Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 70940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 355(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 236(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 355(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 236(@300wpm)
I close my eyes and breathe him in.
I'll take every moment.
Every single moment.
Just in case.
19
THEN – BRIELLA
"I don't want to go," Magnolia tells me, staring at me with wide eyes.
"What?" I ask, confused. "What do you mean you don't want to go? I thought you were excited about it?"
She frowns. "I was. But, I've been talking to this guy and...he's nice, Bri. He wants to take me out on a date, and he's got all these great friends. I feel like I could settle in here..."
"What if it doesn't work out?" I question, a little disappointed.
"Then I'll come and find you."
"Are you sure about this?"
She nods. "I've thought about it a lot, and things are slowly falling into place for me again. I have some great friends and a good job. I'm happy now I'm living out of home. I think I can make something of myself."
"I can't force you to come with me, but I won't say I'm not disappointed. I don't like the idea of leaving you here..."
"I'm turning eighteen soon. I'm not a kid anymore, sis."
"I know," I exhale, "I just wanted the chance for us to do this together."
Magnolia steps forward and puts her hands on my shoulders, smiling at me. "I wanted that, too. But, I have to figure my life out now. I can't mope around forever, I miss mom so bad some nights I can't sleep, but it only made me realize how short life really is. I want to go the path I'm being lead to go on. I hope you can respect that."
I frown, but grab my sister and pull her into my arms. "Of course I respect that," I say, squeezing her tighter. "I will always support you."
"Are you still going to leave?" she asks me, stepping back.
"Yes," I tell her. "I have to. I'm not...I'm not coping. Things are so hard around here right now. There has been so much horror, and I just need to breathe again."
"And Alarick?"
"I'm going to talk to him now. I'll tell him. Part of me kind of hopes he says he's going to come with me and we can forever be happy, but I know deep down that's not how this is going to go. Alarick is dedicated to the club, and I know he wants to take it over as soon as he can. He's not going to give it all up for me."
"You might be surprised," Magnolia shrugs. "That man adores you. You just might be surprised."
Her words give me hope, but once again, deep down, I think I already know how this is going to play out. I've told myself even if he tells me he's not coming, that I'm going to walk away and be strong. I have to do this, no matter how much it's going to hurt me to do so. I have to because right now, I'm drowning slowly, and I need to be away from all this pain.
Every single time I walk into my mother's room at the house, I see her bloodied body.
I swear, I can still smell the metallic sting in the air.
It's too much.
Being in that house is almost haunting.
"Well, I should go and see him now, I guess," I tell her. "You're sure you're not coming?"
She nods. "I'm sure."
I smile at her and then tell her I'll be back later to let her know my plans before I leave in a few days.
Then I make my way over to the club where I know Alarick will be.
I arrive, and it's super-hot out, so shading my eyes with my hand, I quickly rush inside where the air conditioning immediately cools my hot body. I swipe some sweat off my brow and look around. A few older members are lingering around the bar, their old ladies in tow, but I can't see King or any of the guys.
I walk through and wave to Franky, an old member who was around when King's father was running the club. He's got to be nearing ninety, but he just sits there, smoking away, quite happy to finish his life at the club.
"Hi Franky," I say, waving to him. "Have you seen Alarick?"
"How are you, sweetheart?" he asks, coughing as he exhales some smoke. "They're out back in the shed. Church. You can't go in there."
Right. Church. Of course.
"That's okay. I'll hang out here."
I sit on the barstool next to him and face him, smiling. "How have you been?"
Franky shrugs. "You know how it is, darlin'. Gettin' old. Shit is gettin' harder to do. One of these days, I'm goin' to keel over right here."
I frown. "Don't say that you're fighting fit."
He laughs and then coughs. "You're a sweet girl. What brings you here, anyway? You don't wanna be hangin' around with this rough bunch."
"Of course I do," I smile. "You're all my family."