Total pages in book: 161
Estimated words: 149338 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 747(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 149338 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 747(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
Her eyes widened from my revelation of her truth.
“How about that for honesty?”
She shook her head, backing away from me. I grabbed her wrist stopping her.
“Don’t you dare walk away from me. Words, Amari. Fucking speak.”
“Let go of me,” she gritted out, trying to tear her arm out of my grasp. “You think you’re so high and mighty, Alejandro! But here you are, Dad’s lapdog. Marching in line with every last thing he says. You’re nothing but his bitch.”
“At least I’m not weak, Amari,” I countered, letting her go.
She didn’t falter. “I’d rather be weak than be condemned to this life of hell. I can’t wait until I’m old enough to leave. I want nothing to do with this life. I will be out that door and out of this purgatory as soon as I fucking can.”
“With Michael?” I mocked in a condescending tone, standing close to her. “You think he can protect you? From. Me? Your own flesh and blood. I’ll always be your brother, and I’m not going anywhere. Even if you think you are.”
Her chest rose and descended with each word that left my mouth.
“I’m not scared of you, Alejandro. I know who you really are, in here,” she paused, placing her hand over my heart. “So stop pretending like I don’t. You don’t intimidate me. You need to worry about your own life and stay the hell out of mine. You’ve made your own choices, now you need to let me make mine. Maybe it’s time you stopped pussyfooting around with what’s been right in your goddamn face for a long time. How about you claim what you want to be yours? Since it’s so easy for you—”
“Enough, Amari,” I ordered, putting my hand out in front of me. She shoved it away from her face.
“She’s waiting for you. You know that, right? She thinks you’re her fucking hero, her savior ever since that night. She’s loved you since the first day she laid eyes on you, and I’m certain the feeling is mutual. Maybe it’s time for you to grow some balls and actually do something about it. She’s going to be here in a few minutes.”
“Get the fuck out of my face!”
“Truth hurts, doesn’t it, brother?” She smiled before turning around to leave, never looking back.
I stood there alone for I don’t know how long, contemplating everything she had just said. Taking a few deep breaths, trying not to let my temper get the best of me. It was a Martinez trait. We could go from zero to sixty in a matter of seconds. My father already warned me on several occasions that I needed to learn how to keep my emotions in check. Protecting what’s mine without showing any weakness. Never backing down. It only took one wrong move in this life to end up with a bullet in your goddamn head.
Your enemies couldn’t hurt you if they didn’t know what you’re feeling. What you’re thinking.
It was the code of life.
A very thin fucking line between being dead, or alive.
I took another deep breath as an unrecognizable feeling washed over me. It was a strong force, a pull drawing me, making me gravitate toward the window. My hands securely placed in the pockets of my slacks, rubbing my fingers together. A calming gesture I had acquired somewhere along the way. I felt her before I saw her.
Sophia.
She started coming around more in the last month. I had seen her a few times in school between classes, always struggling with her fucking locker. She'd caught me staring at her on more than one occasion and would smile shyly at me from a distance. I'd always look away, never acknowledging her, turning and walking in the opposite direction.
I wanted to remember the way she used to look at me, rather than the way she looked at me now.
She was in the daisy field behind our house. Amari was nowhere to be found, but I assumed she was there for her. There was no taking my eyes off her. I couldn’t, and I didn’t fucking want to. She was breathtakingly beautiful, sitting there in a teal sundress. Her long legs placed out in front of her, leaning back on her hands for support. Her dark brown hair gleamed in the rays of the sun, gently blowing in the breeze. Her soft, creamy skin flawless. I could see her bright green eyes shining from the distance between us. She looked like a dream.
My dream.
Before I could give it any thought, I went to her. Taking the attic ladder two steps at a time. Hoping she was still sitting there alone by the time I got downstairs. She didn’t turn toward me or even acknowledge that I was there. She was in her own little world. A world I desperately wanted to become a part of. I sat down beside her, gazing at the side of her beautiful face. Willing her to say something, but her eyes remained looking front and center toward the Manhattan Bridge in the distance, while mine remained on her.