Surviving Love Read Online Free

for me because, as soon as I run my timecard, he’s pulling me into his office. Great, breakdown number two coming right up.  
    Rich is an average height man with a big belly and receding hair line. He is also the most impatient, hard-ass I’ve ever worked with. I really like him. I often wonder if this is how Reggie will be when he hits his fifties, but I doubt Reggie will ever let himself get a gut or lose his bad- ass physique. However, the hard-ass persona will undeniably be a Reggie trait.  
    “Drake, I wanted to let you know I spoke to your brother, Reggie, after everything happened. I want to assure you myself that human resources are the only people who know what your absence was from.”  
    Confused at why he’s telling me this, I nod in acknowledgment.  
    “The guys think you were out on vacation for the last couple of weeks. So when they ask, you’ll know what they’re talking about.” Rich reaches his hand up to my arm, but he soon tucks it into the pocket of his jacket.  
    “Thanks, Rich. Am I still working in crane three?” I ask, just wanting to get this awkward conversation over with.  
    Rich’s smile peaks for a second before he’s back to business as usual. “Yes. Now get your ass to work.”  
    I happily head out of the building and walk quickly to my crane. After climbing in the cab, I get myself situated in the seat and fire the equipment to life. And for the first time in ages, I begin to feel normal again.  
     

Chapter 3  
    Drake  
    It’s Friday, and this week at work has been better than I’ve originally expected. No one even cares why I’ve been gone or even mentions it to me. I sit in my crane and concentrate on moving metal from one area of the plant to the other. I don’t let my thoughts run away with me, finally feeling somewhat normal.  
    After dropping Mia off at Mrs. Fields apartment the first day, I was sure it was going to be weird. To my surprise, it’s like nothing has changed. She talks to me about Mia’s day and doesn’t give me looks of pity or grief, which I’m grateful for. I think it’s because Mrs. Fields knows from personal experience how I feel. She knows how much harder it is to move on with life if you always have to see the looks of pity coming from everyone around you.  
    After lunch, I head to my car to put my lunchbox in the trunk and check my cell phone. Darcie’s number has been blowing up my phone, making my heart freeze inside my chest. Darcie is watching Mia for the day while Mrs. Fields goes to an appointment. She knows I can’t check my phone during the day, so why hasn’t she called the plant directly? My gut instantly drops to my feet. I can see I’ve already missed six calls from her. Something horrible has happened. I can feel it.  
    I swipe my finger across the screen and listen to her phone ring on the other end. An eternity passes by before she picks up and I immediately hear Mia sobbing in the background. “Drake! Oh, my God. You need to get home!”  
    “Why? What’s happened?” I scream into the phone and start to climb in the front seat of the Chevelle.  
    “The DEA is here. They’re tearing the house apart, looking for drugs. Jake’s probably going to get arrested. He started beating the shit out of them.”  
    Anger slams into my heart as I fire the Chevelle to life and fly out of the parking lot. “I will be there as soon as I can.”  
    I punch the accelerator to the floor, propelling myself forward. I have no idea why the hell DEA agents would be raiding our home, and right now, I really don’t care. I just need to know if my baby is okay.  
    It takes no time to get to our street, and from three blocks away, I can see police cars everywhere. The street is flooded with cars and officers are surrounding the house. Reggie pulls up behind me and we both start running up the driveway when we’re immediately stopped by DEA agents.  
    “What the fuck is going on?” Reggie’s face is flushed red as he