Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 94457 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 472(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94457 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 472(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
“Her father’s caused a shit load of problems for people. I can’t tell you how many offers my father’s had slide across his desk to kill him,” Matteo admits casually.
Nash takes a long pull from his beer before speaking. “I heard she helped her father, made friends with people, became quite a socialite for her daddy. Spied on people and shit.”
A socialite? I lean my head back and listen to them talk. I’ve seen Aspen at a few fundraisers, but she never looked like she was there to make friends with anyone. I always got the impression she hated being there.
Ren chimes into the conversation. “Even if she didn’t help him, she’s a rat simply by association. You know the shit her dad did to Quinton’s family. The apple never falls far from the tree. She can’t be trusted.”
“It’s shaken shit up, that’s for sure. I’ve heard rumors that people had to move, go into hiding, and don’t even mention the shit load of money lost because of that prick. In my opinion, she deserves whatever penance she gets,” Matteo explains with an odd tone, almost like he wants to be the one dealing out the penance. Too bad for him that someone else will… me. Matteo better not get in my way.
He continues talking, saying something that makes both Ren and Nash laugh. For a moment, I space out. Whatever it is he’s saying turns into background noise.
It isn’t until the subject changes that the grip on my beer bottle tightens, and my own frustrations bubble to the surface.
“The booze they have here sucks…”
“I need a sleazy strip club and a hooker who will do whatever I want for fifty bucks…”
“I just want a fucking double cheeseburger…”
Sitting here listening to everyone else’s so-called problems makes me snap. Their complaints are superficial.
They don’t have the first fucking clue what it’s like to lose, to be lost and never found. The beer slips from my hands and crashes to the floor. Brown liquid sputters out the top, reminding me how close to breaking, to succumbing to the pressure, I am. Who knows what the hell I’ll do if I don’t walk away right now, but I don’t want to find out.
Ignoring the spilled beer, I turn, storming off in the direction of my bedroom to be alone with my thoughts.
“Q, what the fuck?” Ren’s concerned voice fills my ears, and a second later, his hand clamps down on my shoulder.
I shrug off his hand and whirl around on him, pinning him with a glare. “I’m done socializing for the night. Leave me the fuck alone.”
The warning in my tone is clear, and Ren’s brows shoot up, shock etched into his features. Taking a step back, he raises his hands, and I turn away, walking the rest of the way to my room. Once inside, I close the door behind me and lock it.
It’s so stupid, especially when a door isn’t going to stop Ren from coming in here. A part of me knows one of the reasons he came with me is because he’s afraid of me snapping. Afraid of me shutting down and never resurfacing.
As soon as my ass hits the mattress, my cell phone starts to ring. It’s a FaceTime call from Scarlet. My fingers itch to hit decline, but a sliver of guilt cuts through me. If I don’t talk to her, she’ll be upset, and I care way too much about my baby sister to ignore her call. Plus, I’m the one who left her to deal with all the problems at home. The least I can do is maintain my relationship with her. I owe her this much.
Without thinking further on it, I hit the answer key, and on cue, her smiling face reflects back at me, and I force myself to smile.
“For once, I wish you would smile with a real smile. You look so angry all the time.”
“I do not, and if I do, I don’t mean to.”
Scarlet’s pink lips form into a pout. “I miss you already.”
“I miss you too. It won’t be long till winter break. I’ll fly home to see you.” I shudder at the thought. I want to see my sister more than anything, but my parents are a different matter. I can’t stomach a visit with them right now. It’s all too soon, too much.
“I know, but it’s so far away. I wish you were here. Mom and Dad are driving me insane. They’re like two mother hens, always checking in on me and asking me if I’m okay.”
I hate the sadness that reflects in her eyes and back at me. Sometimes, I feel like Scar is all I have left, and I’m all she has. We have to stick together even though I’m miles and miles away.
“You can call me whenever you want, even if it’s just to talk. I’m still here for you.” The light in her eyes brightens and what I’ve said seems to cheer her up a little bit. The door behind her creaks open, and Mom pops her head inside the room. As soon as she sees me on the screen, she closes the door.