Total pages in book: 43
Estimated words: 40814 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 204(@200wpm)___ 163(@250wpm)___ 136(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40814 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 204(@200wpm)___ 163(@250wpm)___ 136(@300wpm)
“But it won’t be applicable just for Battleman’s,” I hurriedly continue. “What we are developing will be the new face of the fight against cancer. This is a gold mine and you can have all the profits. We just need the lab.”
Adam eyes me quizzically, his hand going to his chin. He is quiet a long while before finally asking, “And Daphne will die without this?”
His question shouldn’t annoy me but it does. Does he still have feelings for her after all? But again, I swallow my pride. “She might be able to survive this latest relapse, but considering her family history…” I close my eyes and nod, finally telling the truth that I haven’t even admitted to myself. “Yes, she will eventually die without this. If not this time, then the next.”
Adam swears under his breath. At least I’m finally getting through to him.
I look up to find him staring out the window. “So you’ll help? We can make a deal? My patents for your laboratories?”
For another long moment, Adam’s silent.
When he finally does start to speak, it’s not the simple yes I’m expecting.
“Do you know when I first met you, I liked you a lot,” he says. “I thought you were ‘of the earth.’ That was the gracious term my mother used for people like you. The unfortunate poor.”
I grind my teeth. You need him. You can put up with his elitist bullshit meanderings for a few minutes and then you’ll be out of here.
“But then I got to know you. And that’s when I realized you didn’t know your place. You were too big for your own britches.” My fists clench but I stay quiet as he continues. “We could have been a team from the beginning. Unstoppable. Your research skills. My charisma and connections.”
He finally turns from the window and looks at me. “But you just wouldn’t play ball, would you? It was your arrogance. You just had to have your name on everything. You had to have all the praise and adulation.”
Is he fucking serious? This is literally the guy who plasters his name on every single fucking thing he can. He can’t blame it on his dad, either. I know it’s been him who’s pushed to have the Civic Center renamed the Adam Archer Civic Center after donating fifty million to have it renovated.
You need the labs. It’s Daphne’s life.
So I stay quiet in spite of my seething anger. I knew this wouldn’t be easy. But does this asshole have to make it so damn hard?
“Making me look like a fool in front of Dr. Laurel all the time. Even in front of that dumb, scrawny little kid of his.” Adam shakes his head and walks over to a cabinet. Why am I not shocked when he opens it to display a hidden liquor cabinet. “But he’s gone now.”
He pours some expensive looking bourbon and then downs it.
“I tried getting rid of you.” He shakes his head. “But they always say the roaches will survive the apocalypse. I guess street rats are the same.” He pours himself more bourbon and smiles my direction, holding up the glass in cheers.
“And now, well, if there is a disease that’s going to rid the world of that little bitch, Daphne, what can I say?” Adam shrugs his shoulders dramatically. “It’s just natural selection at work, man.”
I’m going to fucking kill him.
I’m across the room with my hands around his neck before I’m fully aware of what I’m doing. Two seconds later, an alarm is going off and security guards are charging into the room and pulling me off him.
“You’re dead!” I shout at him. “If you come near her, I’ll—”
But a blow by the huge security guard from downstairs cuts off my words.
Pain explodes across my face, and then the world goes dark.
Fourteen
Daphne
I didn’t think anything of it when Logan said he was going out. He doesn’t go out often, but sometimes we need groceries or the like. And he said he’d be right back.
I was a little worried when I didn’t hear from him after a few hours. He usually texts or calls if he’s running late. So when I finally heard my cell ring, the anxiety I had been feeling finally calms.
Until I saw it was Armand calling, not Logan. Only to pick up the call and find it was Armand calling about Logan.
Because Logan was in jail!
I push my wheelchair to maximum speed as Armand holds open the door to the County Sheriff’s office.
I race my chair right up to the counter. “I’m here for Logan Wulfe.”
Sitting in the chair, I can barely see over the counter to make out the face of the woman attending the front desk.
I start to wobbly climb out of the chair when Armand puts a hand on my shoulder.