Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 78725 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78725 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Without a glance to us, Troy strode from the room as cocky as he’d entered it.
We were left standing in the carnage of his nuclear bomb, shellshocked and dead silent.
River shrugged Lotto off and fixed his shirt. I’d never seen his face so wrinkled before.
He scrubbed at his eyes, flashes of his tattoos peeking through his shirt cuffs. “Sorry.”
“No need to apologize.” I set my hand on his broad shoulder. “You did what we all wanted to do.”
“He was never going to sponsor us anyway. He did this to make us look like idiots.” Lotto played with his wristwatch and muttered, “And it fucking worked.”
“We still have options,” I offered weakly. “As much as we hate them, we’re not out yet.”
“Until Troy fucks with that, too.” River sighed and pulled his hair out of its bun. He scratched at his scalp, his inky black hair flowing around his shoulders. “Vindictive little bastard.”
“The ‘little’ is apt.” Lotto gestured to his crotch before cocking his head toward the door. “Come on. Let’s get back to Seattle.”
“This is going to be a long drive.” I sighed.
The entire ride back was silent, save for the low murmuring of the radio. None of us had anything to say. The weather was bright and warm, yet inside I felt so cold. Smiley’s wasn’t done for. We still had ways to make it in the Circuit, but everything felt so bleak. Every time we took a step fate kicked us back.
We had just entered Seattle proper when River cleared his throat. “Look, about what happened—”
“I said you don’t have to apologize.” I turned around from the passenger seat to set my hand on his knee. “I promise.”
“Let me explain.” He glanced up to the rear-view mirror, and Lotto stared back at him through the glass. When he nodded, River drew a breath. “Remember I talked about my sister? Daisy.”
“I remember.”
“She’s more like my mom, though. Raised me my entire life, no matter the circumstances. Put my ass through rehab in high school. Then college and grad school. Never asked for anything in return.”
“But you feel indebted to her,” I murmured.
“Always.” He cracked a smile. “She’s put up with so much of my shit.”
I understood him perfectly. I felt the same way about my dad. He was my rock, the one I always leaned on. All I ever wanted was to make him proud.
“Not just me. Her ex-husband is a complete asshole. He didn’t just beat her. He took everything. The house and the car. Quit his job and only works under the table so she doesn’t get child support. He left her and his own damn sons on the streets. But she wouldn’t take my money. Not a cent of it unless it came from something other than the underground.”
“That’s why you left?” Lotto asked.
River nodded. “I was a damn suit, and every penny I made went to her.”
“Then why did you come back?” I questioned.
He set his hand over mine and squeezed. “Being a suit is fucking boring. I wasn’t looking to become the next Troy Godwin. The sales dried up anyway, and I didn’t want to bother looking for another gig. So, I stepped back into the ring, but she wasn’t too happy about that.” His smile grew sad. “Wouldn’t let me around the boys until I proved I could clean up my act. Or that my money wasn’t made in nefarious ways.”
“Did you?”
“That’s when I signed with Troy and the Perks.” He chuckled and let me go, leaning back in his seat. “A contract makes things look legit. I bought her a house with the money I got from my winnings. A new car, too, but that shit costs cash. More than I can bring if shit goes belly up with the Circuit.”
My heart dropped. I understood exactly what he was trying to prove. But his first avenue into something real—something legit—was being blocked every step of the way.
“River, I’m really—”
“Don’t bother apologizing. It’s not your fault.”
“It’s not,” Lotto agreed. “Most of the blame lies with the asshat who roped us into Heathens Hollow in the first place.”
“He knows what he’s doing. Same with his threats.”
I sighed. “Do you really think he’ll turn you in to the police?”
“Not a chance.” Lotto gripped the steering wheel. “He practically begged Frankie not to get politics involved. He doesn’t want the feds on his ass.”
“Just get the feds on someone else’s ass. Small-dicked coward.”
River’s loud, happy laugh made me smile, too.
“This is why I appreciate Smiley’s. You keep it real. No underhanded shit like everyone else I know.”
“Oh, we’re underhanded in our own way.” Lotto shrugged.
“But not with you. We’re glad you’re with us,” I said.
His touch was warm when he grabbed my hands. “Thanks, Ari. I’m glad to be here, too.”
The tenderness in his voice flooded my body with a strange sense of belonging. It was like River just fit here. With us. He was the last piece of a puzzle I’d believed was already complete. I shared a look with Lotto. He didn’t say anything, but I could tell he felt the same way.