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)
This is the worst feeling I’ve ever had.
It doesn’t feel right.
It doesn’t feel like something I’ve experienced before.
After an embarrassing search through my bag, I find my keys and hand them to Kendric. He opens the door, flicks on the lights, and then walks me over to my couch where he grabs a pillow and lays me down. Then, he’s gone. He returns a minute later with a bucket, a towel, some water, and aspirin.
He’s making sure I’m going to be okay.
He can’t stand me, he could leave me here to choke on my own vomit, but instead he’s making sure I’m okay.
That takes a hell of a human.
But I already knew Kendric was a hell of a human because he gave his freedom to protect his club.
“You’ll vomit some more, but it’ll get better with every passing hour. Keep drinkin’ the water and don’t move, just stay here and sleep it off. You’re goin’ to feel like crap in the morning. I’ll sit by you until you fall asleep.”
I stare at him with hazy vision, my head feeling a little less spinny now that I’m lying on the pillow and not moving around. “Why did you help me?”
“I didn’t get much choice; I’m the only sober one. You know, waitin’ for a trial and all ...”
Ouch.
“I’m sorry, Kendric,” I murmur, closing my eyes. “I should have protected you.”
“Not goin’ to talk about it now while you’re drunk. Just get some sleep.”
A knock at the door has my eyes popping open. Who the hell would be here visiting me at this time of the night?
“Zariah, it’s me!”
Reece.
You’ve got to be kidding me. What the hell is Reece doing here, he’s supposed to be with Jayden for the weekend. Oh, god, I don’t want my son to see me like this. I don’t want him to think I’m hurt, or sick ...
“That’s my ex, don’t answer it. I don’t want my son to see me like this.”
Reece keeps banging on the door. “Know you’re here, I can see the light on, hear your voice. Open up or I’ll go get my key ...”
“I’ll deal with this,” Kendric murmurs, standing and walking toward the door.
“Oh, no,” I say, reaching out a hand to stop him, but it’s pointless, utterly pointless. There is no stopping him.
He swings open the door, and with blurred vision I see Reece and his face as he takes in the huge biker standing in my door frame. Kendric is big, and he’s scary, and he doesn’t take a lot of shit.
“Who the fuck are you?” Reece growls, crossing his arms.
Oh, no.
Oh, boy.
“I’m a friend of Zariah’s; she got sick tonight and I was called to bring her home from a bar up town. She’s sleepin’.”
“You fucking her?” Reece demands, his voice angry and low.
“No, I’m not fuckin’ her, I’m helpin’ her.”
“Why do I find that hard to believe? I’ve got her son and she’s here fucking someone else when we’re not even fully over. Zariah!”
Oh, no.
My heart hammers against my ribcage, and I want to get up and fix this. I don’t want Reece to think there is anything going on between Kendric and me, not because I care what he thinks, but because I know what’ll happen if he loses his temper.
“She is asleep, I’m not fuckin’ her, and if you don’t leave I’ll make you fuckin’ leave.”
“Who the hell do you think you are, man?”
“You don’t wanna find out.”
Kendric slams the door and my mouth drops open as I watch him lock it, even though Reece is pounding on the flimsy timber. He turns to me and our eyes meet. For a moment, the silence in the room is almost deafening.
“I’ll stay until he’s gone, go to sleep.”
I want to fight him, I really do, but I’m barely able to keep my eyes open.
Slowly, I drift off into slumber.
Not before mumbling a thank you to Kendric, even though he doesn’t answer.
I owe him that much.
I WAKE UP IN THE MORNING in the same spot I went to sleep, sprawled on the couch with a really bad taste in my mouth and a headache that’s making me wonder if I should just go back to sleep or force myself up to face the day. Either way it goes, I didn’t die during the night and that’s something. I try to recall the events of the evening, but they’re mostly a haze. I recall the drinking, the dancing, and then Kendric bringing me home.
I don’t remember much after that.
Except Reece. I remember him coming to the door.
I turn my head to see if Kendric is still here by some small chance, but jerk with complete shock when I see Reece sitting at the end of the couch, staring at me. He’s so quiet I honestly didn’t even know he was there. The shock has my heart racing and me demanding in a scratchy, harsh voice, “What the hell are you doing?”