Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 59448 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 297(@200wpm)___ 238(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59448 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 297(@200wpm)___ 238(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
Putting on my new tennis shoes, I meet Romeo by the front door and we head to the elevator, and back to the main lobby. Jannet is behind the desk reading a book, but she looks up and gives me a wink as we walk by, not going toward the garage this time but out the front double doors. Outside, the fresh smell I was looking for is replaced by exhaust fumes, cigarettes, and a slight scent of food.
“Don’t let this bring you down, I have a meeting in the works with the boss that runs the trafficking ring you were in,” Romeo informs and this catches my attention.
Putting my hands in the pocket of my hoodie, I look at him for more information.
“I’m hoping to meet the same people tomorrow. You, me, Kieran and Gideon will meet them, take the boss hostage until he takes us to the place he kept you, and we will kill them all,” he says matter-of-factly, shrugging as if it’s no big deal.
Looking forward as we come to the middle of Central Park, I think about all the men who hurt me, grabbed me by the arm and threw me around like a ragdoll, refused me water when I thought I was going to die. Tomorrow is my payback.
“So, what are you going to do when this is all over?” Romeo asks, taking me away from the imaginary blood bath inside my head.
“Um, I dunno. Maybe get a crummy job with a boss I hate. Find a shitty place to live.” I look at him and see wrinkles on his forehead. “I know it doesn’t sound like high end goals but it is to me.”
“Well, finding a place to live is going to be hard and costly. You could—"
“Find a roommate, that’s a good idea,” I interrupt him. He closes his mouth and gives a small smile. Wait, was he going to suggest something else? Surely he wasn’t inviting me to stay. I mean, I’ve never lived on my own, found out who I am by myself. If I move in with him and fall in love like that, we’ll just resent each other six months down the road. Right?
The bowing of trees creates a canopy over us as we continue to walk and talk. The smell of air becoming cleaner, and fresh. I still can’t help but stare at every passing person, and watch my surroundings. I wonder if I’ll ever blindly stroll through the park without having to look over my shoulder.
“What will you do?” I question, wanting the attention off me. I know him and I have gotten close and I want us to stay close but I don’t know if that will be an option for Romeo. He’s a hard man to figure out. He’s hot and cold, and unreadable at times. When I walked into his life, he was alone and happy that way. Going back to his old ways, he might decide being done with me is for the best.
“I still gotta figure that out. I’ll know soon though,” he informs quietly. He lifts his arm and points in front of him. I follow his direction and see a hotdog stand. I haven’t had one of those in forever.
“Yes!” I smile and follow him over to the smell of steamy pork.
The man behind the cart grins with yellow teeth, his denim blue hat matching his overalls.
“Two. One with just ketchup and.” He looks to me, waiting for me to tell the man what I want on mine.
“Oh, I want everything,” I tell the guy, and he loads mine up with ketchup, mustard, relish, and onions.
Romeo pays the man and we continue to walk, eating our hotdogs. Another person walks by us with a dog and I stare at it. I want a pet.
Thunder crackles above us, and I look up to the sky, seeing just a hint of gray clouds through the trees, a plunge of darkness takes over Central Park.
Taking another bite, we both stop.
“Maybe we should head back,” Romeo suggests, sensing the same thing I am.
Rain is coming. Walking back, I finish my hotdog and wipe my hands on my jeans. It was so damn good. I should have gotten two. The way I’ve been eating, I know I have to have been putting on weight.
My mind goes back to tomorrow, curious who will still be left in the ring when I get there. The thought of pistol-whipping the women who gave me a hard time tempting.
The clouds open up and rain comes pouring down. Romeo grabs my hand, and we both run, sprinting toward the apartment. We run through moving traffic, not caring if the walk light is lit or not and make it inside the lobby doors in minutes. Holding my arms out, my shirt looks like an entirely different color. I look up at Romeo finding him soaking wet, just as I am. He laughs and so do I.. We head toward the elevators, his shoes squeaking across the lobby floor. Just as the doors shut, Romeo throws me up against the wall and kisses me passionately. Both of my hands on his wet face, I kiss him back, wrapping my legs around his body. We barely make it to the apartment before we start tearing each other’s wet clothes off one another.