Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 67975 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67975 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
"Alarick," I say, my voice rising just a touch. "That's enough. Enough. She's not right in the head right now. You're not helping."
"I'm clear in the head, and I know where I want to be, and it isn't here. I don't care about the mother that gave me up and let me go down this path, and I don't care about her..." Cova spits.
"That's enough," I say, putting my hands up. "This isn't helping anyone at all. This is only making things worse. We need to calm down and get through this trip."
Nobody says anything else, and I'm god damned thankful.
This is going to be a hell of a ride.
I can just feel it.
25
FLICK
"The girl ain't respondin' well," King murmurs, staring at the room where Cova is currently smashing shit to try and get out.
"No, she ain't. She's that hyped up on drugs. The fucker had her completely at his mercy. He mind-fucked her, and she's all over the place. When she comes down from this high, she might see things clearer, but for right now, she doesn't want a bar of us."
"Understandable," King nods. "Can't be easy, bein' dragged out of a life you thought was good. Even if your mind tricked you, it's a fuckin' scary thing. She's hurtin', she's confused, and wants to go back to that piece of crap because she thinks that's better for her. She needs to see that life here is good, too."
"Can't show her that when she won't let anyone help her."
"Let her come down from the worst of this, and then show her what the club is about, what family is. Let her feel the freedom it brings. Show her some fun. It might very well just change her mind."
"She's got a therapist comin' this afternoon. No idea if she's goin' to respond to her, but it's worth a shot. Also gettin' them checked out for medical issues and gettin' some stuff to help them get clean."
"Merleigh is a strong kid," King says, staring at the other door that's open, where Merleigh is currently staying. "Barely heard a peep from her."
"Yeah, she's a fuckin' warrior alright. I've spoken to her when she's dripping in sweat and trembling, and she keeps her cool. She's likely one of the strongest people I've ever met."
"Probably a damn sight better than the life she was livin', so she's willing to do whatever it takes."
"Yeah, likely. Briella has been amazing with her, and even Cova. She has kept her cool no matter what her sister spits at her. That takes some guts. It must hurt."
"That girl is strong like her momma," King murmurs, and his voice trails off. "She'd be so damned glad to know we got Cova out and that Briella was takin' care of her. It's all she wanted."
"Thanks to you, she got it."
He stares at me and then exhales. "Feels like suddenly I've got nothin' to work for anymore. No mission. No club. Feelin' like there is little for me out there in the world now."
That's not good.
Not fuckin' good at all.
"You're part of this club. You'll always be part of this club. And you do have things out there; you have Cova who needs help. You have Dax who needs to be brought down. You have Briella, who needs a father. You might not be blood-related, but that girl sees you as a father, and more than anything, she needs that. You've got plenty here, you just need to let yourself adjust again."
King nods. "You're right; I'm bein' fuckin' stupid. It feels strange to be back into the world when so much has happened. It's fuckin' terrible not to feel like you belong anywhere."
I slap him on the shoulder. "Give it time, it'll come good."
He nods, and I walk out of the room and towards Merleigh's room, where Briella is currently sitting. She hasn't bothered to try and get in with Cova, for now, she's just letting her scream it out in there. Doesn't feel nice, hearing her yell and scream down the halls of the club, but it's also the only option right now until she's willing to let us in.
"Knock knock," I say, popping my head around the door and glancing into the room.
Briella and Merleigh are sitting by the open window, just talking softly. Merleigh is holding a cup of tea, and she looks pale and exhausted. The poor girl must be feelin' like hell. The effects of coming down off heavy drugs are said to be horrific. I can't imagine what she's goin' through right now.
"Hey," Briella smiles and then frowns as something else smashes in Cova's room. "I'm so sorry you have to listen to Cova losing it and breaking everything."
I shrug, even though yeah, it's fuckin' driving me up the wall. "She can't go on forever; she'll wear herself out."