Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 81245 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81245 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
“Don't bother,” Grimm growls. “They’d rather shoot first and apologize later.”
One by one, the rest of us get up, guns out. We outnumber them for now, but not by the time the cars get up here. “Any advice, detective? I’d rather not go out guns blazing, but I will if I have to.” Jackal growls.
“She's been compromised,” snaps the guy behind the shield. “Detective Chen, surrender now!”
“What the ever-loving fuck are you on, Jensen?” pours out of her with so much vitriol it could make Hellfire blush. “I don’t know where you’re getting your information, but I'll have you knocked right down to beat cop, you incompetent fuck!”
Jesus.
“I said surrender!” Jensen yells back. “We’ll use force if we have to.”
For all his bluster, the other cops don’t look sure who they should be listening to. Their guns are lowered, and they are looking back and forth between Jensen and Chen. One of them is on the phone.
“Fuck,” Lash snaps. “This is a waste of our fucking time.” He's not scared. Just fucking annoyed.
“Let's get the fuck outta here.” Hellfire sounds disgusted with the whole thing, and I don't fucking blame him. “Grimm! We're leaving. Jackal, Stiff! Cover him.”
Me and Jackal keep our guns trained on Jensen, whose face is bright red, and he looks like he’s about to lose his shit. I think he's hoping we shoot first. What's he thinking? We're a bunch of fucking animals?
“Jensen, stand down.” Chen isn't done with him. “Whatever Dillard has told you, this is my investigation.”
More cars are coming up, stopping on the lower levels and spilling out cops that are drawing weapons. Even if no one here is looking for trouble, it only takes one nervous shot to kick off a whole fucking war. With the way things are, we need to get the hell out ASAP.
Hellfire and Lash look down the spiral stairwell that leads to the first floor. “They're coming up,” Hellfire shouts.
Fuck.
Jensen spins in the direction of Hellfire’s shout and fires.
35
DAKOTA
“Where are you taking us?”
From the outside, it looks like Logan and I are sitting in the backseat comfortably, while Dillard drives us around, but my wrists are cuffed and the belt lock has been modified so it pins me to the seat. The car might not have police colors and lights on top, but it's definitely designed to be able to transport prisoners, with the locks and the metal mesh between us and the driver's seat.
Next to me, Logan isn’t cuffed, but he’s locked in place with the same special belt even though it’s far too big for him. He’s stopped crying, but I can tell from his expression that he knows this is wrong.
“Doesn't matter much, does it? Now shut up, we're almost there.” He took my phone, and his gun is in the passenger seat, ready for use. I'm not going to argue with him.
He cuts through the city and I try to pay attention to where we're driving. If I get a chance, I need to be able to tell where I am. I glance at Logan. Where we are.
“Mommy, I want my seat.” In all the chaos, Logan's grasping for something familiar, something that feels right, and I don't blame him. I wouldn't mind that either.
“Lo, honey, it's okay just this once. We don't have your seat right now. Next time, okay?” I just hope there's going to be a next time.
“Why are you doing this, Jay? How does having me and Logan help you at all?” Dillard is seeming a little unstable. I always knew he was an abusive asshole, but there's a slightly manic edge to him now. Is something going wrong, or is there something else going on?
Logan clings to his helmet with both arms. I wish I had something to hug for support, like Lash, Jackal, or Stiff. I’m trying not to pay too much attention to it, though, because I don’t want Dillard to notice. Logan’s dumbphone should still be tucked away in there, and having that might be the difference between living and dying. All we need is an opportunity.
“You know, this never would've happened if you’d just kept your fucking nose out of my business. I didn’t want a beef with the Outlaw Sons.” Dillard sounds like he's half talking to me, half just talking out into the air. “And I warned Ross! I gave him so many chances! He wasn’t cut out for undercover. He didn’t understand what it’s like.” He snorts derisively as he takes the corner. Am I supposed to say something?
“What happened with Georgia?” I ask softly, not really expecting him to answer.
“I told you to shut up,” he snaps.
“Sorry.” I wet my lips and glance at Logan, whose eyes have gone wide at how Dillard's talking to me.
“Mommy, he—”
“I know, Lo. I know.” I want to panic, but I have to keep things steady for him. Be his rock, when all I want to do is crumble. I'm proud of him for holding together as well as he is.