Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 41143 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 206(@200wpm)___ 165(@250wpm)___ 137(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 41143 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 206(@200wpm)___ 165(@250wpm)___ 137(@300wpm)
I hate that he's touching her. Hate it. But there's no way I'm taking the gun off either of them. The second the tape's off May's mouth, she's screaming like a banshee, no words, just noise. Victor's none too pleased, which makes me smile.
She kicks the other meathead in the shin, then slides over to help Leah while I keep the gun on Victor. When he's done, he shifts back into the seat next to his buddy, hands up by his shoulders.
Decker shoots me a look. He can't help the grin, and I give it back. Neither May nor Leah is a pushover. Even if we hadn't shown up, these two assholes would've had their hands full.
"I've got this." Decker turns back to Victor. "Help them into the car, and I'll wrap this up."
"Look, I didn't mean... I thought this was for the best." Wilson's still pleading with me from behind, and it's starting to get on my nerves, so I cut him a glare, and he shuts the fuck up.
"Baby, you okay?"
Leah rubs her mouth where the tape left a red patch, but she nods. "It's not his fault. I don't know what was going on, but it was all Victor." May and I help her out of the car, but her eyes won't stay on mine. I try to put an arm around her, but she's not having that, either. What the fuck?
"Cops?" Decker mutters, coming around to grab May, leaving the two assholes in the car to sweat.
"Please, no more cops." May leans her head into Decker's chest. "Can we just go? I'm so tired of police and investigations..." Decker catches my eye, and I shrug. "I just want to start our life. Our lives."
I'm torn. Part of me wants these fuckers to get the long arm of the law shoved straight up their assholes. But the look in their eyes says they got the message, loud and clear.
Leah lifts her face to mine, arms folded over her chest, before Decker or I can say anything else. "Tell me about the drugs. I need to know now. And you were arrested. Tell me about that. I can't do this any other way. I'm so confused. I can't trade one life of being used for another."
My heart stops.
"Babe, what are you talking about?"
"Don't act dumb, either. Wilson told me. He showed me pictures. The prescription bottles. Your background check, a conviction for illegally possessing prescription drugs."
Decker shakes his head and speaks before I can. "That's a long story, Leah, but it's not what you think."
"He's right. I'll tell you everything. Just trust me, and let's get back to the house first."
Leah sighs, but she nods and lets May help her over to the Suburban.
"You two." I lean down to the car and peer inside. "Get your asses in that building. Count to ten thousand, then leave. I never want to lay eyes on either of you again, do you understand? If you even see my face in a crowd, you'd better turn around and run the other way."
I keep my gun on Victor and his partner as they drag their sorry asses out of the car and head inside. I'm still not convinced we shouldn't get the cops here. I glance back at the girls huddled in the back seat of the Suburban. I want them home. From the read I got on Victor, he won't stick his ugly ass nose around these girls again.
"You," I say, turning the gun on Wilson, "get this fucking car back to the house and wait inside it, or you'll be even sorrier than they are."
I almost feel sorry for him as he hangs his head and nods toward the ground. Leah says he didn't have anything to do with this, but as much as I want to believe her, I've had a bad feeling about this little fuck since the moment I set eyes on him. I need to hear his side, then I'll decide what to do.
After a moment, the Bentley turns in a wide circle. Deck grabs my shoulder and steers me toward his Suburban. "You okay, man?"
"Yeah, I will be. I'll tell Leah the truth. All of it. About my mother, the pills, the arrest. Then I take my chances she can forgive me."
He nods, and we climb into the car.
16
Allister
Leah sits on her hands. We're in the library at her estate. She looks so small on the dark leather sofa as I lean my ass on the edge of the desk facing her.
"So, you went to jail to cover for your mom?"
I just finished telling her about Mom. The addiction, the rehabs, the day I took the fall for her. Now, I'm praying Leah sees the truth in my eyes.
"Yes. I love my mom. She's in pain. She's sick. I don't hold it against her, but I've accepted who she is. I took her pills that day. She called the cops, saying I was stealing from her. When they came, the pills were on me, and, I don't know, I just didn't fight it. I said they were mine, and they cuffed me, and I pleaded guilty. I could have fought it, but for some reason, I didn't. I've never taken or done any drugs in my life, Leah. Ever. I never will."