Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 74270 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74270 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
But over everything are signs that they’re prepared for danger. There are stations mounted to the tops of several buildings that look straight out of a military base, and even though the outer wall is solid and topped with barbed wire, it shows signs of major repair in several places. I try not to gawk, but it’s hard.
The guys lead me up metal stairs and through the front doors of the warehouse. There’s a short hallway, and then it opens into what used to be the main warehouse floor, but has been turned into a massive, open-plan room. There’s a full bar and a lot of hangout space. There are also pool tables, a big-screen TV, and just about everything else you might want. The walls are black, but there’s a giant Screaming Eagles logo flanked by American flags painted on the far end.
The other end of the room has a massive table big enough for a medieval banquet, and a door into what I think might be a kitchen based on what I can see through the glass. Beyond even that, on the far wall is a set of stairs up to a platform where there’s a door into a room with windows looking down over the whole space.
“That’s Eagle-eye’s office.” Riptide explains. “You ready?”
I draw a fortifying breath. “Not really, but do I have a choice?”
Mad Dog cups my face in his hands, careful not to put pressure on my bruises. He leans in and kisses me. I freeze for a second, before melting into it. His lips are warm, and the kiss is slow and comforting. It’s not asking for anything. It’s offering. “Ready now?” he asks when he breaks the kiss.
“You gonna knock or stand out there all day?” snaps a growly voice from inside.
I guess I’m ready.
10
MELODY
The origin of Eagle-eye’s name is immediately obvious.
It looks like he’s completely blind in one eye, the pupil a thick milky white. The other is steel gray and sharp as a knife. They move together, which is more unnerving than if he had an eye patch. I wonder if that’s why he doesn’t. Those distinctive eyes are set in a strong face, its squared off jaw covered with white stubble. His thick mustache still has streaks of black, just like the barely tamed mane on his head, but the dark hairs are losing the battle to shades of white and gray.
“Who you got here?” No gentle greetings, got it.
“Melody.”
“Cute name. Nice figure. I’m lookin’ at her because?”
Rebel steps forward. “We met her at the rally last night, and she ran into some trouble after. Thought it was worth hearing about.”
“Alright.” He pushes away his laptop and leans back in his chair. “Talk.”
Mad Dog grins. “Funny story, actually. We—”
“I met them near the race, and then we got some food and hung out by the bonfire,” I interrupt before he goes into a full retelling of all the most embarrassing details.
“What were you doing when the shooting started?”
“Um… we were getting to know each other.” I can see the instant he reads between the lines, because his mustache twitches as he fights a smirk.
“That true, boys?” Eagle-eye asks.
“Would’ve been hard for her to be anywhere else,” Riptide chimes in. “We were still sharing space if you wanna put it delicately.”
“Real classy. Of fucking ‘course you were.”
I squeeze my eyes shut for a second and stare down at my dirt-streaked sneakers. At least my clothes got washed and Emily loaned me a pair of socks. It could be worse. Movement at the side of his desk grabs my attention. A brown and white boxer pads out from behind Eagle-eye’s desk. He has plenty of gray on his muzzle, just like his human. I hold my hand out and a moment later a broad, wet tongue swipes over it.
Eagle-eye’s mask cracks enough to show a hint of a smile. “Jupiter likes you. That’s a good sign.”
“He seems very nice.”
“He’s a proud old man, who is currently hiding from his much younger, much more energetic son, Hercules,” he says fondly. And then the mask returns, right back to business. “So clearly you didn’t see the shooting, and I know you didn’t drag her up here just to tell me you got your dicks wet. Get to the useful information.”
Mad Dog stands behind me, lending silent support, and it helps to have Jupiter’s ears to rub. “I don’t know if I have any, honestly.” I give him a slightly abridged version of what happened, leaving Dad out of it.
“You didn’t see who did it?” His eyes narrow.
I shake my head. “No. There was at least one man, and I think I heard voices, but I don’t remember a lot. Emily says some people found me and brought me to the ER. I think I woke up a few times, but the first thing I really remember after getting jumped was being at the hospital. You probably know everything from there.”