Total pages in book: 260
Estimated words: 245483 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1227(@200wpm)___ 982(@250wpm)___ 818(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 245483 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1227(@200wpm)___ 982(@250wpm)___ 818(@300wpm)
It doesn’t take long for the officer to hand back my wallet and ID.
“You okay?” Kat whispers, breaking up my thoughts. Her arm wraps around my waist as she presses herself into me, her grip tight like she refuses to let me go.
“There’s nothing here, Daniels,” an officer speaks across the room to the head officer in charge. His voice is low and I can’t help but note that it was damn fast that they searched. It’s almost like they were told where to look. And whatever it was, wasn’t there.
“Keep looking.” The officer lets out a long exhale, giving out more commands. It’s quiet as we stand in silence, watching the men of the law make chaos of the rec room, searching through every cabinet, ripping up every cushion. They don’t leave any inch unturned.
“Church is canceled until further notice,” the pres, my uncle, says beneath his breath, his eyes focused on the officer leading the charge, Daniels.
“Yeah,” Finn confirms as the rev of motorcycle engines can be heard pulling up to the garage.
Reed’s busy texting away, most likely warning whoever it is who showed up at the same time an officer takes the stairs down two by two.
Kat
The kettle whistles angrily and even as I hear it, I don’t.
The heavy feel of that gun in my hand consumes my thoughts until I snap out of it. It’s been hours, but the tension lingers.
It always seems like a good idea to go back to the kitchen. You can count on things there. Even when life seems unstable, most kitchens have the basics. A sink, a countertop, and a humming fridge. That’s where I go when we get back to the house. It helps that there’s usually alcohol in the kitchen too.
It’s been silent between us since we left. Apart from him kissing my hair and the occasional touches, he hasn’t done anything but think. I can practically see the thoughts that wind in his head.
There’s a rat. Someone tipped them off and I don’t know what exactly the tip was, but I know I could have lost Cill again. All over a fucking gun. All over the fucking club.
Biting down on my lip, I check my phone again.
He didn’t say a word to Reed and neither did I when the cops said we were free to leave, much to their chagrin after hours of searching. The expression on Reed’s face haunts me and the fact that he didn’t respond to my text only makes me worry more.
All I asked him was if he was okay. I know he saw the text, but he hasn’t answered.
As I pour the boiling water into the mug, eager for a cup of mint tea to calm my nerves, Cill gets up abruptly, leaving the wooden legs of the kitchen chair to scratch against the floor as he does. He goes upstairs, his footsteps heavy.
“You all right?” I call after him.
“Fine, I’ll be back,” he answers.
His footsteps keep going. I listen to every one of them. My chest is tight with emotion. He’s anything but fine. All of this is fucked. Hating all of it, every last bit of today, I lean against the counter next to the stove and pull out my phone to text Lydia.
Kat: We went to the club. There was a raid.
She texts back right away. Thank God.
Lydia: Oh my god. The cops came?
Kat: Yeah.
Lydia: Are you guys okay? What the hell happened.
Kat: Yeah. As good as we can be. I almost tell her wrong place, wrong time jokingly, but I can’t do it. I can’t make light of what happened.
The cops came, and this time, they didn’t take Cill.
Kat: It all feels like a lie.
Lydia: What lie?
Kat: That it was ever safe. That I ever belonged. That I was ever a part of it, a real part. I thought Cill was part of it too. I never thought they’d let him take the fall like that.
With a shaky hand, I put down my phone and breathe deep. The tea is next. I focus on it even as the phone beeps with another text. I harbor so much anger toward all of them. Even to his father who’s long gone. Cill never should have taken the fall.
Inhaling the calming tea, I pray for all of them to get what they deserve. After a moment, I’m able to check my phone again.
Lydia: I never thought it was right.
I’m too wrapped up in my thoughts to hear Cill come back down, so he’s able to catch me off guard as his arms fold around me the next second.
“Hey, Hellcat.” His tone is calmer than it’s been all day, which instantly soothes me. It doesn’t go unnoticed that we were tense around each other earlier, but after what happened at Cavanaugh Crest, he hasn’t stopped touching me.