Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 118459 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 592(@200wpm)___ 474(@250wpm)___ 395(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 118459 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 592(@200wpm)___ 474(@250wpm)___ 395(@300wpm)
“Done.”
“I hope you know what you’re doing,” he says.
“Again, not your problem,” I mutter.
He blows out a breath, running a hand through his salt and pepper hair. “Okay. Let’s get Davidson’s camp on the line and get this show on the road.” He presses a few buttons on his phone and the sound of a line ringing echoes around the room.
“Killian.”
“Killian. Don Wetzel.”
“How’d it go with Gentry?”
“I got him right here. We just signed a contract.”
“Hunter! Come here,” Killian shouts.
Don watches me shrewdly, looking for signs of me backing out. Not fucking happening.
“I have Hunter right here,” Killian says.
“Mr. Davidson, I have Mr. Gentry here with me. We’ve just signed a deal. The two of you will be fighting on July 13th.”
Davidson laughs and the sound of his voice sends a chill up my spine. I hate this motherfucker more than I’ve ever hated anyone. Even his laugh is cocky. I recall the things he’s said about me over the years, the excuses he’s made as to why he lost to me, the insinuations that I’d never have made it in the NAFL.
I want to end him. Again.
“Hey, Crew. You ready to get your ass whipped?”
“Good luck with that.” I laugh.
He cackles maniacally. “I’m gonna end you, motherfucker.”
“No, motherfucker. I’m going to beat you. Again.”
“I’ve waited for this day for a long time. You’ll be lucky if I don’t kill you. Fuck, I almost killed you last time and you were in your prime.” He laughs. “Better be ready, fool.”
“You’ve got a hundred-dollar mouth and a five-dollar ass. I’m gonna humiliate you in front of the world just like I did last time.”
“Okay, gentleman,” Don says, winking at me, “that’s enough for now. Just getting us all on the same page. Good luck to you both.”
“We’ll talk soon,” Killian says, and Don ends the call.
Shit just got fuckin’ real.
THIRTY
CREW
I drop my keys on the counter. I have so much shit to do, I don’t even know where to start.
I glance at the clock as I dig through a kitchen drawer and it’s nearly seven already. I pull out a notebook and ink pen and sit on the sofa. I gotta get a plan in place and I gotta do it now.
Getting through the rest of the workday after the meeting with Wetzel was almost impossible. I had to stay a couple of extra hours to make up for the time I was gone. Unloading the ships gave me time to roll everything around in my head and by the time I left work, I had a weird sense of focus. I’ve never felt anything like it before. I wouldn’t say it was clarity because there are still pieces of this mess I don’t know. But for once in my life, I know, without a shadow of a doubt, this is absolutely what I am supposed to be doing. Even not knowing how this would end for me, I knew how it’d end for Everleigh, and that was with a chance at a future.
I lean against the cushions and give myself just a minute to breathe. Looking around the room, I realize how empty it feels without them here. I see their stuff strewn around, but that just makes me miss them more. With a sigh, I pull out my phone and dial Jules.
“Hey,” she says when she picks up, her voice sweet but tired.
“Hey. How are you?”
”I’m okay. Ever’s sleeping now, so I’m trying to get a few minutes myself. It’s been a long day.”
“Did I wake you?”
“No. It’s fine. It’s nice to hear your voice.”
I smile, wishing I was with her. “I was gonna come by tonight, but I, uh, I had a few things come up today. I had to work late and now I’m planning this side job I’ve taken on.”
“Oh, Crew,” she says. “I feel so bad.”
“Don’t. I volunteered for all of this. Remember that.” She doesn’t say anything, so I fill the void. “You guys should be home this weekend, right?”
She yawns. “That’s the plan. If everything goes okay and she tolerates the treatment with no complications, we should be out of here sometime after Friday.”
“How is she? I know you said she had a rough day.”
“She did. She was pretty sick, but from what the doctors said, her side effects are pretty minor. I can’t imagine them worse though. It’s just the most awful thing I’ve ever seen.”
I stand up and pace the room. “Maybe I could come by for an hour or so . . .” I immediately start trying to figure out how to swing everything. I feel so damn torn. I need to be there and I need to be here . . . all for the same goal.
“We’re both going to sleep, so there’s no sense in you coming by, really. The doctors told me to take care of myself because Ever needs me to be strong.” She takes a long pause. “I need you to take care of yourself, Crew. I need you to be strong for me.”