Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 48632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 243(@200wpm)___ 195(@250wpm)___ 162(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 48632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 243(@200wpm)___ 195(@250wpm)___ 162(@300wpm)
"Yeah. She's twenty," Joshua throws me under the bus in a way I didn't see coming. There was no talk of me moving out after Mom died, so I stayed, figuring I'd finish this semester, keep saving my money, and then find a small place to move into. In the meantime, I've picked up where my mom left off. Cooking and cleaning, making sure Joshua didn't have to do too much or becoming more of a burden on him than I already feel like I am, even though I've never asked for much. I should have known better.
Nothing ever works out for the Barnes women.
"Good, I wonder if she's a virgin. Hmm." I bite my bottom lip to keep from allowing so much as a whimper to escape me. The need to stay quiet is at an all-time high, especially since I've been put in the middle of Joshua's bullshit.
"According to her mom, she was." My eyes widen to saucers. How could she divulge this kind of information to him, and why would she?
There's your sign, Letty girl.
"You have until tomorrow, or your stepdaughter will go on the auction block to the highest bidder. If nobody wants her, she'll be used in a whorehouse," the man in a suit states with zero hesitation, looking bored while fixing his cuff links.
"I'll have it tomorrow, promise." I can tell when my stepfather is lying, and he's doing it now. He doesn't make eye contact. Instead, he looks over the big guy's shoulder, and when said guy pulls his arm back, flesh meets flesh. Joshua isn't the only one bleeding. The taste of blood fills my mouth after my teeth did some damage. At least I've been able to stay unnoticed. Even when I take a deep breath, I watch as whoever Joshua owes money walks through the house. I'm undetected. One thing I know for sure, though, is that I have to run. The sooner the better.
Ididn't sleep a wink, too busy thinking over my plan and trying not to leave any kind of trail in my wake. Which meant no using my phone or computer. Web history is easily traced, and calling my one and only friend is completely out of the question.
Desperate people do desperate things, bringing down anyone in their wake, and I refuse to allow that to happen to the only person I hold dear.
The worst part has been pretending. Thankfully, I don't have to do too much of it, though. I waited a couple of hours before going downstairs, pretending it was business as usual, all while plotting how to get out of this house undetected. I cooked dinner, Joshua declined, and I didn't ask about the black and blue bruising mottling most of his face. I'd probably lose any cool I pretended to have if he insisted on eating dinner together. The only reason I choked food down is out of fear. I didn't know what today would hold, nor the days to come.
I waited until I heard the garage door open and close. Joshua getting rid of his sports car all of a sudden meant he took over driving Mom's car. I've battled with deciding whether to take my car or not. In the end, I decided I may as well. It's paid off, in my name, and I can always sell it if need be. The only thing I'm worried about is if there's some kind of tracking device placed where the eye can't see.
"Run, Letty," I tell myself, taking one last look around my bedroom. The one place I felt safe has turned into more of a prison. Mom would be so disappointed, and for one quick second, I let myself mourn, adding one more slash to my heart.
I grab my bag off my bed. I’ve packed as light as I could, necessities only, along with the stash of cash I’d hidden in my room. I'm considering myself lucky that Joshua hasn't found it, and I'm hoping I'll be able to stop at the bank to pull what I have in my account while he's none the wiser.
My breathing comes in harsh pants as I walk out of my bedroom, dodging the squeaky spots in the wood floor. Nobody should be home, but I'm not taking any chances. I mentally run down the checklist of necessities I've packed: underwear, bras, shirts, shorts, a couple of pairs of jeans, plenty of socks, and a spare pair of shoes. Then there are the toiletries: toothbrush, toothpaste, brush, shampoo, conditioner, and deodorant. When Mom passed away, Joshua gave me her jewelry box with a few pieces nestled inside. I made a concession to take that and opted to leave out an extra change of clothes to have enough room. There's only one last thing I want from this house, and that's a framed photo of my mom and me.