Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 35017 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 175(@200wpm)___ 140(@250wpm)___ 117(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35017 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 175(@200wpm)___ 140(@250wpm)___ 117(@300wpm)
“Oh.” I point at Willa’s screen when I see Rich.
“It’s a video someone posted.” Willa clicks the play button. You can't hear the conversation between Rich and a pretty blonde in a short dress and heels. My breath hitches when she reaches out to touch him. Rich quickly grabs her wrist. Then the video cuts off.
“Send it to me,” Teddy says. A second later, her phone dings. “Isn’t that Cassie?”
“I think so. She was older than us, right?”
“Yeah, but on an island, it’s hard not to know everyone.” Teddy shrugs. “But I will say she was a bitch, and it seems she hasn’t learned not to touch what doesn’t belong to her.”
“No shaming, but the girl does love to touch everything.” Willa says.
“Oh, I’ll shame.” Teddy sits up straighter. “I’ll only do it when someone goes after a man they know is taken.”
“No one knows about me,” I point out. As much as I don’t care to see this girl trying to touch Rich, she might not know.
“Maybe so, but that’s her MO, and I know it for a fact. Besides, everyone knows not to touch Rich. He hates that shit. It took years for me to get him to be okay with some hugs,” Teddy adds.
“Teddy’s a big hugger.” Willa nods quickly in agreement.
“Maybe you should stop hugging people,” West is quick to add. The girls ignore him.
"I remember Cassie having a thing for Rich even back in school. Girls like her aren't accustomed to receiving rejection, and when they do, it only intensifies their desire to have the thing or person they can’t get."
I try to take in what Willa and Teddy are both saying. There is no need for me to be upset, but I can’t help the swirl of emotions that fills me. He did stop her from touching him.
“Oh,” I breathe out when West pulls down a long driveway. Fenced metal gates are open for people to come and go, but there are two men in all black standing near them.
“Those are some of my husband’s men.” Willa reaches over and takes my hand. “You’re safe with us. All these men know who to protect.” I nod. I believe what she is saying, but I will feel a million times better when I see Rich.
My attention shifts to the ocean, focusing on when the lighthouse shines on it. The memory of what the lighthouse meant to me the night I escaped from my dad’s boat flashes through my mind: freedom. But also anxiety and fear and a mix of other emotions. I push them down and remind myself that I’m safe. I’m surrounded by good people that support me. I should have expected coming back here would conjure up all sorts of emotions in me. I just need to see Rich, and then I know I will settle.
There are a bunch of boats out there, but I can’t make them out, and there had been many that night too. I have tried to think back to the day and see if I had overheard anything about them going to the fights, but I haven’t been able to recall much.
West pulls around to the back of the warehouses to let Willa and me out. Teddy is going to park with him and they’ll walk in together. When I step out of the SUV, it feels like a million years since I was last here. So much of my life has changed.
Willa hooks her arm into mine. Before we can get to the door, it’s opening for us, once again revealing a man in all black. Must be a uniform or something. He nods to Willa and me, not saying a word.
“Hey, Peter.” Willa doesn’t shy from talking to him.
“Mrs. King,” he greets back as we pass.
“I just really like hearing them say Mrs. King,” Willa whispers next to my ear.
I notice when we pass the men who are clearly security, they are all focused on us.
“It’s okay. They are only watching over us. They're under orders.”
“Are you all worried something is going to happen?” I probably should be too, but all I can focus on is seeing Rich.
“You can never be too safe. I mean, this isn’t legal, after all.”
Right. I think I often forget about laws. My father served as judge, jury and the executioner. His laws were the only ones that mattered in my world.
Willa checks her phone. "Oh, Vasily said Rich is up next. We should hurry." I have no choice but to walk faster with her, as our arms are still looped together. It's probably a good thing because I would have slowed down when I heard the chatter of the number of people and saw the crowd. Being around so many people at once is unfamiliar to me. Once again, I feel overwhelmed.