Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 54059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 270(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 270(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
“Ready?” Bam appears at my elbow.
“Any problems?”
“Nah, Fawn, the new manager, had the fee all tucked away in an envelope. Don’t worry, though, I counted it, and it’s all there.” He pats his chest. “You going to finish the runs with me tonight, or do you and Andy have some place to be?”
“Andy’s going over to the apartment to read to Julie, so I’m all yours.”
“I’ll have to come over this weekend and remind Julie who is the best Niki-related friend. Can’t have the newbie edging me out.”
“Andy bought three new books.”
“Bro, that’s just greedy.” Bam looks mildly disgusted.
“You gotta keep up.”
“Keep up with what?” Andy joins us.
“I hear you’re trying to buy Julie’s affections.” Bam glares at Andy.
She gives me a confused look.
“The books,” I clarify.
“Oh, well, if you can’t keep up, just come clean so that Julie can adjust her expectations. It’s a good lesson for her future.”
I grab Andy’s hand and tug her out of the club. “Julie has me, so she won’t be disappointed with the entire male race.”
“Just Bam.” Andy nods in mock dismay.
“Julie would throw both of you into the river to save me,” Bam declares, catching up. He throws an arm around each of our shoulders, pushing his large body between the two of us. “Lucky for you, I won’t ask her to do that.”
“You’re a giver, Bam.” I shove off his arm and dig into my pocket for some cash. We find a Rider with a car, and he takes us to the library, where Andy says she’ll study until we’re done with our errands, as she calls them. The collection doesn’t take much time, probably because I’m extra motivated. Bam says he’s hungry, so we go and fetch Andy.
“I can make dinner for us,” she volunteers.
I bring my arm down in a slicing motion. “No. We’ll pick something up.”
“Why, though? I’m a decent cook. What do you like, Bam?”
He opens his mouth, but before he can say anything, I slap a hand over his face and growl. “You can talk to Andy, watch my back, read books to my sister, but you do not get to eat her food. That’s for me and me alone.”
“But—“ Andy starts to say.
I shake my head. “No buts. Your food belongs to me.”
I drop my hand and stare hard at Bam until he backs up, hands in the air.
“I never asked for her food, friend. That was all on her.”
“I was just being polite. I won’t cook for anyone but you,” she says, placing her hand in mine. I relax, but I don’t stop glaring at Bam until we arrive at the Chinese takeout joint. I put in an order for orange chicken, dumplings, and egg rolls.
As we’re waiting for our food, Andy waves to a girl in one of the booths. The red table is covered in papers. The girl excitedly motions for Andy to come closer. I want to get the food and leave, but when I ask Bam if he wants extra sauce for the egg rolls, I find him looming next to the girl.
“What’s all this?” he’s asking.
“I’m investigating,” the girl says. “Remember how I told you those boys went missing, Andy?”
Andy nods.
“I’ve been asking around, and there’s some group called the”—the girl checks her notes—“Pipefitters. They’re a criminal gang and in a territorial war with—” She pauses again.
“The Riders,” Bam supplies.
The girl brightens. “Yes, the Riders. The Pipefitters heard that the Riders were recruiting and trying to take over more territory, so the Pipefitters have gone in and taken these new recruits by either offering them money or, if they refuse, outright kidnapping them. Can you believe it?”
“Unfortunately, yeah.” Andy looks at me and then Bam. Neither of us show our tats or give away our affiliation, but I get the sense she might know who I am already and isn’t saying it. “I think you should be careful, Josie. What if the Pipefitters find out what you’re doing and come and hurt you?”
“She’s right,” Bam says. He reaches out and takes the notebook, stuffing it inside the waistband of his jeans. “Keep your nose out of this stuff. It’s not for you.”
The girl launches herself at Bam. “That’s not for you to decide.”
My order number is called. I tap Bam on the shoulder. “Give the girl her notebook back. Our food is ready.”
He drops into the booth seat opposite of the girl. “No.” He folds his arms over his chest. “Go home to Julie. I’ll get all the details from her and fill you in later.”
“You’re not going to leave me here with this caveman, are you?” the girl demands of Andy.
Andy wrinkles her nose. “I’ve got a reading date with a very demanding five-year-old. Sorry.”
We gather up the food and leave the girl gasping in outrage while Bam glowers at her like an irritated guardian angel.