Save Me by Taylor Riot (books successful people read .txt) 📖

finger and pull my phone out of my pocket. Sending him a quick explanation. He frowns, then smirks and shakes his head.

"Nichole's idea?" he asks and i nod. He nods and walks away from us. What's up with him?

"I know what's up with him, but you're too naive to know yourself." Mr.Castello comments and i realize i said that out loud.

"Whatever. Let's just get this over with. I can't wait to see my parent's expressions when they see you here."

"Kind of like that?" he asks and i look up to see my parent's staring at us with large, wide eyes.

"Libby.. what is he doing here?" my mom asks and i feel Mr.Castello put his arm across my shoulder.

"What? I can't bring my boyfriend to church? Oh no, is that a sin?"

"Libby! You will not back talk, or we will ground you for longer." my dad scolds and i roll my eyes.

"Stop acting like a whore, and straighten up Libby Rochelle Angel." my mom says, and that's when I've had enough. Tears spring to my eyes.

"Since I'm such a whore, I'll be leaving now so i don't burn down the place!" i run out of the church with Mr.Castello following close behind. I run down the steps and ignore his calls as i run into the cemetery next to the church. Slinking down to my knees, i let out a sob. A whore? I am not a whore! Even though it's not true, it hurts when your own mother calls you that.

"Hey, shh don't listen to her." Mr.Castello says as he squats in front of me.
"How can i not listen to her, Mr.Castello? My own mother just called me a whore because i have a freaking boyfriend that's not even real!"

"We can stop this, if you want to." he comments, and i look up at him.

"No, i want to prove to her that I'm not her little princess anymore. That i can't just not enjoy life because she wants me to be perfect. I am not perfect! Nobody is perfect!"

"Then we need to make you a little bit more rebellious. What's something else you're not supposed to do?" he asks, and i think for a second.

"Get my permit and license."

"Then let's go to the DMV and get you a driver's manual." he says casually and my eyes widen.

"Seriously?"

"Seriously. And when you pass your permit test, i will teach you to drive." he sounds calm, but he's probably dreading that he just offered to help me learn to drive. Hope he doesn't want to live long.

"If your death wish is to die young, then sure."

"Don't worry, I'm a good driver, so you will be too." he says cockily and i roll my eyes.

"Why are you helping me?"

"I figured since I'm doing something for you, you could do something for me." he says and i narrow my eyes.

"What?"

"My friend Chase is moving here, and he's having a house warming party, so you are going to go with me." he says with a shrug and i look at him as if he grew another head.

"What?? Why me??"

"He'll probably find you interesting, and leave me alone." he says like it's the most obvious thing in the world.

"I don't have a choice, do i."

"Nope, not really." he replies with a smirk, and pulls me to my feet. I sigh in defeat and nod.

"When is it?"

"Tonight." he says with a shrug and my jaw drops.
"Then you sir, are taking me shopping."


| | | |

"What about this one?" Mr.Castello asks, holding up a short red sequin dress that even hookers wouldn't want to wear.

"Um, no. Something classy, please."

"I'm looking, I'm looking. But it doesn't help if i don't know what size dress you wear." he retorts and i bite my lip. Do i tell him?

"You know what? I don't think i want to wear a dress."

"Okay, what are you planning on wearing?" Mr.Castello asks, placing a dress back on the rack.

"Maybe just a nice shirt, black skinny jeans, and a jacket?"

"Alright, i still need to know your sizes though." he says with a knowing smirk. Damn, i didn't think this through.

"Fine, extra small in shirts and jackets, and a size zero in jeans."

"Well now i know your dress size too, so go try this on while i look for the rest." he says and hands me a tight purple strapless dress. I nod and go into the changing room.

Stripping of my clothes, i look at myself in the mirror. Am i too thin? I mean, I'm a senior in high school who weighs that of a 15 year old girl. But it's not like i don't have curves. What does Mr.Castello think? Does he think I'm too skinny? Or maybe too big? Oh, who cares. I need to try this on before he comes back. I slip into the tight dress, that ends mid-thigh, and zip it up. Turning towards the mirror, i gasp. This dress is perfect.

"Done yet?" Mr.Castello asks and knocks on the door. I pull the dressing room door open, and he takes in the ensemble. "The look on your face proves my theory. You wanted a dress all along, but you didn't want to tell me your sizes."

"Does it look okay?"

"Yes, are you getting it?" he asks, and i notice him holding something behind his back.

"Yeah, i think so."

"Good, cause these go with it, or the lady in the store said so." he says and produces a pair of gray military booties.

"Perfect. Thank you."
"You're welcome, now get changed. The party is in 2 hours." he says and i gasp.

"Two hours?! That's hardly enough time to get ready."

He shrugs, then his eyes snap back to mine, "You can get ready at my place, since your parent's probably wouldn't allow you out of the house."

"But i don't have any of my stuff."

"I'll drive you there, you sneak in and get everything, then come back out." he suggests and i nod.

| | | |

By the time we get to the party, we're fifteen minutes late. I wonder if it's still cool to be fashionably late? Who knows, I've never been to a party. I feel old.

"You getting out?" Mr.Castello comments after pushing his door open. I put my hand on the handle, and freeze. He sighs and gets out of the car, shutting his door behind him. Next thing i know, my door is open, and he's pulling me out of the car. I blush bright red and slap his hands away from my waist. He chuckles and says, "You left me no choice."

"Whatever. Let's just.. go inside."

He walks ahead of me up to the front door, and just pushes the door open. Shouldn't he knock? The loud bass of the beat thumps through out the house and vibrates through me. He motions for me to step inside first, so i take a step into the house and he follows close behind. Everyone's eyes land on us, and people start to whisper. What the hell?

"Ryan! Glad you could make it." a woman says and comes up to Ryan, and pulls him into a kiss. He pushes her away and glares at her before grabbing my arm and pulling me away from the whispering group. Who the hell was that? Why did she kiss him? And why did he push her away?

"I'll be right back, don't go anywhere." He instructs and i mock salute him as he walks away.

"Hey cutie, wanna dance?" someone asks and grabs my hands from behind.

"Pretty sure that's not how you dance."

"Shut up, bitch." he whispers and i turn to see one of the guys that had tried to kill Mr.Castello the other night. Shit. He tightens his hold on me and shoves me towards the front door, not one person questioning what he's doing.

He shoves me into the backseat of a Lamborghini. I quickly sit up and realize two more of the guys from the park are in the front seat. The first guy slides into the backseat next to me, and places a gun to my right temple.
"Pull out your phone." he commands and i do as he says, pulling my phone out of my bra. Don't even start. I know you've done it before. "Call Castello, on speaker." i dial Mr.Castello's number and put the phone on speaker.

"Angel, i told you not to move. Where the hell are you?" he commands and i try to open my mouth, but the guy slaps his hand over it.

"She's with us, Castello." the guy says and i hear Mr.Castello curse under his breath.

"Why her? You knew i was there, why not grab me?" Mr.Castello demands.

"Meet us at the old warehouse in fifteen minutes. Bring Green with you, or she dies." the guy commands and i hold in a groan. Really? The one time i decide to go to a party, this shit happens.
"How do i know you actually have her?" Mr.Castello asks, and the guy slowly slides a knife down my arm. A strangle cry escapes my lips and the guy covers my mouth again. The line goes dead and i bite my lip, the pain shooting through me.

We pull onto a long, winding dirt road, and continue to drive for about 5 minutes. An abandoned warehouse comes into view and i notice Mr.Castello's car already parked, and him leaning against the hood. How did he get here so fast?

"How the hell did you get here before us?" the guy demands, reading my mind.

"I didn't win all the races for nothing, Ricky." Mr.Castello says simply. Wait, races? One of the guys pull me out of the car, the gun still on my temple.

"Where's Green?" one of the guys asks and i suddenly feel my arms go free and hear someone groaning.

"Right here." a deep voice says and i turn around to see a guy about six foot two, with blue eyes, and short brown hair. "Well hi there." he addresses me with a wink.

"Hi."

"Now is not the time for a hook up." Mr.Castello says, and pulls me away from him.

"The girl stays here with Green and Ricky. The boss will be here in a minute." one of the guys says and i look at Mr.Castello questioningly.

"The boss? Let me guess, Carson?" Mr.Castello comments amused and one of the guy grunts his reply.

"Excuse me, what exactly is going on?"

"Drag race." Mr.Castello replies simply.

"Drag race? But why am i here?"

"I'll explain later." he replies and i roll my eyes.

"Ryan, so good to see you again. I see you've brought a new friend." a new guy says and stops in front of me, "Hi, i'm Carson, and you are?" my eyes dart to Mr.Castello and he shakes