Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 78843 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78843 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 394(@200wpm)___ 315(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
“You think she’s a little young? She ready for what you want? Because I see the look in your eyes, the way your eyes never left her.” I know my ma isn’t telling me not to be with Catherine. She’s worried that I might get hurt.
“I’ll do whatever it takes to have her. Anything.” I add the last word so she knows how serious I am about her. Catherine might want to wait for us to push this relationship further down the path. If that’s what she wants I’ll do it. Even if it almost kills me. As long as it keeps her in my bed and in my house I’ll do whatever it takes.
“I know you will. I just don’t want you to get hurt. This is the first time you’ve ever shown interest in someone before or brought a girl around.”
“She’s my one,” I admit. “When I saw her I knew it. It was like something clicked into place in that moment. It felt as if I already knew her. Knew she was mine.”
“Good, because I want to keep her.”
I can’t help but laugh at that. “Thank you for being so good to her today. She doesn't have a family.”
“She does now,” my Ma says. My attention goes to my office door and I see Pam standing there.
“Yeah she does,” I agree. “Ma, something has come up at work. I’ll call you later.”
“Okay, sweetheart. You be careful and bring that girl over for dinner Sunday.”
“Will do. Love you, Ma.”
“Love you, too.”
I hang up my phone and Pam enters my office fully. I normally leave my door open so people feel free to walk in whenever they like.
“Got a call from the high school. Seems a boy attacked a girl.”
“Jesus.” I stand up, pulling my coat off the back of my chair. “Tell Asher to meet me there.”
Pam nods. I grab my radio and clip it to my belt. Maybe I’ll get to see Catherine while I’m there.
It doesn't take long for me to get to the school. I walk in the front door and the woman at the front desk motions me toward the principal's office. I step in to see a boy sitting in a chair, his head down.
“How old is he?” I ask. I need to know if we’re obligated to call his parents.
“Eighteen,” Principal Hall says.
I let out a whistle. “That makes you an adult...” I trail off, looking at Principal Hall.
“Ren Collor.”
Fuck. Collor. “Ren Collor,” I intone.
“I want a lawyer and I want to call my dad.” No shock there. Collor is a big name in our little town. They own a lot of land round here, but that’s about it. They have old money and I don’t think anyone in the family really works anymore. I know who Ren’s father is without having to ask. Like father like son. I shake my head.
“Stand up,” I order. He does as I command. “Hands behind your back.”
“Are you fucking serious?” he says in a cocky voice.
“I’ll tell you one more time. Hands behind your back.” He does it and I can tell he’s pissed. Well, that makes fucking two of us.
“The girl he tried to assault took off, but a witness came forward and told us what happened and we pulled Ren out of class and called you guys.” I nod, then start reading Ren his rights.
“The witness is in the room next door.” Principal Hall points to the room. Just then Asher walks in.
“No one knows where the victim went?”
“She wasn't a victim. She wanted it,” Ren says.
It takes everything in me not to smack him in the back of the head. “If I were you I’d keep my mouth shut,” I growl in warning.
“No, home would be my guess,” Asher replies, ignoring Collor. “I got her address out for you.” He hands me the info. “Her name is Catherine Young.”
My body stiffens. My hands, which are still on the cuffs around Ren’s hands, tighten, making the metal dig into his skin. He yelps in pain.
“My cuffs are too fucking tight!” he screams, but I don’t give a fuck. All I see is red.
“Cole. Cole!” I hear someone barking at me. I look at Asher, who is standing in the doorway, breaking me from the red haze I was under.
“Interview the witness. She’s in the next room. I don’t want to drag her down to the station.” I nod toward the room she’s in. “I’m putting him in your cruiser. I’m going to go find the girl.”
“All right,” he agrees, but he stares at me for a moment.
I yank on Ren’s cuffs, making him yell in discomfort. “Move,” I bark, pulling him toward the door. I push him in front of me as we walk out of the school. I kick out my boot and Ren trips. He hits the ice-covered concrete and I hear a crack. I smile at the sound.