Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 88080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
“You’re my brother’s girl?” Renaldo asks.
She straightens. “He wishes.”
Juno snorts and the other two guys with them laugh. Renaldo simply smirks.
“He does,” he agrees. “He’s in love with you for some reason. He misses you.”
“We broke up,” Roux tells him. “I don’t care if he misses me.”
“I’m having a party tonight at my place.” He licks his teeth and winks at her. “You should come.”
Roan steps forward like he might lunge at Renaldo, but a sharp glare from me stops him.
“She’s grounded,” Roan says, laughing cruelly. “For life. Tell them what you did, Roux.”
She crosses her arms over her chest. “No.”
“Aww, tell us, little girl,” Renaldo taunts.
“No.”
Renaldo laughs.
Roux, playing into the weird ass vibe, says, “Kayden really misses me?”
I want to crush Kayden for even existing, but I don’t say a word.
“Yeah, kid, he does. Apparently he’s a pussy for a virgin. Still a virgin?”
“Yep,” Roan growls. “And will stay that way too.”
“I want to go,” Roux says, glowering at her brother. “To see Kayden.”
“You shouldn’t have fucking gotten kicked out of class,” Roan snaps. “You know grades are fucking important.”
Roux turns on the waterworks. “You never let me do anything!”
“Because you’re seventeen,” I chime in. “And quite frankly, everyone gets tired of you tagging along. I sure as shit hate babysitting. Ask Renaldo. He knows how much I hate that bullshit.”
“Fuck you, Jordy,” she hisses.
“The little kitty has claws,” Renaldo observes, making his crew bowl over in laughter.
“Nah,” I say, chuckling darkly. “You’re jailbait. Besides, that’s what my attorney’s for. Least she has tits.”
Roan elbows me. “Don’t be a dick.”
Roux doesn’t have to fake the hurt in her eyes. It’s natural. She’s not a fan of Samantha’s to begin with. I know this throws her insecurities in her face.
But I’ll do anything to get Renaldo’s attention off my girl.
Even if I have to be a dick to her.
“I hate you guys,” she snarls, storming off, a sob echoing after as she pushes out the door.
Thank fuck, she’s gone.
“I’ll be there,” I tell Renaldo. “Since Kayden can’t do shit without me. Fucking pussy.”
Renaldo laughs. “He’s just a kid.”
“A kid who should be grounded. Like that kid.” I nod toward the door where Roux left. “Not trying to be a badass at parties.”
“The cop’s kid took a cheap shot at my brother,” Renaldo grinds out. “I’m going to deal with him.”
“Kayden made the mistake of buddying up to Cuntingham.” I shrug and laugh. “If you fuck with the cop’s kid, the cop is going to come after you.”
“That cop won’t do shit,” Renaldo snarls. “I’ll burn his fucking house to the ground.”
Roan stiffens.
“Say that a little louder so the whole town hears,” I deadpan.
Renaldo’s lips curl up into an evil grin. “Who the fuck do you think owns this town?”
The front door opens and some people walk in. Garrett, dressed in a sharp suit, saunters in with a couple of other guys in suits. Hollis’s dad doesn’t greet us. Instead, he walks right past us, telling the guys with him how he’s going to knock down the wall on the other side of Renaldo and his gang to expand his office.
Garrett and the suits make their way to Bob. Bob, clearly uncomfortable with Renaldo’s glare on him, fidgets.
“Let’s get the fuck outta here,” Renaldo says. “I’ve got shit to do before tonight.”
The assholes leave and pile into Renaldo’s SUV parked out front. As soon as they’re gone, I feel like I can fucking breathe.
“Hey, boys,” Garrett says, coming to stand behind us. “Take a walk with me.”
The guys he came in with settle into a booth while the three of us walk outside. Garrett takes us next door.
“Used to be a dentist office,” Garrett says to me, gesturing at the space. “I’m going to gut it completely and redo it. It’ll be perfect for what I need. There’s an apartment above the space I’ll be looking to rent out if you know anyone looking. Probably have it ready by the spring.”
“What do you want?” I ask.
Garrett sighs, scratching his jaw, reminding me very much of Hollis in this moment. “I just wanted to make sure you two were okay.”
“Just dandy,” I lie.
“Have you seen your face?” Garrett asks, frowning. “I’m a physician. You should have called me.”
“I don’t need your pity.”
“It’s not pity…goddammit.” Garrett spears his fingers through his dark, golden blond hair in frustration, messing it up. “Where the fuck did Kelsey move my family to? This place is overrun by that Renaldo asshole and his thugs.”
“Did you drag us over here to tell us what a shitty place we live in?” Roan challenges. “Because if so, we already fucking know.”
Garrett frowns. “No…I…”
“You bought the restaurant too?” I ask through gritted teeth.
“I bought this entire strip of buildings to protect my interests.”
Roan snorts. “Come on. Let’s go.”
“I’m only going to make things better,” Garrett calls out to us as we reach the door. “That’s all I want to do.”