12 Rounds by Lauren Hammond Read Free Book Online Page B

toilet water. Some dudes would be grossed out by this, but not me. When you've seen someone shot in the head and hunks of their brain matter splashed all over the white wall behind them, vomiting and shit like that doesn't phase you.
    Pulling my hood over my head, I jog down the hall and rap softly on the door. “Listen doll face, can you hurry it up in there?” I hear her moan through the door. I rush back to my bedroom and grab her stuff. Her clothes, purse, and shoes, then I open the bathroom door and toss them in. “I've gotta be somewhere. The clock is ticking.”
    She emerges from my bathroom, half-dressed and smiles. I chuckle nervously and fight the urge to spew word vomit (yes, the pun was intended) because she's got a leftover green chunk stuck between her two front teeth. “So,” she breathes. “Will you call me again sometime?”
    “Of course.” No I won't. I take that back, I might. But that all depends on how much alcohol I’ve consumed, where I am at the time, if there are other broads there…yeah the list can go on and on but you get my point.
    “Did I give you my number?”
    I nod. “It's programmed into my cell.” No it's not. I can't even remember this girls name. Plus, I don't program random females numbers into my cell. I texted her my addy earlier so her friends could drop her off, so if I do ever need her number again, I can find it there.
     There's only one girl's number programmed in my cell phone and that number belongs to my little sister, Teagan. Because she's the only member of the opposite sex in my life that matters.
    I'd kill for Teagan.
    I'd die for her.
    Why?
    Because I love her. I’m not ashamed to admit that I love my kid sister. And also because she's family and family means more to me than anything.
    I grab Blondie by the elbow and escort her to my front door. I open the door and she steps out into the hall. She hesitates, eyeing me up and down apprehensively. I hesitate too, wanting her to leave asap, but not wanting to be a total dickhead to her. Finally after a few awkward minutes of silence she says, “Well, aren't you coming?” She folds her arms across her chest. “I thought you said you had to be somewhere.”
    “I do.” But I'm waiting for you to leave so I can go grab my glock that's hidden beneath the floorboards in my closet.
    She gets the hint. I want her to leave first. “Oh,” she shrugs nervously, “well I guess I'll see you around then.”
    “See you around.” I wait until she disappears down the hall before I slam my door.

 
    Chapter Six
    ~Hadlee~
    Lara is too good to me.
    “Sometimes, I swear you’re a saint,” I tell her as she pops the trunk and we walk around to the back of her black Mitsubishi Eclipse.
    She glances around in a joking manor and points between us. “You talking to me?”
    I sigh and shake my head. “Who else would I be talking to?” Lara removes a few boxes and stacks them one on top of each other on the black top. “I really appreciate you letting me move in with you. I promise you once I get my life back in order, I’ll find a way to repay you.”
    She straightens out and pulls me in for a hug. Then backs away from me slightly, gripping my shoulders. “Are you kidding me? You’re like the sister I never had. I’d do anything for you. You know that.”
    “Still,” I mutter, casting my eyes downward. “Taking in strays with issues is a huge responsibility.”
    Lara gathers a few boxes, balancing them on top of each other in her arms. “Listen to you,” she huffs. “First off, you’ll never be a stray. Second, I know if I went through what you did, you’d do the same thing for me.” She’s right about that. I’d do anything for Lara. She’s the closest thing I have to family.
    I never knew my parents. They died in a car accident when I was very young so I was raised by my maternal grandmother. And she died two years ago. “I just hate feeling like I’m indebted to someone.”
    “Indebted, please,”