Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 60965 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 305(@200wpm)___ 244(@250wpm)___ 203(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60965 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 305(@200wpm)___ 244(@250wpm)___ 203(@300wpm)
It takes a long moment for me to glance up at Jules, who’s eerily quiet only to see that she has the gun still pointed at him.
“He’s dead. It’s over, Jules.”
Something in her seems to snap at my words, and she drops the gun as if it’s burned her hands. She backs away, shaking and covering her mouth with horror.
The blood drains from her as the realization sets in. “Don’t scream,” I tell her.
“Look at me,” I tell her and she does as I command. “It’s okay.” I swallow down every insecurity. For her, I’ll be strong. I’ll take care of this. “It’s okay,” I repeat and hold her gaze until she nods back although she’s still on edge and drenched in terror.
I wipe the gun off on my shirt, getting rid of her prints and trying to think straight. The cops will be here soon. There’s no doubt in my mind. She needs an alibi. “Run, Jules.” I set the gun back down where it fell and rise to take a step closer to her. She’s still trembling and can’t take her eyes from the bodies on the ground. I reach out, grabbing her shoulders and shaking her slightly to get her attention. “Go to the Westin. You left me last night. Everyone knows that. I came here to get you, but you weren’t here. I’ll call the owner of the Westin.” I nod as I speak, as if reassuring myself and her. I know for a fact the owner was in my father’s back pocket and now he’ll be in mine since I have my father’s little black book. “He’ll do what I tell him to if anyone asks. You checked in last night and that’s where you’ve been.”
Jules shakes her head, the implication of what I’m saying setting in. “Mason,” she says and sucks in a breath. “No. You can’t.”
“I can and I am,” I tell her, staring deep into her eyes. My beautiful Jules, my sweetheart. I should have known it would end like this. It’s how it should have started. With me killing my father and letting everything else go.
“I love you,” I tell her, “even if you can’t be with me. I love you.”
She stares deep into my eyes, and I can see how much it tortures her. We were never meant to be. It was my mistake. I deserve this pain. She parts her lips, I’m sure to explain, I know her so well and I’m certain that’s what’s coming. But I don’t need it. She doesn’t have to explain it to me; I already know. I press my finger to her lips, silencing her and then giving her one last kiss.
She leans into me as I pull away and it makes the pain in my chest grow that much deeper. I look down at her with the tears soaking her lashes until she finally peeks up at me.
We share a look, but it only makes her cry harder. We both know it’s over.
I hold her, wrapping my arms around her and kissing her hair until she’s able to calm herself down. The clock is ticking, and the time we have is already up.
She gives me the saddest smile when I pull away again for the last time, and says, “You’re always cleaning up my messes, aren’t you?”
“It was never your mess, Jules.” She can’t stop the tears flowing freely down her face as I tell her, “I’m so fucking sorry.” I drop her hand and take a step backward as she covers her face with her hand. I say, “Know that I’m sorry. Know that I love you.”
She nods once, licking the tears from her lips as I tell her to go, listening to the sirens getting louder and louder.
I watch her disappear, and I don’t regret it.
She needed me to let her go. I know that now. I’m only capable of destroying her. She deserves so much more than that.
Jules
The truth is, everyone can kill.
Some born to defend, others for thrill.
What would it take? It’s not that hard.
Threaten you? Or leave you scarred?
How much can they push you,
How much can they take?
Until you pull the trigger,
And you finally break.
I’ve never hurt like this before. Like my soul’s been gutted.
I can’t get the look in Mason’s eyes out of my head. A darkness sets in around me as I close my eyes. The vision of his handsome face displaying nothing but hopelessness is only replaced with something more morbid.
I killed a man. Two.
The first I could convince myself was an accident. I was terrified; I felt threatened. I swear it was an accident.
The second, though… I shot his father out of anger. I wonder if this is what Mason felt like almost a year ago when he killed Jace. If that rage that consumed me was the same for him. I shot his father because I wanted to. That is the only explanation.