Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 81518 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 408(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81518 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 408(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
As Daddy sat down next to River, I was informed that I’d get rewarded with the snacks for every question I answered. Until I’d finished all the food.
I was good with that.
“We’ll start small,” River said. “Did you go to college?”
I nodded and forced my gaze off the sandwich. “Yes, Sir.”
Was this really an interrogation? Interrogations were for people who were suspected of something. Maybe they could call this an interview instead.
“What did you study?” River asked next.
“Civil engineering,” I answered. Did I get my sandwich now? My stomach snarled with hunger. “Is that turkey?”
“Focus,” River commanded. I snapped my stare to him, sheepish. I hadn’t even noticed I’d looked away from him. “Tell us a little about your college experience. More than a two-word sentence. Then you can have your first snack.”
Okay, cool. I was going to pick the sandwich first. “My mom and I would go to her friend’s beach house in Jersey in the summer when I was little. I don’t remember exactly how it became a hobby, but I liked studying the coastline.” It was where she had met Dad. He’d been in Jersey for a tae kwon do tournament for the children he coached. I lifted a shoulder. “The interest stuck, so I’m gonna be a coastal engineer one day. I have my bachelor’s degree, just have to go back and finish my last year so I can get my master’s.”
I’d get to that as soon as I had secured my brothers’ futures.
“May I have the sandwich now?” I asked.
“Of course.” Daddy slid the tray closer to me, and I quickly grabbed the snack and bit into it. Fucking amazing. Turkey, mayo, and tomatoes. “Coastal engineering sounds exciting.”
I nodded as I chewed. Too bad the sandwich was tiny. Like, three bites. “I had an internship lined up at a firm in DC, but then my parents and sister died, and—” I flinched and set down my sandwich. “What’s your next question?”
Please, please, please change the topic. I felt too good to ruin it with my personal life.
“We know about your family, lil pup.”
“Okay.” I picked up my sandwich again and finished the last piece in one bite.
I caught the brothers exchange a glance before Daddy cleared his throat and pressed forward.
“Who have you hung out with in the community so far?”
I squinted as I thought about it. “I meet up with Ivy, Kit, Cam, and a few others at munches. That’s about it.” I leaned forward and rested my forearms on the table, wondering what snack I should go with next. The apple, probably. Then the cookie. Or the chips.
“Tell us about a regular day in your life,” River requested.
I could do that. “In the summer, I mainly work out and study techniques with Weasel. But when my brothers go back to school, I stop by our aunt’s place most days to help them with homework and stuff.”
I eyed the apple.
“You don’t live with your brothers,” Daddy stated.
“Correct,” I responded. “I used to, but I’m more useful bringing home money. And to do that, I gotta train a lot. That’s why I accepted Weasel’s offer when he said I could live with him in Rosslyn. Can I have a snack now, please?”
Daddy nodded with a dip of his chin.
I dove for the apple and took a big chunk out of it. Oh, it was just like I imagined it. Juicy, sweet, perfect.
River cleared his throat. “But your brothers like living with your aunt?”
Why wouldn’t they? “Oh yeah. She’s great.” I took another big bite and chewed quickly. “How is this an interrogation?”
Daddy smiled faintly. “We ask the questions. Not you.”
“I can answer anyway.” River slid his gaze to me. “We wanted to get a clearer picture of your mind-set before we continued to your rather serious infractions.”
I swallowed loudly, a piece of apple gliding down with some discomfort. “Infractions?” I coughed.
He inclined his head. “You’ve put yourself and community members at risk when you’ve lied—by omission—about why you seek out pain.”
Oh. That…
I lowered my gaze and returned the apple core to the tray. I didn’t feel so good anymore. In fact, my stomach started to hurt. I dropped my arms from the table and hugged myself loosely.
“Are you gonna call it?” Daddy asked River quietly.
“Yeah,” River responded. “Scene’s over, Shay.”
Wait, what? I snapped up quickly and felt a rush of worry flood me from within. “Did I mess everything up? C-can I make it better? You were going to interrogate me.”
He didn’t look angry. If anything, his eyes held an abundance of warmth. “You’re not in a state to go on, baby. And sometimes scenes don’t work out as planned, but that doesn’t mean this wasn’t a great experience. We pushed you hard and learned a lot.”
I chewed on the inside of my cheek and flicked a glance at Daddy.