Unsteady (The Torqued Trilogy Book 1) Read Online Free PDF

and look at her. “In what world, Nova?”
    “In most worlds, Red .” Her eyes never break contact with mine.
    “So now I’m Red?”
    “When you’re mean to me, you are.”
    “I can’t wait for you to be a teenager,” I say with sarcasm.
    “Me too. Maybe then I can get out of this stupid car seat!”
    “Maybe.”
    It’s only around three, but I know Nova is going to be hungry so I should probably feed her before I take her back to the shop. We’re halfway to McDonald’s because I know that’s the only thing she ever wants to eat when Nova asks, “Can I have ice cream?”
    “Tell me why you punched Kale and then I’ll decide.”
    “He kissed me.”
    That little fucking brat. How dare he?
    “Yep. You can have all the ice cream you want.”
    Nova looks around when we’re at a stoplight, seeing we’re heading the opposite way from our house. “Where are we going after McDonald’s?”
    “I gotta head back to work for a little bit.” I’m actually not sure why she asked. It’s not like this is much different from any other night. Poor kid has spent most of her time inside a shop keeping herself busy while her daddy works all night. It’s certainly no life for a little girl, but then again, I was raised that way and so were Raven and Rawley. Let’s just hope she doesn’t turn out like them.
    Nova’s eyes light up, and she leans forward a little in her chair, her hands on the back of my seat. Our eyes meet in the mirror again, her smile damn near radiating through me. It’s nice to see her this happy, considering when I picked her up moments ago she was ready to punch even me. “Can I play cards with Uncle Colt tonight?”
    “Colt is not your uncle.” I don’t even know how that term got started with him but knowing Colt, he probably taught her it.
    “He might as well be.”
    “No.”
    I chuckle, rolling down my window as we approach the drive-thru to McDonald’s. “Daddy?”
    “Yes, darlin’?”
    “When are you going to date? Auntie said you need to get a girl in your life.”
    This conversation has been coming up monthly for the past year. My sister is hell-bent on finding me a date, and now she’s using my own daughter against me. Next thing you know my mom’s gonna jump on board too. “I have a girl. You.”
    “Oh, right.” She looks at the McDonald’s menu out the window. “I want a toy. See if they have a My Little Pony.”
    “You can’t choose the toy. You get what they have.”
    Groaning, she face palms her forehead when she sees the menu. “I don’t even like Barbie.”
    “Welcome to McDonald’s, would you like to try our new Carmel Frappuccino?”
    “Yes!” Nova yells from the backseat. “With whip cream!”
    “No, we wouldn’t,” I say, waving my hand for Nova to be quiet.
    Nova crosses her arms over her chest, curls falling on her face. “Fine. Get me nuggets.”
    Our eyes meet and I glare at her.
    “ Please get me nuggets,” she revises.
    After we get her chicken nuggets, Nova and I head back to the shop. The sun is now peeking over the tips of the trees, just about swallowed by the night. We sit in the car for a moment, Nova crunching down on her nuggets and me watching the parking lot as I eat a hamburger I know is probably shit for me.
    “Ready?” I ask when I’m finished with my burger.
    Nova’s out of her seat immediately and reaching for her root beer next to her. “Yep.”
    “Nova!” Colt yells the moment she walks into the shop. “I’ve been waitin’ on you, princess.”
    Naturally, she runs to the crazy bastard. I’ll never understand why she likes that man so much. Then again, he may seem perfectly normal to her.
    Tyler’s over in the corner of the shop, arguing with Daniel. “Bring it here. I don’t give a fuck.” Their voice carries through the shop as I walk toward them. I turn to watch Nova for a second, making sure she doesn’t trip over anything, her white sandals clicking against the concrete floor.
    “Uncle Colt!” she