Total pages in book: 161
Estimated words: 149338 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 747(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 149338 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 747(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
“I loved my wife with everything inside of me. A part of me doesn’t even know how I am going to keep going. She was my everything. I promised her that I would always protect her—”
“Liar!” Amari shouted, slipping out of my grasp. Going right for my father.
Fuck.
“You did this! You’re the reason that she’s dead!”
Dad jerked back, her accusation almost knocking him on his ass. An immediate eerie silence filled the room that was packed with guests. All eyes were on them. I didn’t falter. I was over to her in a heartbeat, gripping her arm but she roughly tore out of my grasp.
“Amari, I understand you’re hurting—”
“You don’t understand,” she interrupted him. “You know nothing. You think you do. You think you have everything under control with your holier-than-thou persona. All you do is hurt people! You have no respect for anyone or anything! You will do anything to make people fear you! Look where that has gotten you. It should have been you we were burying today, not her. This is all your fault! You’re nothing but the Devil trying to pretend that he’s God,” she gritted out through a clenched jaw, her fists balling at her sides.
My father stood there, his chest rising and falling. Trying to remain calm in front of everyone. “Amari, now is not the time—”
“To what? To call you out on your bullshit and lies! That’s all you fucking care about!”
“Amari,” I murmured, grabbing her arm again. Yanking her toward me. “That’s enough.”
She peered up at me with hurt and fury blazing in her eyes. “Fuck. You. Alejandro. You’re a part of this, too! Dad's little puppet. You're both to blame for MY mother's death. You both brought evil into our lives. Do you know how much it kills me to say that to you, Alejandro? You’re my brother, and I love you more than anything in this world, but all I want to do is hate you right now! He may be the reason she’s dead, but you’re going to be just like him. The Devil in the making, and it makes me fucking sick! Our mother lost her life because of her love for him! She’s dead, Alejandro. Do you understand that? She’s fucking dead! And her blood is on both of your hands.”
I swallowed hard, knowing everything she was saying was true.
“I hope for Sophia's sake you walk away from this asshole, and show her a life full of love. Not a life where you’ll always be looking over your shoulder, waiting for bullets to fly. Waiting for death to come for you. Or she’s the next woman you’re dragging out of a car.”
Sophia and I locked eyes from across the room. She was the first to break our connection, the truth in my sister’s words taking residence in her mind.
Amari’s intense glare turned back to our father. He put his hand up in the air in a surrendering gesture only fueling Amari’s rage.
“I love you, Amari. I’m so sorry. But you lashing out like this isn’t going to change anything. I’m your father and that’s never going to change. You will always be my daughter, whether you like it or not. You're a Martinez. I understand you’re hurting, but breaking up our family isn’t the answer, you—”
Before he even got all his words out, she charged at him, screaming. The guests, including Sophia, stood there, horrified at the scene Amari was causing. I immediately sprang into action, holding her back.
“YOU KILLED HER, YOU MOTHERFUCKER! There is no more family, she was the bond that kept us all together and now she’s gone. This is your fault! And I fucking hate you for it! This life! This Hell! I’m done. Do you understand me? Fucking done! I’m leaving, and I don’t ever want to see you again!” She thrashed around in my arms, wanting to hit him.
Needing to hurt him.
“I HATE YOU! I HATE EVERYTHING YOU STAND FOR! YOU’RE DEAD TO ME! MY FATHER DIED THE DAY MY MOTHER WAS MURDERED!”
I hauled her out of the room, kicking and screaming. Putting up one hell of a fight to go after him. Whipping her body around trying to get out of my grasp.
“Jesus Christ, Amari! That’s enough,” I roared once we were outside and away from prying ears. Sophia and Michael not too far behind us.
She spun, facing me. "Let me go," she gritted, pulling her arm out of my grasp. Pushing me in the chest with all her strength.
I barely wavered.
“You’re an asshole! How could you do that to me! How could you take his side after everything he’s done! You know I’m right! Or is your conscience too fucking scared to admit it out loud?!” she yelled, shoving me over and over again.
I let her take out all her aggression on me.