Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 34081 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 170(@200wpm)___ 136(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34081 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 170(@200wpm)___ 136(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
She wasn’t afraid. She didn’t even care. How fucked up was that?
He was doing his job, just as she was having no choice but to do her own.
Only, his job involved killing people, while her job involved serving people. She didn’t know if it made her a good person or a bad person. Either way, Tank had told her Damion would be stopping by for lunch, and that is when she would be taking her lunch break.
The truth was, she was starving. The only food she had to eat was what she enjoyed last night at the restaurant. It had been stunning, the best she had ever eaten. She was a pretty decent cook, but everything she knew was self-taught. She used the cooking channel or borrowed books from the library.
She stopped borrowing library books when her mother started to destroy them. Vicki would take them back and offer to pay for the damage. The librarian always looked so sad to see the books damaged, but she never took it out on Vicki. Most of Old County knew what Annette Reid was like.
Even Annette’s parents had nothing to do with their daughter. Vicki had never spoken to her grandparents, and the truth was, she had no idea who her father was. Rumor said it was one of the high school teachers, but there were so many of them. According to the same rumor, Annette did all the teachers, including the principal. Her mother didn’t believe in hard work, she believed in using her body.
Stepping out of the bathroom, Vicki stopped when she caught sight of Damion, already sitting in his spot. She went to him, taking his order, and was aware of the locals watching him. They were all probably wondering what happened down at the Thames’s. Vicki wasn’t interested in that.
Last night’s date had gone so well. When he took her home, and she stood on her doorstep, she didn’t want to invite him inside where her siblings were. Instead, he gave her a kiss on the cheek and waited for her to enter her home. Delphine had been there, on the sofa, and stayed for a cup of hot chocolate before leaving.
With Damion’s order dealt with, she grabbed both of them a coffee and made her way to his table. She took a seat and felt as the locals started to talk once again.
Damion smiled at her, and she offered a smile back, but also hid it seconds later behind her mug of coffee.
“Are you having a good day?” Damion asked.
“It’s getting better now that I’m with you,” she said.
She wanted to cringe and for the floor to open up and swallow her whole. What the hell was she saying?
“This is why I got the restaurant to ourselves last night,” Damion said, leaning forward.
“I can see why,” she said, whispering back.
He chuckled. “Tell me, Vicki, have you heard from your mom?”
“No, not yet.”
“How long has she been gone?”
“Three weeks,” Vicki said. “It’s not the longest she has been gone.”
“Did she say how long she was going to be?”
“No, she never does.” She frowned. “Why are you asking about my mother?”
“I’m curious. Delphine mentioned it to me. Betsy told her.”
Vicki sighed. “I know Betsy hates it when Mom does these stunts.” She shrugged. “There is not a lot I can do. Mom has always said it is her own life, and she is going to do with it whatever she wants.”
“How long has she been addicted?” Damion asked.
“For as long as I can remember. I don’t buy anything. I stick with your code.” She put her hand flat on the table, and Damion put his hand on top of hers. The moment he touched her, she felt that ... rush, like he ignited her whole body, and it took her breath away.
“I know you do,” Damion said.
“What has my mom done?” Vicki asked.
“Are you a virgin?”
She couldn’t help but look around the diner to see if anyone had heard him. No one paid them any attention, and yet it was like they were the center of attention. When she looked up, people seemed to look away.
Vicki felt her cheeks heat. “Yes.”
“I do not want you to cause a scene right now. Your mother is receiving medical treatment. The men she is with wanted some fresh meat, and your mother posed the suggestion of you, seeing as you’re a virgin.”
Vicki sat back in her chair. She couldn’t pull her hand away as Damion had placed his on top of hers.
She couldn’t believe her mother had done that. Tears filled her eyes and she quickly glanced down at the table, while trying to keep her wits about herself, and digest everything she had just been told.
How could this happen? That was such a stupid thought. She knew exactly how this kind of shit could happen. Once again, her mother was selfish, and only looking out for herself.