Total pages in book: 98
Estimated words: 94921 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94921 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 475(@200wpm)___ 380(@250wpm)___ 316(@300wpm)
“No, no, I want to see clients,” Hailey said. “I’ve got to get back into the swing of things. I don’t want to ruin my business and then my parents would be … you know, telling me they told me so, and I had no right to run a business.”
“What have I said about your folks?” Harlow asked.
“That they’re dicks.”
“If you want, you can spend some time with mine.” She had gone and seen her mother on some of the Sundays but not many. Big Dick had gone to dinner as well, not as often.
She knew her mother was trying to mend bridges, and it would take time. Friendships were built over time and trust. She kept expecting her mother to criticize where she worked. In fact, her mother had asked if she could stop by for a visit. This was before the Kinky and Hailey revelation. Since then, Harlow had advised not to stop by.
In fact, she might give her mother a call.
“Thanks,” Hailey said.
Harlow followed Hailey’s lead, and opened her car door. She really needed to look for a car. She felt like she was cursed when it came to cars, because something bad had happened to every car she had. She had to sell her first car because of money. The second car got totaled. Okay, two cars do not make a losing streak, but it’s a start, and so far, that was way more bad luck than she wanted.
“Fuck, it is cold,” Harlow said, trying not to shiver.
“I heard we’re getting snow overnight,” Hailey said.
Harlow had noticed that Hailey seemed to be more matter-of-fact about everything. There was no real warmth to her. She simply stated and didn’t laugh or giggle. There was no fight inside her. Harlow didn’t like it and had no idea how to bring the sparkle back.
They stepped into the back of the shop, and Harlow was pleased she had started to set the heat so they walked into a nice warm building and wasn’t freezing her tits off.
Hailey didn’t say anything as she walked her way back into the shop and then turned on the lights. It was still dark, even though it was morning. These were the days Harlow hated. The days were so short and the darkness swept everything up in its moody glow. It was a pain in the ass.
She put the coffeepot on to start percolating.
Hailey stared at the shop. Her back was to the window and Harlow looked at her. The other woman nibbled her bottom lip. She was barely holding it together, and all she wanted to do was promise her it was going to be okay. The only problem was, she didn’t know if it was going to be okay.
Harlow opened her mouth, about to say something, anything that might help the pain, but there were no words good enough as far as she was concerned. There was nothing she could say or do that would make any of this okay.
Only, she didn’t get a single word out.
The sound of a roaring bike engine was drowned out by the sudden onslaught of bullets.
Hailey screamed and Harlow yelled for her to get down.
The bullets kept reigning down on them. Harlow didn’t get chance to see, but she didn’t like that Hailey had stopped screaming.
Pulling out her cell phone, she wasn’t surprised by her hand shaking. She dialed the only person she thought could help.
“Help!” She yelled the word and then dropped her cell phone. The bullets had stopped, and as they did Harlow crawled across the broken glass. It didn’t matter that it cut her knees or shredded her hands. All she cared about was getting to Hailey. Her friend was on the floor.
Tears filled Harlow’s eyes as she saw that Hailey had been hit multiple times. “No, no, no, no, no. It’s going to be okay. I swear it’s going to be okay. I promise you.” She ignored the tears and held onto Hailey’s face. “Look at me.”
“I’m getting cold,” Hailey said.
With the windows completely shot, the freezing-cold temperatures were seeping into the shop. At least, Harlow hoped that was what it was.
“That’s fine. It’s cold out. You’re going to be fine. I promise. Help is coming.” She’d put the call straight to Hunter and now all she needed to do was wait. Wait and hope he would answer the call.
“I’ve got you. I’ve got you.” Harlow was close to tears. She hated this.
Blood oozed from Hailey’s shoulder, and what appeared to be her hip. They were the sights she could see.
“It’s going to be okay,” she said, trying to make promises she didn’t know she could keep anymore.
She spotted Hailey’s cell phone a few inches away and reached for it, dialing for an ambulance. As she began that call, fear ran down Harlow’s spine as someone entered the shop. Flicking her head up, she saw it was none other than Cadeon himself. Harlow got to her feet.