Page 26 of Three Minutes
“It’s your turn to die, boy.” His voice drips with malice as he slams the gas pedal, sending us hurtling around the curves at breakneck speed. I clutch the dashboard, gasping for breath as the acrid smoke envelops us, thick and suffocating. Uncle Jesse jerks the wheel sharply to the left, veering us across the road. Straining to see what lies ahead, I find the smoke growingdenser and darker by the second. Suddenly, BANG! The truck comes to an abrupt halt, jerking me against the passenger door, my head slamming into the window. Dazed and trying to catch my breath, confusion washes over me. My hand fumbles along the door, seeking the door handle. But before I can find it, I hear a low, sinister chuckle beside me. My heart races as that familiar laugh echoes in my ears. I turn my head slightly, squinting through the haze to catch a glimpse of the figure next to me. Just for a heartbeat, the smoke lifts enough to reveal his wicked smirk glowing in the dim light.
Nausea creeps into my stomach, traveling up my esophagus. Nothing makes sense right now.Why is this happening? Why is he here, and how?As if he hears my rapid thoughts, he growls beside me. “I’m here to finish what I started.” I panic, grabbing the door, feeling for the handle. Once I locate it, I try to open it, but it won’t budge. I slam my shoulder into it as hard as I can, but nothing. He laughs beside me; the sound of a blade scraping against metal ring in my ears. My body freezes at the vile sound of it. I’m going to die. My breathing becomes unhinged as my chest tightens. Without warning, I feel something sharp poke at my neck, sending stings down my spine. I squeeze my eyes shut, unable to move. I’m frozen. I can feel everything, but when trying to lift my arm, my entire body is paralyzed. The blade slides across my skin. Hot, scorching breath beats against my ear. I can hear his heavy breathing. “Bleed out!” he snaps. Just as a whimper comes from my throat, a sharp, jagged pain shoots through my neck into my chest. My breathing instantly turns into gurgling as I try to reach for my throat. Thick, metallic blood pours from my mouth and neck as I sit helplessly, drowning in my fate.
My eyes snap open in confusion, scanning the ceiling above me. A heavy weight presses down on my chest, and I feel heat building. The frantic thumping of my heart reverberates throughme. I clutch the bedsheet tightly, trying to steady my breathing. Glancing down, I notice something fuzzy lying on my chest. I blink harder, straining to make it out in the dim light of my room. Slowly, I lift my hand and brush my fingers against the furry creature. A soft meow breaks the silence.Fucking Mango.I scoff, quickly scooping her up and leaning over the edge of the bed, gently placing her on the floor. I’ve had her for a few days now. I tried to keep the little beast in the bathroom the first couple of nights, but she just scratched and meowed at the door until I let her out. I’ve lost countless hours of sleep to her annoying habits. But I keep reminding myself that she’ll be gone soon—I’m just putting up with this for Raina, considering I owe her for my shitty decisions.
I reach over and switch on the small lamp before glancing at my phone to check the time—it’s already past seven in the morning. Letting out a heavy sigh, I lean back against my pillow, pressing my hand to my racing chest. It’s been days since I last woke up from a nightmare, and this one felt completely different. I shake my head, closing my eyes and starting to focus on my deep breathing. Wiping the sweat from my brow, I push my dark hair back from my forehead.
Mango jumps back up onto the bed, and I watch her closely as she rubs against my arm. I tense slightly, expecting the touch to irritate my scars…but it doesn’t. Staying still, I continue to observe her. She eventually climbs onto my stomach, facing me directly. Her big green eyes blink slowly at me as she inches closer. I squint at her when she presses her little cold nose against my hand resting on my chest. Then, she steps over my hand and curls up, settling higher on my chest in a cozy ball. I draw my head back slightly, looking down at her. This is the first time she’s ever done this, and I’m a bit unsure of how to respond. I’ve never really been around cats before. I reach to move her off me, but I hesitate, feeling the gentle vibrations of her purringagainst my chest.
As the soothing sound washes over me, I notice my heartbeat and breathing begin to slow down.Why does this actually feel comforting? And why does she look so cute, curled up like that?I suppose this is what Scottie experiences when he’s home with Fluffy. I grunt and quickly shake off my slight admiration for the little orange beast.
A few minutes have gone by of me observing her sleeping. I gently slide my hands under Mango and place her on the other side of me. As I hop out of bed, I hear her let out a soft meow, prompting me to turn and look at her. Once she has my attention, she rolls onto her back, stretches her legs, and blinks up slowly at me. How ridiculous. She knows she’s cute and is trying to win me over as some sort of crazy cat lover. Not happening, Mango. Not fucking happening at all.
Chapter Twenty
Me: Raina…what the fuck is going on? Why haven’t I heard from you?
I let out a frustrated sigh as I tuck my phone back into my pocket. Yanking my helmet off, I balance it on my bike’s handlebars. I’ve texted her four times today, and not once has she replied. I know she’s home—I checked when I drove by her apartment on the way here. However, I didn’t see Scottie’s truck around, which gives me a bit of relief. At least she’s not with that jerk off. Still, I can’t shake off this feeling of uncertainty. With her silence, it’s like I’m completely out of control regarding what’s happening between us. Is she angry with me? Or has she finally had enough? Can I really blame her? Honestly, I’ve been the one stirring up trouble since we first crossed paths, and I still can’t figure out what the hell I’m doing.
I aggressively rub my face, staring at the house I lived in for many years. I am not looking forward to this afternoon’s dinner. I still haven’t talked to Beck, and now here I am, having to meet the guy she’s exploring a relationship with. I had almost talked myself out of coming multiple times, but I tried to remember what Blake mentioned. And well, this family has done so much for me throughout my life, so I knew this had to be done. With that being said, I did make a point of arriving right on time to avoid any awkward conversations before dinner. I had alsohoped Blake would be here before me. He always knows how to fill in the quiet moments when things seem on edge. Mainly, because he doesn’t know how to shut the hell up. But we love him for it.
I scan the vehicles in the small driveway and spot Beck’s car parked. Behind it sits a dark blue BMW that I assume belongs to Jenson, while Eric’s truck is tucked away in the garage. Naturally, Blake is nowhere to be found. Taking a deep breath, I hop off my bike. Suddenly, I hear the loud thump of music, and moments later, Blake rolls in with the windows down, blasting Bone Thugs & Harmony from the speakers. I can’t help but roll my eyes and shake my head. He leans out of the window, bobbing his head to the beat. I cross my arms, letting him have his moment, refusing to give it the attention he craves.
He finally turns off his Jeep and steps out. “Well, if it isn’t the cat whisperer himself,” he teases. I just stare at him, keeping my expression neutral. He approaches for a hug, giving my shoulder a friendly pat. “Have you and sweet Mango gotten matching pajamas yet? You’d look adorable in some purple ones—oof.” Before he can finish, I throw a light punch into his stomach, just enough to take the wind out of him. Blake doubles over, clutching his stomach with one hand while the other rests on his knee. He chuckles, “Damn, Ez, I love you too.” A small smile creeps onto my face. He knows I’m tense and anxious about this whole situation, and as always, he’s trying to lighten the mood and steer my thoughts away from things I shouldn’t be worrying about.
I give his shoulder a reassuring pat. “Come on, let’s just get this over with.”
He nods as we head toward the garage. “Oh, and by the way…I might have told Dad to order pizza instead,” he adds sheepishly. “I figured it would make things a bit smoother than sitting down for a full dinner. It’ll, you know, feel more laid-back.” Hechuckles lightly. I take a deep breath, grateful for his approach to the whole situation. This way, I can avoid an awkward meal with a pissed-off Beck and some guy I’ve never even met.
As we step inside, I find Eric in the kitchen, rummaging through the cabinets for plates while the TV plays softly from the living room. He glances over his shoulder, and an instant smile spreads across his face. He pauses his task and strides toward me, wrapping me in a warm hug. “It’s great to see you, Ezra,” he says, giving me a gentle pat on the back. He pulls back quickly, resting his hands on my arms and looking up at me. I notice he seems a bit shrunken since our last time seeing one another, and his hair has definitely gained more gray strands.
I nod my head in acknowledgment. “It’s great to see you too, Eric.”
He holds my gaze for a moment longer before giving my arm a firm pat and heading back to his task. I glance around, searching the living room for Beck, but she’s nowhere in sight. Eric draws my attention again. “So, I heard you adopted a cat recently,” he says cheerfully. I whip my head back, locking eyes with Blake. He throws his hands up with a smug expression, and for a split second, I feel the urge to punch him in the stomach again—harder this time. I turn my attention back to Eric just as a voice calls out from the living room.
“Did I hear you have a pet now?” It’s strange not to have heard her voice these past weeks. I look over at her; she’s dressed up a bit more tonight. Her dark auburn hair is curlier than usual, and she’s wearing some makeup. With or without, she looks beautiful.
She walks toward me, reaching out for a hug. I can sense the tension between us, and our embrace turns out to be the briefest hug I’ve ever shared with her. As she steps back, she places her hands on her hips and glances up at me before quickly looking away. “So, you have a cat?” she asks.
“No, I’m just cat-sitting until she finds a home.”
She bites her cheek, nodding slowly with a tight smile. It seems like she’s about to say something, but her attention shifts to someone approaching from behind her.This must be Jenson.She steps aside to let him come up beside her. “Uh, so this is Jenson. Jenson, meet Ezra.”
I observe him as he gazes at her intently, fully engaged until she finishes speaking. When she’s done, he turns his attention back to me, extending his hand in greeting. I reach out, noticing his eyes momentarily dart to my tattoos and scars, though he quickly regains his composure. I can only assume Beck and Eric have filled him in on my unsettling past, preparing him to meet the damaged man who was left behind with no family. As I clasp his hand, I try to brush off the feel of his calloused palm against mine. “Beck and Eric have told me a lot about you. It’s great to finally meet,” he says. I nod firmly in response.
I step aside and lean against the kitchen counter, watching as he and Blake officially meet. I catch a glimpse of Beck’s smile as she shifts her gaze between her brother and the guy she’s into. My eyes wander to the living room, where everything looks mostly familiar except for the newer couch and a smaller coffee table. My gaze lands on the couch, sitting right where the old one used to be. Memories flood back of that intimate night and how quickly it spiraled into chaos for both of us. Since then, nothing has felt the same between us. Just when I thought we were making progress, I turned around and fucked everything up.
“Ezra, are you going to eat?” Eric calls out from beside me.
I quickly reply, “Yeah, sure. I’ll grab a couple of pieces.” After everyone has made their way around to get their plates, we all migrate to the living room. Beck and Jenson settle onto the couch while Eric slides into his small recliner off to the side. Blake plops down on the floor, propping his plate up on the coffee table. He motions for me to join him on the floor, but Iwave him off, preferring to lean against the wall that leads into the kitchen.
Things fall silent for a moment, and I can feel my heartbeat start to quicken. But Blake breaks the tension, his mouth full of pizza. “So, how did you meet my sister?”
All eyes turn to Jenson, who steals a glance at her and smiles. “Well, after I transferred to the fire department here, your dad eventually showed me pictures of you all. When I saw Beck, I thought,wow…she’s stunning. I just had to ask him if she was single or taken.” Eric chuckles under his breath. “And he didn’t hold back, either.” Laughter fills the room, but I stay focused on Jenson, eager to hear more. “Anyway, he told me she was single, and I asked him to pass my number along so I could ask her out.” Jenson laughs and glances at Beck adoringly. “He warned me she’d be tough to win over, and he was right…she brushed me off at first. But hey, she’s coming around now.” He nudges her playfully. I shift my gaze to her and see the light in her eyes. She clearly feels something for him. I take a moment to study his looks. From what I can tell, he doesn’t have any tattoos unless they’re hidden. He has blue eyes similar to the twins’, but lighter. His hair is a short, sandy blond. Overall, a well put-together guy. I can’t shake the obvious, though—he’s everything I’m not.
“So, are you seeing anyone?” Eric blurts out, his question directed at me.
I blink, pulling my attention back to the room. Everyone’s looking at me, waiting for an answer. I clear my throat, “N-no, I’m not.”
