Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 107118 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 428(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107118 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 428(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
My mamma reached out to Aubin. “Thank you, son. You are a good boy.”
He isn’t, I wanted to argue. He’s one of them. But my papa had brought me inside before I could . . .
Sia rose to her knees and wrapped her arms around Cowboy from behind. “You’re a good man, Cowboy.”
“I’m not.” My fucking heart fell at the croak in his voice. “I should’ve put a stop to that shit before it got to that point. I should never have let them do a damn thing to him.”
“You said it yourself, you didn’t know any better. But you helped when it counted,” I said, and this time, my brother turned his head and looked at me. “Then he came back. After a few days, there was a knock at the door. My mamma hoped it was the police. We reported it, of course, but nothing was done. The police in that town belonged to those families.”
“Then what?”
“My mamma came into my bedroom, telling me I had a guest.” I shook my head. “I had no friends, so I had no idea who the hell it was.” I pointed at Cowboy. “Then he came walking through, smelling of horses, with a fucking look on his face that just dared me to kick him out.” I huffed out a laugh. “Should have known that was him sticking around for good.”
Cowboy smiled back, but it wasn’t his usual grin. “Asshole told me to get the fuck out.” Cowboy dropped his head in guilt. “I deserved it, but—”
“My mamma let him stay. She shut the door to my bedroom. I was still only able to lie on my front. I watched him like a hawk as he sat across the room on my old desk.”
“What the fuck do you want?” My pulse was racing, heart slamming as Aubin Breaux sat in my house, staring at what his buddies had done to my back.
He played with his hat. “Wanted to check you were okay.”
“Get out,” I ordered again.
He lifted his cocky gaze my way. “Your mamma said I can stay.”
“Why?” I growled, wincing as my back splintered in pain when I tried to move. “Why do you want to?”
Aubin shrugged. “Don’t know.” He dropped his head. “What was wrong with you?” He glanced at my walls, at the pictures of old Harleys. “Prefer Choppers myself.”
“That explains a lot,” I snapped. But the fucker smiled, and my eyes narrowed. I didn’t know what to do with that.
His expression sobered. “Really . . . Valan . . .” My name sounded strange coming from his lips. “What’s wrong with you?”
I turned away to look out of the window. Mamma’d had to keep the window shut for the past few days. The breeze felt like razor blades as it ran over my raw flesh. My room felt too stuffy now. But I was stuck here.
“Valan?”
“Why do you care? So you can go back to your buddies and tell them? So you can use it against me?”
“I haven’t seen them,” he said, then boldly met my eyes. He sighed. “Not sure I’m gonna keep in with them.” I raised my eyebrow. “Not sure I can, not after what they’ve done.”
“Why do you care?”
“Dunno.” He shrugged. “Just ain’t sitting well with me. Didn’t know it would bother me this much until it has.”
My mamma opened the door and brought in some drinks. “Aubin,” she said and handed him a glass.
“Thank you, ma’am.”
“So, Aubin? What’s your last name, sweetie?” my mamma asked.
“Breaux, ma’am. Aubin Breaux.”
Mamma’s face drained of blood. “I know your parents.” She forced a smile. “They’re best friends with mine.”
“The Moreaus.”
Mamma nodded. “I’m their daughter.”
“Mr. Moreau said you were dead to him.”
Mamma’s face paled, but she forced a smile. “No, sweetie. No matter what he says, I’m still here. Still his daughter.” She quickly left the room. I wanted to chase after her.
Aubin was still frowning. Then he looked at me. “So you’re Mr. Moreau’s grandson?”
“Yeah.”
“Does he know you’re here? That you even exist? He’s never once mentioned you.”
“Yeah,” I said, firmer. More pissed. “But we ain’t staying.” Aubin looked surprised. “We’re moving. Just as soon as my back has healed and my papa gets work elsewhere.”
I couldn’t wait.
Aubin got to his feet. Just as he was about to go, I said, “Epilepsy.” He froze, and then looked back at me. “I have epilepsy. I get seizures . . . That’s what happened to me the other night.” I didn’t know why I told him. He was the first person outside of my parents I ever did.
Aubin put his hat back on his head and tapped its lip. “Later, Valan.”
Then he left . . .
“He came around every day after that,” I said. Cowboy lay back on the bed again.
“You never saw your friends? The ones who hurt Hush?” Sia asked.