Total pages in book: 153
Estimated words: 154595 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 773(@200wpm)___ 618(@250wpm)___ 515(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 154595 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 773(@200wpm)___ 618(@250wpm)___ 515(@300wpm)
Her body hated going without food and she was feeling nauseous and dizzy. She’d drunk a whole lot of water from the fountain at the bus station and yet she still felt thirsty.
People had given her a wide berth on the bus. Probably because she looked like shit. A bruise had exploded along the side of her face. She hadn’t changed her clothes in days and she was carrying a stuffed dog around. Then there was the tangled mess that was her hair.
Oh, and she smelled.
So. Bad.
But she was here now. Even though she hadn’t slept in forever, she smelled, and she missed Gray.
He’s probably already moved on. Get over it.
She shuffled over to the gate. Great, she didn’t recognize the guard working the booth. It wasn’t Lyle, who she knew well from when she’d stayed here a while ago.
The guard sneered at her. “Move along. No one here is going to give you any money.”
“I don’t want money.” She frowned, confused. Oh. He thought she was begging.
Wow. He didn’t have to be so rude.
“I’m here to see Jenner Knight.”
“He doesn’t live here.”
“Of course he does. Number eighty-three.”
The guard just shot her a deadpan look. “Don’t know what you think you know, but you know nothing. And even if he did live here, why would I let you in to see him?”
Crap. She guessed he had a point. He couldn’t let just anyone in here. And she didn’t exactly look like she belonged.
“Could you just call the house and tell him that Maeve is here? Please?” she croaked.
She spotted a bottle of soda and a half-eaten sandwich on the table in front of him.
Shit. She was so hungry.
She swayed, feeling dizzy.
“Fuck, don’t pass out here. I’m not going to be responsible for you. I’m not doing shit except calling the cops unless you leave right now.”
Don’t cry, Maeve.
You didn’t get this far just to get stuck at this last hurdle.
“When does Lyle come on shift?”
“Fuck. Off.” He picked up his phone.
“No, wait, please.”
Walking out of the box he was sitting in, he gave her a light shove. It sent her flying onto her butt and she cried out in pain.
“Fuck off. I’m calling the cops.”
She stumbled away, holding onto Squish with one arm.
Okay, think.
She moved out of his line of sight, walking down the street. Then she settled under the shade of a huge tree.
Could she wait and see if Lyle was working later? He might be on the night shift.
How much did it cost to keep guards at the gate all the time? She had no idea, but she guessed it kept the people living here safe.
Yeah, from people like you.
She huffed out a laugh. Ow. That hurt. Tears dripped down her face. What was she going to do? What if Lyle was away or had quit? What if Sampson or the others never came out and saw her?
What if someone called the police? She huddled into herself as much as she could.
She wasn’t sure how long she was there before she saw the police car headed up the road.
Oh, God.
Oh, no.
Had that asshole called them? But he couldn’t see her, right?
Should she run? Maybe someone from one of these other houses had called the cops. She tried to stand. But the car was parking and a police officer stepped out.
“Hello, ma’am.”
“I wasn’t doing anything,” she said, standing. “I’m just sitting here.” She stumbled backward.
The policeman held out his hands. “Whoa. Easy. We got a call that there was a woman sitting under the tree who looked to be in distress. You’re not in any trouble. My name is Officer Larsen. I’m here to help. Would you like some water?”
She shook her head, even though she’d kill for some water. She wished she could believe him, but she knew better than anyone that wearing a badge didn’t make him a good guy.
“Do you want to tell me why you’re here? Do you have anyone I can call to come get you?”
“I . . . my phone broke and I don’t remember their numbers.”
What are you doing, Maeve? Don’t tell this guy anything.
“That’s no good,” he said, looking skeptical. “Do they live around here?”
She nodded, wincing in pain.
“Who is it?”
“You won’t believe me,” she whispered.
“Try me.”
“I-I’m friends with Jenner Knight.”
The cop’s face tightened.
Yep, he didn’t believe her.
“Well, with his bodyguard. Sampson Knight.” They were half-brothers.
The police officer sighed, crossing his arms over his chest. “And you just happen to have broken your phone and don’t know their numbers?”
Her shoulders slumped. She knew he wouldn’t believe her. She wouldn’t believe her.
“Just let me stay here . . . they’ll come past eventually.”
“I can’t do that.”
“But one of the security guards at the gate knows me. Lyle. He can tell you I am who I am. I just don’t know when he starts his shift.”