Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 55608 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 278(@200wpm)___ 222(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55608 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 278(@200wpm)___ 222(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
Duke clenches his jaws. His temples pulse. I can feel the rage emanating from him, but it’s nothing compared to when the man dragged me into the bar, and Duke turned and saw us. It was like the world would end if he didn’t do something.
Slowly, Duke backs toward the door, reaching out with one hand and putting it across my body. Ryan stumbles along with us. “You two go first,” Duke says when he’s at the door. “Molly, you may need to help—”
“I’m fine,” Ryan snaps, stumbling through the door.
I follow him. A moment later, Duke bursts onto the street. He yells at me and Ryan to get to the car while aiming the gun at the door. I run quickly, throw the door open, and then grab the keys from the foot well where I dropped them.
Ryan climbs into the backseat, groaning. Our eyes meet in the rearview. He frowns at me, a complicated look in his eyes. It’s like part of him wants to snap at me and call me names, but the other… I don’t know. Maybe he wants to apologize, but then his lip curls. It’s classic Ryan. He opens his mouth to speak and closes it when Duke jumps into the car. He throws the gun on the ground and slams the door, speeding away.
“Is everybody okay?” he says, the tires screeching as he takes a corner and heads for the highway.
“I’m going to be sick,” Ryan grunts.
“If you puke in my car after pulling this shit, I swear to God, I’ll disown you,” Duke roars, then takes a long, slow breath, glancing at me. It’s like I can read the message in his intense eyes. I couldn’t let them hurt you. I’ll never let anybody hurt you, but that’s probably just wishful thinking on my part.
Ryan groans and leans against the door, putting his hands over his face.
“Fifty thousand.” Duke goes on. “What the fuck were you doing there?”
“I don’t know, Dad. I was at a bar. They said it was a friendly game. I think someone spiked my drink.”
“You weren’t supposed to be drinking today,” Duke says.
Does Ryan have a drinking problem? I’ve never thought about it in those terms, but I know he drinks a lot. I always just figured it’s college. It’s what people do. Rachael probably drinks too much, too, though I wouldn’t say anything. Most of my classmates drink loads.
“I know,” Ryan mutters, then shudders.
“You could’ve gotten yourself killed. You could’ve gotten me killed. Worse, you could’ve gotten Molly killed. How would that feel, getting an innocent woman murdered? Getting your own dad murdered?”
“Dad, I’m s—”
“I don’t want to fucking hear it!” he snarls. “Goddamn it. We’re getting you help. I don’t care what you say. I don’t care if you don’t think it’s that serious. We all could’ve died tonight. It’s that easy.” Duke snaps his fingers. “Just like a fight. One moment, one hesitation. Except we’re talking bullets here, son, not fists. Not kicks. Bullets.”
Duke bites down, shaking his head. He looks disgusted that he even has to say any of this. I remember what he said yesterday about Ryan’s mom leaving, about not being in Ryan’s life when he was a kid. I bet if he had been, Ryan would be different now. When Duke has another chance, another family, I know he will be the best dad our kids could ask for.
Even if he killed his own dad…
“Molly, I’m going to have to take you home,” Duke says. “I need to handle this. Sober Ryan up. Look into rehabs. And who’s to say this is over? They know who I am. They know who you are, Ryan, but they don’t know your name, Molly. They don’t know where your dorm is. They don’t know…” He trails off, shuddering. “But if they found out, I wouldn’t forgive myself if something happened to you.”
He stares furiously at the road while his words bounce warmly around me. He wouldn’t forgive himself if somebody hurt me. His own son is lying in the backseat, but he didn’t say that about him—only me. Maybe I’m not the only one who feels this connection, this burning, this fire.
“Dad, I really don’t feel well.”
“I could drop him off on the way,” Duke says, glancing at me. “Get him some rest. We could have some time then. It’s not much of a date, though.”
“I think it’s safe to say this date has been more eventful than most,” I comment.
He laughs drily. “Yeah, no arguments there. You good with that?”
I nod. “Whatever you think is best.”
Truthfully, this is a bad idea. I should get away from them as quickly as possible, but my adrenaline is still surging. I don’t like the idea of being alone in my dorm. The longer I can spend with Duke, the better, even if, any second, Ryan could tell him the truth.