Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 84203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
“What?” I hiss, my gaze flitting from Ellie to Micah.
“Exactly like that,” Micah confirms.
“Somebody wants us? Who? Why?” I ask, my hands starting to shake.
“I don’t know about Ellie,” he says, glancing at my sister. “But I have it on good authority that there is a million-dollar bounty on your head. Those guys at the club were after you for the money.”
“We have to run,” I breathe, ready to bolt.
“No, you have to stay right the fuck here,” Micah says, his tone authoritative yet calm at the same time. “Ever heard of the Gutierrez family?”
“No,” my sister and I say at the same time.
“They’re one of the most powerful crime families in New York, maybe even on the East Coast. They deal in drugs, trafficking, and prostitution—”
“Our mom’s a prostitute,” Ellie says.
And then it hits me… “Mom came home for Ellie’s birthday with bags of expensive gifts. I asked her where she got the money to pay for all of it, and she flipped out on me. Phil showed up on Monday looking for her, tore the place apart, saying she owes him. Could whoever killed him… whoever is after us… be looking for whatever she has? Oh, God, do they think we have the money? Because we don’t.”
“It’s a possibility,” Micah says. “I’m going to find out, but until this gets figured out, you’re both going to stay here. With a million dollars on your head… and possibly your sister’s, you can’t risk leaving.”
I just finished my finals this week, but… “Ellie has exams… and dance.” Micah glares at me and I flinch, realizing how dumb I sound. “I’m sorry.” I shake my head.
“I can get my teachers to let me take them online,” Ellie says, standing. “And there will be other showcases.” Her voice is strong, her head held high, but I know deep down she’s bummed. She’s worked hard in dance, and once again, our shitty mom has taken something from her. She should be pissed and upset, lashing out, but she won’t because she’s a good kid who knows the score, who learned early on that life isn’t always fair.
“I’m assuming there’s a room in this mini mansion for me to shower and sleep in?” she says, covering her true feelings with sass.
“El,” I groan.
Micah chuckles. “Upstairs, first door on the right there is a guest room with an en suite bathroom. I’m having one of my guys pick up some clothes for both of you. I’ll have Sienna bring them up to you once they arrive. But until then, there’s a robe you can use in the bathroom.”
“Thanks,” Ellie says. She leans in and kisses my cheek. “We’ll get through this, sis,” she says softly. “We always do.”
I nod, trying to remain strong for her. “Of course we will,” I say, pulling her into a hug.
“I’ve worked so hard trying to provide her with a normal life,” I say to Micah once she’s gone. “And yet again, Lenora did something to fuck it up. It might not be confirmed yet, but whatever is going on, I’m positive she’s at the heart of it.
“Lenora is your mom?”
“Yeah. The woman is a disease, hell-bent on destroying everything and everyone around her.”
Micah leans in and palms my face. His thumb swipes gently across the tears I didn’t realize had fallen. “She’s why you’re scared,” he says, moving from the table to the couch and pulling me into his arms.
“She’s why I have to focus on my goals. So I can get Ellie and me far away and safe. I’m the only person in this world Ellie can count on, and it’s my job to protect her.” I swallow thickly, trying to tamper down the lump of emotion in my throat. I don’t know what Lenora has gotten herself mixed up in this time, but I can feel it...this is different, scarier. All I know for sure is that whatever it is, it’s really, really bad, and somehow she’s managed to drag me, and possibly Ellie, down with her.
Micah wraps his arm around my shoulders and guides my head to his chest. I should push him away, but his strong, comforting hold has me sighing into him. “I know it’s hard for you to let people in,” he says, tipping my chin to look up at him, “but sometimes things are too much to handle on our own. We all need someone to lean on, to be there for us, to help us through the rough patches. I have my parents and brother...a handful of men I trust. Who do you have, Sienna? Who is there looking out for you?”
I can’t help but choke out a sob at his question because the truth is... “I don’t have anyone,” I admit, a puddle of tears filling my lids and blurring my vision. The only person I have is Ellie, but it’s my job to look out for her, not the other way around.