Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 80261 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 401(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80261 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 401(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
Her eyes widened, immediately aware of what that meant.
“How?”
I shrugged. “I have no idea. It was hidden in a box under his bed with a picture of him and his mom.”
“Holy shit!”
“The more I think about it. The less it makes sense of why he’d have it.”
“Did you confront him about it?”
“Yeah, but he still didn’t explain himself. All he said was that he would when he could.”
“Maybe there’s a reason for that.”
“Like what?”
“Does he know about your mom?”
“Kind of.”
“Maybe he knew your mom too?”
I jerked back, not expecting her to reply that.
“How?”
“Hell if I know. I’m just playing devil’s advocate.”
“I didn’t know until last night that he has nightmares of his mother too. He woke up screaming.”
“Where is his mom?”
“I don’t know. He doesn’t talk about her.”
“Okay…”
“It’s confusing, right? I’m not losing my mind?”
“It’s definitely confusing.” She smiled reassuringly. “Do you have any idea on why he’d be arrested?”
“I’m sure it’s Billy and he just got caught up in whatever shady shit he’s doing.”
“Well, you certainly found yourself a bad boy.”
“Lucky me.”
“Speaking of.” She beamed. “I met someone.”
“Wait?” I shook my head. “What?”
“I know.”
“When?”
“It’s so random. The night your asshole brother insisted on driving me home, I made him stop at a gas station for me. I needed to use the bathroom.”
“And?”
“He was coming out of the men’s room, and we bumped into each other. I swear, Haven, it was like this electricity sparked throughout my entire body.”
“You picked up a guy in a gas station?”
“I mean when you say it like that, it sounds super creepy. Besides, I’ve picked up guys in worse places.”
“Have you seen him again?”
She excitingly nodded. “I think I found my own bad boy.”
“What’s his na—”
My cellphone rang, and Hayes’s number quickly appeared on the screen.
“Hey,” I answered.
“Are you okay?”
“You just got of jail and you’re asking me if I’m okay?”
Cove mouthed, “Awe.”
I was beginning to realize my best friend was a hopeless romantic.
“Thanks for bailing me out, Peach.”
“Of course. Where are you?”
“I’m headed home to shower and then I’m going to the bar. After getting raided with a line out the door, Mark is losing his shit. I need to go do damage control.”
“What about Billy?”
“I don’t know. I’m assuming his lawyer bailed them out too.”
“Do you know why you were arrested?”
“Who the fuck knows with him. I need to figure out what’s going on. I’m assuming he pissed off the wrong person.”
“Does that mean you’re in danger?”
“Don’t worry about me.”
“You always say that.”
“Can you meet at the bar in like two hours?”
“I can.”
“I’ll see you then.”
I hung up.
“That didn’t sound like a very productive conversation.”
“At this point, it’s like I’m dating James Bond.”
“Hmmm…” She thought about it for a second. “I’d go with Jax Teller from Sons of Anarchy.”
“Fair.”
“Whatever happens though, I’m always here for you.”
“I know.”
And I did.
Hayes
As soon as she walked into the bar, I made my way over to her. Before any other bullshit arose, I needed my girl, to be holding her tight, close to my fucking heart. I ached to feel hers beat against mine. Just to remind me she was still mine.
We stayed lost in each other where nothing else mattered for a few minutes.
The world stopped moving.
Time stood still.
It was only us.
She felt it too. We were that in sync. The second one of us pulled away, the illusion would be gone and in its wake were our demons that had always been there lying in between us.
She whispered, “I love you, Hayes.” As if she knew I yearned to hear it.
I kissed her like my life depended on it.
It only then, all hell broke loose.
There was no running from the past or the future anymore. The present was finally knocking at our door. I always knew this moment would eventually come, but even knowing that didn’t prepare me for the mayhem that’d occur.
Choices…
We all had them.
Good.
Bad.
Right.
Wrong.
In that moment, they blended together as if they were one.
Until there was nothing else left but the truth of my decisions.
I never wanted to hurt her. I’d already caused enough damage. However, fate had other plans for me, and you couldn’t run from destiny.
Or else…
She wouldn’t be in the arms of her enemy.
A sharp voice roared, “What the fuck?!”
We instantly spun around to stare at the consequences of my actions, glaring right at me.
Haven muttered, “Oh no.”
Within seconds, my whole world came crashing down on us while her three brothers stood before us, ready to go to war.
With me.
Thirty-Four
Haven
I instinctively stepped in front of Hayes, looking at Jace, Ledger, and Reid right in front of us.
“What are you doing here?”
“What are you doing here?” Jace nodded to Hayes. “With him?”
“It’s none of your business.”
Ledger scoffed. “None of our business? What the fuck are you doing, Haven?”
“What does it look like? I’m living my life.”
“By lying to us?” Reid shook his head. “We raised you better than that.”