Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 69155 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 346(@200wpm)___ 277(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69155 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 346(@200wpm)___ 277(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
Cova has problems, big problems. She has lived a life many of us just can’t begin to understand. She fell for a man that is dangerous, a man who twisted her imagination into something that simply wasn’t real. She doesn’t know left from right, let alone how to move forward with her life. I actually feel bad for her.
I’d like to talk to her, but I’m not sure that would do any good right now.
“How is Waverly doing?” Briella asks me as a waitress places a round of white wine on the table. We all take a glass.
“Last I heard, she’s enjoying it. Mykel not so much.”
Briella laughs. “I can’t imagine any of those bikers liking the big city life.”
“No, me either,” Merleigh giggles.
“I’m glad they’re away from all of this, though,” I tell them. “They deserve a break after everything that happened. Waverly really went through a lot.”
Dax messed with her head, and Mykel and she have only just gotten on their feet to see where the relationship might take them. It’s a big deal.
“They really did,” Briella agrees. “What about you, honey? How are you doing with all of this? I know you’re pretty involved, and it must be hard.”
I take a sip of the drink—a long, long sip—then exhale. “I’m doing okay. If I had answers I might be better off but, honestly, I don’t even know where to start to get those answers. It’s so damned hard to find anything out. It’s all very well hidden. Anyway, let’s not talk about the case, we’re here to drink and have fun!”
All the girls raise a glass and we get to drinking. Then we eat. Then we dance. And as the night goes on, we get merrier and merrier, and I feel the stress of the world slowly fading away from my shoulders. Like maybe, just maybe, I can breathe for a second.
“We should go to the club; they’re having a party!” Briella announces after we’ve sweatily danced it out to another song and shot down another shot.
It’s not a bad idea but, at the same time, it’s a really bad idea. A huge part of me would love to go, but the other part of me, the smart part of me, knows it’s not good for me to be seen there right now. With everything going on, if I’m noticed or the cops are called out there, it’ll be very, very bad for me and this case.
“I probably can’t,” I tell her, my voice a little slurred. I’ve had way too much to drink. “If I go there and get caught, I’m risking the entire investigation and my career. I don’t think I’m ready to lose either.”
Briella gives me a guilty look. “My god, I’m such a bad friend. Of course you can’t go there! What was I thinking?”
I laugh. “It’s not your fault.”
“We can just go to another bar,” Karen suggests, wiggling her hips to the next song that comes on.
“Sounds fun.” Merleigh grins, her eyes a little glassy.
“I’m in!” Briella claps.
We all finish our drinks and get out of the bar into the fresh, cool, night air. The moment we hit it, I feel the alcohol rush to my head. It’s funny how that happens. You always feel the effects so much more clearly when outside in fresh air. I sway on my feet a little more than I’d like to admit, and I find myself grabbing Briella’s arm to steady myself.
“Oh, boy, I think you’ve had too much to drink,” she asks, her eyes concerned. “Are you okay, honey?”
“I’m fine, I just ... I didn’t realize how drunk I was until we walked out here.”
“You should get home; I don’t want you passing out.”
She’s right, I really should. I’m not overly confident that I can actually get in and out of a cab, though, and that’s horribly embarrassing to admit.
My head spins.
God, this is not good. I knew I had drunk quite a bit, I just didn’t realize how much until this very moment. It hit me like a hurricane, and now I can’t stop my world from spinning. I grip the pole like it’s my very lifeline and try to stop myself falling onto the ground. This is really very bad.
“I don’t think I can get in a cab,” I say, praying I’m not slurring my words.
“It’s okay, let me call Alarick and see if we can get someone to give you a ride. It’s okay, we’re not going to leave you until we know you’re home safe,” Briella says, hanging onto my hand.
Karen smiles and steps forward, putting her coat around me and Merleigh tells me she’s going to get me a bottle of water. I’m so embarrassed, I drop my head and close my eyes, trying to stop my head spinning. I know I’ll regret this in the morning, but there’s absolutely nothing I can do about it now. Right now I am trying to focus on not passing out on this floor.