Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 88580 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88580 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
“The Oceanview,” I say with a ping of recognition.
He nods. “We were going to be equal partners. I was the legitimate face of the business while he was the shady backing. Everything was all worked out, except we couldn’t seem to agree on fucking anything. He was being a stubborn cocksucker, all because his last name is Costa and he thinks he knows best. Meanwhile, I put up all the collateral, everything I’d earned. I got the investors, found the construction team, purchased the land, I did everything in my own fucking name and Adler just had to sit there like a fucking—”
“I don’t care what you two were fighting about,” I say, cutting him off because I can’t listen to another second of his ancient grievances. “How did it happen?”
“You were running.” He stares at me. “Wearing all fucking black. We were fighting, and I admit I was driving too fast down one of those streets without any goddamn lights. You crossed outside of a walk and I just didn’t see you in time. I slammed on the brakes, which saved your life, thank god, but—” He stops there.
I hear it all again. Just like when Adler described it. “You hit me.”
“I told Adler to get out there and help you. I told him I had to go—the cops would throw me in jail. It was all some stupid mistake, and it’s been haunting me all these years.”
I try to take it in. His story matches Adler’s except for the part where Tony claims to have made Adler stay. I don’t know which version is true, and I don’t know if it even matters.
“Why are you here?”
“To make you understand,” he says, leaning forward. “That mistake is in the past. You’re alive and you seem to be doing okay. I need you—”
“I am not doing okay,” I say, practically snarling at him. All my pent-up rage and frustration swells and rolls out from my throat. “I’ve been in pain since that night. I could barely walk for the longest time, and I still struggle with it. My life has been forever changed by what happened, and you can sit there and tell me I’m fine all you want, but I’m not. I’m so fucking far from fine it’s unreal.”
Tony’s face doesn’t change, and I realize something.
He doesn’t care. He truly doesn’t give a damn—this isn’t about finding absolution or making apologies or even explaining his side of the story.
It’s about tying up loose ends.
I turn and run. Something in me finally breaks as I scramble for the door, my knee screaming in pain, both my hips burning like they’re on fire. Tony curses behind me and I hear him come charging at my back, but I reach the door and throw it open. I slam myself out into the hallway, ramming into the wall, and tumble down to the floor.
Right at Roxie’s feet.
She stares at me, her mouth open. Dustin’s at her shoulder and looks equally surprised.
“What’s happening?” she asks, stooping down to help me.
Right as Tony comes barreling out after me.
“Grab them,” he snarls.
Dustin moves, reaching for Roxie, but she twists out of his grip and kicks him in the crotch so hard I swear the blood vessels in his eyes burst. He groans, grabs at his balls, and topples back against the wall as Roxie takes my weight on her shoulder and starts running with me down the hall.
“You fucking idiot,” Tony says and comes after us.
“I’m sorry,” I say over and over. “I’m so sorry.”
“Quit apologizing and run,” she hisses, but it’s no use. I’m in too much pain and I stumble halfway down the hall.
Tony catches up. He grabs me by the hair and yanks back, dragging me down to the floor. I hit hard, gasping as bright lights flash into my eyes. I blink rapidly and watch as Tony slams Roxie against the wall. She tries to hit him, but he bloodies her mouth with his fist, and she crumples.
“Roxie,” I say, trying to get up. “You fucking asshole. You piece of shit. You mother—”
Tony kneels down on my chest and draws a gun. “I wanted to do this quietly,” he says, staring at my face. “You then your friend. No witnesses, right? Instead, you made a commotion, which means this is going to cost me a lot of money to clean up.”
“You’re sick,” I whisper. “Everything you said back there was a lie, wasn’t it?”
He shrugs. “I didn’t give a shit about some roadkill bitch. I never understood why Adler did. He ended our friendship because of you and I’ll never get over that shit. My best friend tossed me aside because of some girl we nearly squashed in the road. Pathetic.”
My heart’s in my throat. I’m the reason he’s in a feud with Tony? That makes no sense, but it doesn’t matter. I’m going to die, and Roxie’s going to die, and who knows how many more Tony will kill to make sure this story never gets out.