13 Rounds Read Online Free PDF Page A

‘don’t worry about its’ and ‘nothing.’ I’ve always believed that you can’t have a decent, lasting relationship built on secrets and lies.
    I hold back words that I know need to be said, but I don’t want to say them. Just thinking them makes me eyes start to water again and a deep, plunging, throbbing pain punctures my heart.
    With shaking hands, I bring the cup of coffee to my lips and take a big gulp. After I swallow, I let out a long, ragged breath. “I need to end it,” I say. “This is not how a relationship works.”
    I eye Lara as the tears drip down my cheeks. My face is on fire and I place both of my hands on my cheeks, hoping they’ll put out the blaze. My hands are cold and it helps a little, but not by much.
    “Are sure that’s what you want, Lee?” Lara probes. I close my eyes, but I can feel hers on me. She’s examining me again, I know it. “I know you love him.”
    I do love him.
    More than anything.
    It’s like I am the moon, illuminating the dark, night sky with my love for him.
    In my eyes he is my first, my last, my one and only.
    I know deep down in my heart that I’ll never love another the way I love him. I know that when or if I ever look into another man’s eyes, I won’t feel the same way. I know and feel if any person ever has a chance at that one, true thing they shouldn’t waste it.
    But then…
    There are moments where you have to ask yourself when enough enough is. And when enough is enough how long after that will you hit the point where you break?
    Shatter.
    Explode into a million little pieces.
    I’ve reached that point.
    I lower my gaze and stare at the table. The dark, cherry wood fills my gaze and I feel defeated. “It’s over.” There’s finality in my tone and when I say, “It’s over,” a second time my voice cracks.
    I sob.
    My face is my palms and the sobs are coming out so hard and so fast that I’m having a difficult time breathing. Lara gets up and moves behind me, draping her arms over my shoulders. I hear the smile in her voice when she says, “So when are you moving back in, roomie?”
    I sniffle and let out a soft laugh as I thumb the tears out of the crescents of my eyes. “Well technically I didn’t really move out.”
    When Sean and I first started dating, I thought it would be best if I didn’t move my stuff out of my old place. After all, we live right next door to each other. That and I wanted to have my old place to fall back on in case something ever really did happen between us. Now I’m glad I made that decision.
    There’s a knock at the door.
    I blink several times.
    Blow out some air through my lips.
    I glance at Lara warily for approval. She gives me a thumbs up, meaning that I’m okay for conversation, so I get up and make my way to the door. I throw her a grin from over my shoulder and she mouths, “See you soon.” Then she blows me a kiss.
    I chuckle at her, shake my head then open the door.
     

 
     
    Chapter 8
    ~Connie~
     
    There was something strange going on with the boy-o. Connie was absolutely certain of this. Not only because of his actions when he first called out to him; the way he hurried that young lady into the building, but also because of his mannerisms during their conversation.
    He was fidgeting.
    Restless.
    He seemed distracted.
    Wouldn’t really make eye- contact.
    Connie played it off like he was none-the-wiser, but then again, he’d always been a really good actor.
    But…
    The boy-o knew him. He knew him well, which meant that if Connie tried anything the boy-o would catch on pretty fast. Still, Connie wasn’t willing to risk everything that he had built based on the fact that the man that he practically raised knew the way he operated.
    He approached the Lincoln and Aidan stood next to the door, he opened it for Connie. After Connie sat down inside and Aidan closed the door, he waited for his right-hand man to secure himself in the driver’s seat and when he did Connie spoke up,