Total pages in book: 168
Estimated words: 169013 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 845(@200wpm)___ 676(@250wpm)___ 563(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 169013 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 845(@200wpm)___ 676(@250wpm)___ 563(@300wpm)
But we were going for his inner circle. Ensuring that no one in his chain of command remained.
This would be unabridged and nuclear.
Rats included.
All except for Dereck.
Disquiet rolled through my guts. I was still more than skeptical that he could be trusted.
A deranged, perverted part of me hoped he wasn’t, then I’d have good reason to make him pay for what he’d caused Brinley.
“He’s betting his life on it.” Cash’s voice was rough.
I huffed a cynical laugh. “He’d better be sure he knows I’ll gladly collect.”
“He said he knows the score.”
“And you trust that?”
Cash scoffed. “Do I trust a sniveling dirtbag only out to save his own ass? Not a fucking chance, but right now, he’s the only real chance we’ve got. Question is, do you want to take that chance?”
Dread stuttered the fierce pulsing of my blood, one skipped beat as fear slicked my insides in sludge.
Not for myself.
But for my men who had stepped up. Every one of them pledging their loyalty and sacrifice. Taking my life’s obligation as their own duty.
Didn’t mean I viewed a single one of them as expendable.
Our bond had meshed us tight as family.
“It’s the only thing we can do.” I forced out my commitment to the operation.
“Okay then. Details are on their way.”
The documents would be sent to the secret shared folder that Cash and I often used to communicate.
He hesitated for a beat then added gruffly, “My crew is in.”
Surprise stumbled my steps before the refusal was rocketing off my tongue, “Not a chance, man.”
There were five of them in Sovereign Sanctum. Each one brutal. As savage and ruthless as us. Experienced in the type of delicate matters that we often undertook.
Wickedly skilled to boot.
Problem was, all of them had gotten their hearts tied. Married or were shacked up with kids.
No way I was letting them put themselves on the line.
“It’s already decided,” Cash said like there was no room for argument. “I’m in as deep as you, and if Kent catches wind that it was me and my crew who got your sister out, it won’t bode well for us. We need him gone just as badly as you do. Just as badly as this world does.”
Emphasis was gouged into the last.
Stickiness clogged my throat, the scale of this close to overwhelming. “You’re sure?”
“We’re in this with you. Same way as all the times you’ve been in it with us.”
Years of connections.
All the way back to the days of riding in the Iron Owls MC. When we rode for ego and greed and heedlessness rather than for the purpose we donned our cuts for now.
Blowing out a haggard sigh, I relented. “Okay.”
We sat in a beat of knowing silence before he hedged, “And the girl?”
Anarchy stormed my insides.
“She’s safe and clueless. I’m going to assign a seven-man detail to watch over her and the rest of my family during the raids.”
Rejection of the idea blared through my senses at no less than one hundred and fifty decibels.
Earsplitting.
Spirit and mind joining forces to shout at my soul that it wasn’t enough.
Howling at me not to leave her side.
It was the proof that I’d become so distracted I couldn’t see straight, heavy gray clouds sagging low from the heavens, distorting and disorienting.
Judgement skewed.
Exactly as Phoenix had accused.
I was nothing but a fool who’d gone astray.
I knew it, and I knew it was time I ended it.
I couldn’t go on like this for a second more. Pretending like I could keep her when she was elemental to our plot.
So I pressed on and dispatched the blow to my stupid, twisted heart. “Then after, I deliver her to her piece of shit brother.”
FORTY-SEVEN
SILAS
“Meems has stew on the stove. Six o’clock. She said not to be late, or she’ll come over here and drag you back by the scruff of your neck.”
Elena grinned from where she held onto the outside of the truck’s rear door, leaning in my direction. Dark chocolate hair held in a ponytail and swishing around her shoulders, eyes the same color as mine gleaming mirth.
Sweet as pie and obviously up to no good.
It’d been clear as a summer’s day when she’d come driving up in my truck with Kai buckled into his car seat in the back, claiming she was there to collect Brinley after a grueling day at work.
It was grueling, all right.
Her spirit echoing from the walls when I knew that spirit was getting ready to be ripped away.
I grunted a non-response at my baby sister from where I remained in the open bay, kneeling as I worked on my bike. The gleaming metal was essentially in perfect condition, but I was desperate to find something to do with my hands.
Trying and failing at not losing my mind.
The conversation with Cash sat like the rubble of a fallen skyscraper on my chest.