Total pages in book: 189
Estimated words: 181808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 909(@200wpm)___ 727(@250wpm)___ 606(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 181808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 909(@200wpm)___ 727(@250wpm)___ 606(@300wpm)
As she lifted her composed face, Devon saw she was fighting back tears.
“Did you forget anything?” she asked.
“No, I double-checked.” Dropping the duffle bag onto the ground, he went to the couch to pull his mother to her feet.
“Are you sure you want to do this?”
“I’m sure, Mom. I’ve always told you I was going into the military when I graduated high school, just like Dad.”
“Yeah … and how great did that turn out for him?” Tearfully, she stared up at him, her eyes pleading for him to reconsider.
Devon gave her a cheeky smile. “He met you, didn’t he?” Laughing at her glare, he gave her a tight hug before releasing her to pick up the duffle bag. “I have to go. I called for a taxi.”
“I was going to drive you,” she protested.
“No, I don’t want you driving back home upset. It’s better this way.”
The sound of a horn honking from outside had him going to the door.
“I’ll call when I can.”
“You better,” she threatened tenderly, and then her expression grew serious. “I’ll write to you about what’s going on with Vance’s trial.”
“Do that,” he said offhandedly. “Love you, Mom.”
“Love you back.”
Hearing the familiar words, and the sound of the horn again, he walked away from her.
He got into the taxi and rolled the window down to wave at his mother as the car moved away.
“You heading to the airport?”
Devon glanced at his watch. “I need to make a quick stop first.” He gave him the address of the grocery store where he had worked until graduation, then reached for the money he had tucked into his jacket pocket. He leaned forward when the taxi came to a stop in front of the store and handed it to the driver. “I’ll be about fifteen minutes. Wait for me.”
“I can’t wait. Call the dispatch when …” When Devon started peeling apart the bills, his eyes widened. “I’ll wait.”
Leaving his duffle bag behind, Devon stepped out of the taxi.
He waved at the cashier who had replaced him on his way to the manager’s office. After knocking on the door, he went in and closed it behind him.
Joel rose from his desk, went to the window, and opened it. Sticking his head out, he then quickly pulled his head back inside before giving him a nod.
Devon carefully maneuvered himself out the window without shaking the shelf containing several trophies. Dropping down to the ground below, he felt the switch move inside of him, leaving him cold and emotionless as he traversed the dark back streets. He ran at a loose jog until he came to the house he wanted, then stopped behind a fence. Glancing around, he made sure no one was close before he lithely climbed the fence. Then, sticking to the shadows, he snuck toward the back door, where he silently jimmied the lock and slid inside the house.
As he quietly moving around the place, he heard the sound of a television playing from somewhere. Carefully maneuvering himself closer, he pressed against a wall. When he heard the click of the television channel being switched, Devon came out of hiding to stand at the door.
It took the man lying on the bed several minutes before he realized Devon was standing there. Rising upward into a sitting position, Vance glared at him angrily as he reached for the phone sitting on the nightstand. “What in the fuck are you doing here—”
Devon rushed forward, snatching the phone with his gloved hand and gently placing the receiver back down on its cradle. He stood, outlined in the moonlight coming in from the window. “Keeping my promise.”
Four minutes later, Devon slid out the back door then over the fence. Jogging unhurriedly, he made it back to the grocery store with time to spare.
Joel reached a hand out to help him.
Devon dropped down next to him, then reached out to straighten a picture that had been knocked down. As he gazed at the picture, he felt the switch turn back on as emotions rushed back in.
Swallowing down the heartache at seeing his brother’s image, he turned back to his manager. “Thanks. I don’t want to leave the taxi waiting any longer,” he forced out croakily.
Joel reached out his hand, and Devon shook it. “Stay safe.”
“For sure. I have another favor to ask.” Releasing his hand, Devon removed an envelope from his pocket and gave it to the manager. “Pay the entrance fees for the kids who can’t afford theirs. I bagged up my bats and gloves; told Mom you would stop by to get them.”
Joel’s compassionate gaze caught his. “I can’t take those; you bought them to practice with Eric.”
Devon clenched his jaw, the pain easing in his chest. “Take them. They aren’t doing any good sitting in a closet.”
Joel nodded. “I’ll stop by tomorrow.”
“I put extra in there for you to buy the kids snow cones when they win their first game. Eric loved snow cones.”