Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 33804 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 169(@200wpm)___ 135(@250wpm)___ 113(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33804 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 169(@200wpm)___ 135(@250wpm)___ 113(@300wpm)
"We love you very much, Tallulah," my mother says softly. "That's why we're concerned."
"You're concerned?" I ask, mocking her tone. "Well, there's a first time for anything, isn't there? You sure as hell weren't concerned before."
"Stop making this worse," Mom mutters.
"Oh, what a martyr you are. That's a role you play very well, Mother," I say, my words dripping with venom. "And what do you have to say for yourself?"
I turn to face my father, his impenetrable gaze locked with mine, challenging me in a silent battle of wits. "Do you have something to say? I bet it's nothing I haven't heard before. It's just going to be another barrage of you saying how disappointed you are with me, how much I've let you down, like I always do. Isn’t that right, Dad?"
"For all of Xavier's bragging, I was convinced he would knock that bratty side out of you faster," Dad says.
I glare at him. "Xavier has nothing to do with this. You're talking about my marriage now, and we both know that's not the only thing we're discussing."
"You're right, Tallulah," Mom speaks up. "We're not talking about your marriage. We're talking about your well-being."
"What are you even trying to say?"
"You're not the same girl we raised," Dad states.
"No, I'm not," I hiss. "Because I'm not a stupid, mindless puppet anymore."
"You've changed, and we're not sure how. Xavier has done something to you."
"Dad, I know it's hard for you to accept, but Xavier did nothing. This is me. I'm finally being true to myself. You were the ones who kept me captive and turned me into this. You can't blame him."
"But we don't trust him. And neither should you," Dad says. "Tallulah, the cartel isn't a safe place. Especially not for a girl like you. You should know that."
"You mean a girl with a target on her back?" I hiss.
"It's not that," Mom says.
"Yes, it is. Don't you get it, Mother? You made a huge mistake. You made me marry a man you wanted dead, and now everyone's out to get me. You and Dad are the reason why I'm in danger."
"Don't blame us for this. We did what we had to."
"Oh, really?" I sneer. "Did you have to send me off to be trained as a killer?"
"Yes," Dad states.
I'm getting tired of this. All I can think about is Matilda coming back to the sunroom, hearing this conversation and having to process it. The poor kid's going to grow up with a broken mind.
"Why do you have to do this now?" I mutter.
"I'm sorry, sweetie. It's just... It's just not fair," Mom says. "Look at you. You're not the same girl you were before, and I'm afraid..."
"Afraid of what?"
"That Xavier has changed you," she whispers, and my dad looks at her in alarm, urging her to be silent.
I'm surprised he doesn't tell her to shut the fuck up.
"So this is about Xavier again," I state. "You know what? You're right. He's changed me. But not the way you think. I'm not a robot anymore. I'm my own person, and I can make my own decisions. And I'll decide whether I'm safe or not. Not you."
"But Tallulah—" Mom tries, but I cut her off.
"No. No more. We're not doing this. You should go. Now. Take Matilda with you."
"But Tallulah—" she starts, but I shake my head.
"Take her, or I will. Get the fuck out of my house," I growl, my anger building.
"I'm not done talking to you," Dad tries, and I shoot him a death glare.
"You have no fucking say in my life," I hiss.
"This is still my house," he growls.
"No, it isn't," I respond, "not anymore. And it's not mine either. It's his. Xavier Gunn owns every part of me. And if he were here, he'd say the same thing."
"You're an ungrateful little—" Dad tries, but the words are stuck in his throat as his eyes move past me and a terrified expression takes over his face.
"Leave. Now." Xavier's voice thunders behind me, making me flinch.
Dad gulps and nods, taking his wife's hand and hurrying towards the door.
I stand, watching my parents rush to the exit, not bothering to look back at their daughter, their pride and joy, their biggest accomplishment, or the one who will one day inherit the entire cartel. They don't care about that, only about keeping their asses safe and not making Xavier angry.
They're scared. Of him, of me, of their daughter.
They're scared of me because they think he's changing me, but I've never been the same person. Maybe he is molding me, but he's only giving me a chance to be myself.
As my parents rush away, I turn around and meet Xavier's eyes.
"Hey," I whisper, and he pulls me close, enveloping me in a tight hug.
"You're so brave," he murmurs into my ear, holding me tight. "You're a good girl. You're such a good, good girl, Tallulah."