Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 130512 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 653(@200wpm)___ 522(@250wpm)___ 435(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 130512 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 653(@200wpm)___ 522(@250wpm)___ 435(@300wpm)
He strained against my hold, driving the knife deeper. He’d snapped or something. There was a wild look in his eyes, and I reached up, tugging on the chains to release his body. He dropped.
Logan removed the knife, so it didn’t do more damage, but as soon Zeke was down, we were on him. I knelt on his shoulders as Logan knelt on his legs, still gripping the knife.
Well, I had my answer. This guy was certifiably crazy.
He was also like us.
“Get off me! Get off—” He was twisting so much that Logan had to let go of the knife.
I’d seen and heard enough. This guy was—I didn’t know what his endgame was. But this wasn’t getting us anywhere. I stepped up and delivered a punch straight to his head. As it landed, his body thumped against the floor. He was unconscious again.
Logan stepped back, peeling off his mask. He was shaken, a little pale too. “Holy shit.” He ran his hands down his face.
I peeled off my own mask, knowing I looked the same. I stared down at the kid, who—I know, I know, wasn’t a kid, but I’d first found out about him when he was in high school. Now he’d chosen to hurt himself over telling us anything.
I respected him for that. “We need to take him to the hospital.”
“I can call Taylor,” Logan said. “She can stitch him up. He’ll be fine.” He shook his head, standing. “The dude’s crazy.”
I grunted. “He’s more solid than I thought.”
Logan lifted laughing eyes to me. “He’s like us, Mase. I never would’ve thought that.”
I shook my head, reaching for my phone. “He took a risk. If we actually were from the Bennetts, he’d be dead. And they would’ve used his family against him, no qualms about it.”
“Yeah.” Logan sighed, sounding exhausted. “Fuck, man. Fuck.” He took a staggering step back, still not totally steady.
I crossed the room to pull out the first aid kit. I’d do what I could until Taylor got here. I motioned to Logan. “Call your wife. Don’t let her tell anyone where she’s going.”
Logan cursed, his head tipping back. He dug out his phone, hit a couple buttons, and lifted it to his ear as he turned and moved away. “Hey, babe?…”
I regarded Zeke at my feet.
He’d surprised me. Not a lot of people did that anymore. But when he woke up, we’d have to start all over again because I still wanted to know why he was looking into Kai Bennett.
27
MADDY
Rap music blared when I got to Traine’s mansion. I hadn’t called ahead, but I knew he had people over. He’d texted earlier today to see if I wanted to come. I hadn’t responded. I’d been focused on whether I should talk to my dad about what Aurelia had said the night before. Then we’d had our chat, and there was the weirdness leaving his office, and then when I got to the house, Uncle Mark’s chaos had spilled over. I thought Mom would call me when we were having dinner, but no one said anything. When I came up from the basement two hours later, everyone was gone.
I’d texted Mom and Dad, but neither responded.
Nash had finally let me know that Grandma and Grandpa took everyone to get ice cream, and then they were going to the movies.
My phone buzzed.
Mom: Honey! I’m so sorry. I thought you were with David and Malinda. Did you eat? I’m at Manny’s, but I can leave early. Do you want me to bring food back for you?
Me: Where’s dad?
Mom: He’s doing some business stuff with Logan. He won’t be home for a while. What do you want to do for dinner? I can come get you. You can hang out with us.
I rolled my eyes, because pass. Not that hanging out with my mom and her friends wasn’t fun. They actually were great, and I worshipped Aunt Heather, but… Mom wouldn’t let me slip booze, and they’d start ‘coding’ everything they said, and that’s annoying. Like I couldn’t handle whatever they’re talking about. I’ll be eighteen soon. I’m in high school. The shit we see? My mom would have a heart attack just knowing half the stuff I hear and see on social media during any given day. Oh well. I’d protect my parents from their heart attacks. I wouldn’t want them to worry, but that meant a night in the house by myself.
Hard pass on that too. The place was huge, and it was never a good idea for me to be by myself when I had all these feelings I was trying not to feel. I tried numbing myself to the grief, but I couldn’t. Every time I tried, it went bad. I kept getting myself into more trouble, so it seemed staying busy and distracted was the best option for me.