Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 24931 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 125(@200wpm)___ 100(@250wpm)___ 83(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24931 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 125(@200wpm)___ 100(@250wpm)___ 83(@300wpm)
I twist the screen to her, opening it with facial recognition, then glance down at what she’s got open. What I see nearly stops my heart.
The dumb bitch didn’t even close them. Clearly doctored photos and texts meant to make it look like I was screwing Roxy behind Tammy’s back. Christ, there’s even one of me and Roxy at the lake.
“The lake?” I snarl, wanting to smash something and feel the pain in my fist. “Are you fucking kidding me, Roxy?”
She shrugs and takes a defiant sip of her beer. “What? I always asked you to take me and you never did. Now it’s like we really went.”
I can barely see straight through my wall of anger. “This isn’t even the lake, Roxy,” I snap. “What is this shit? You use AI to make these?”
I check the texts. They’re clearly doctored. The time stamps don’t even match up. It’s like a collection of lies, screaming at me from the screen.
And Tammy saw all of this…
“You lying little bitch,” I growl. “Did you seriously think I wouldn’t figure this out?”
Again, she just shrugs, fueling the fire of rage building inside of me. “Doesn’t matter. Those weren’t for you, Saxon. They were for her. And she’s long gone by now.”
My anger forces my eyes closed as I fight to retain control. I inhale a deep breath, fighting to get my heart rate down.
“You really think I’m gonna ever get back with you, Roxy?”
“She wasn’t right for you,” she hisses back. “Saxon Briggs, settling down? We both know that’s never gonna happen.”
I open my eyes and take a step toward her, and for the first time since she showed up at my apartment, I see a flicker of uncertainty behind her venomous façade.
“You stay away from Tammy,” I say slowly, staring into her eyes. “You ever pull anything like this again, Roxy, and you’ll regret it.”
She laughs, but I can tell it’s forced. “Pull anything like what? She’s gone, Saxon!”
On my way to the door, I point at Slate and shout, “And I thought I told you to never let her back in here again?”
Slate nods. “Sorry, boss.”
“Get her out of here! Now!” I don’t even wait for the aftermath. Roxy’s phone in hand, I burst outside, my only thought now on finding Tammy before I lose everything.
There’s only one main road in Chesterville that leads out of town to the interstate. That’s where she’ll be. She won’t be at her apartment. I missed that window of opportunity. She’ll have her things and she’ll be on the road, headed for a new town. Because that’s what she does when she runs.
Just like she should.
Only this time, she’s made a mistake. She has no reason to run from me.
I kick my bike into gear and gun the throttle. My tires spit gravel as I rip out of the parking lot and head for the one road she could have taken.
I’m driving like an absolute maniac, weaving past cars like a teenager who got his first bike and learned about lane-splitting. It’s not safe what I’m doing, but I’m not acting rationally right now. I’m acting like the man Tammy has made me into–a man in love.
Wind whips at my face, and the blood-curdling roar of my engine cuts through the air as I push my bike to its limit, speeding down the only road that leads out of town. The pavement is slick and shiny from the rain that’s just begun to fall. This is dangerous. One wrong move here and I could lose control. End up in the ditch or impacted in a tree.
Finally, I spot her taillights, like two red eyes staring back at me through the mist. My chest tightens and I gun the throttle harder, chewing up the distance between us until I’m close enough to see her hair through the glass of the rear window.
It’s time to make my move.
I don’t think. I act.
Like a madman, I cut in front of her and slow down, forcing her to slam on the brakes. Her tires skid and squeal like the sounds of some dying animal. I glance back and brake with her, stopping just beside her. And before she can react, I’m at her door, tearing it open.
“What the fuck, Saxon!?” Tammy shouts, eyes wide with panic and rage. “Have you lost your mind? I could have killed you!”
“Yeah, I have lost my mind, Tammy,” I reply, my voice stoic and unwavering. “Because I know you’re about to leave me, and I’m willing to put my life on the line to stop that from happening.”
Tears spill from her eyes, causing my heart to ache. She shakes her head. “The pictures, Saxon. I saw the pictures. You lied to me!”
“No, Tammy. No–”
“I told you about my dad!” she screams, the pain of her life soaking the tone of her voice. “About my daddy issues! And then you go and betray me like that?”