting to see what I wanted them to do.
“We still have eighty-four bundles that need to be evenly distributed. Give them to individuals who consistently put in and take out similar amounts,” I instructed Theo, as he began deciding where the money would go. “Bring two men with you, one to follow and one to ride alongside,” I added before he left the room.