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)
“Did you at least get to work out some of the aggression?”
“A little.” Outlaw’s laugh sounds tired as fuck. “I almost took him out just to see if it felt any better, but that wouldn’t get Lightning off the ventilator, or help Harper sleep at night.”
Melody flashes through my mind. Rebel filled me in on what happened. She’s our responsibility for now, and I’m already feeling the weight of it. How much worse is it for Outlaw and his guys?
“How’s Eagle-eye gonna feel about this?”
“We talked about some of the possibilities before I left. He’s the one who suggested dumping the first guy in their territory. We need to get the Devil’s Brigade to take us seriously, and I’m pretty sure this is gonna fucking wake them up. This kinda shit can’t go without a response even if it turns out to be a rogue member covering their tracks.”
I nod at that. When you don’t answer to the law or society’s norms, the rules of the MC are sacrosanct. Without some sort of system, we’re all fucked.
I follow the van on my bike. From here it doesn’t take long before we’re right in front of the Devil’s Brigade clubhouse. By the time their guards take notice, I’m off my bike and into the back of the van. I roll the body out onto the ground.
“What the fuck?” someone yells from behind their gate.
I hit the throttle and wave. “Have a nice fucking day!”
17
MELODY
Emily opens the door. She takes one look at me and turns around. “Come in, I want to make sure the cut is healing okay.”
I look back. Rebel is behind me alongside Hero, one of Emily’s men. He nods. Ow. I wasn’t sure what kind of welcome I was expecting, but I feel like she deserves a face-to-face apology. The men stay by the front door as Emily leads me into the house.
Nobody else seems to be home. That makes sense. They probably don’t trust me around the kids.
But we aren’t alone. Sitting at her kitchen table is a long-haired blonde woman who doesn’t look like she’s slept in days. Her blue eyes are ringed with red, with purple bags underneath. She looks like she’s been crying, but when I come in, her eyes turn razor-sharp.
“So this is the girl I’ve heard so much about.”
Emily sighs. “Harper, this is Melody. Melody, meet Harper. She’s Lightning’s old lady.”
I think I knew from the moment I saw her, but hearing it confirmed makes me want to crawl right back out the door and hide. But I don’t.
“Hi,” I say quietly. “Thank you for agreeing to see me.”
Harper looks at Emily. “She’s so young.”
“I told you, but she’s older than I was. Sit down, Melody.” Emily gestures to one of the chairs.
I sit like it’s the last free spot in a game of life or death musical chairs. If there’s any chance of making Emily not hate me, I’ll take it.
She has a comb and some cotton swabs on the table. I stay still while Emily gently checks the cut on my scalp. “It’s looking pretty good. Did you wash your hair? Try to keep it dry as much as possible.”
I nod.
“I want…” I swallow and try again. “I want to apologize. I had no idea you were with the Screaming Eagles when we met. Trust me, I would’ve probably run the other way if I had. You were so nice to me, and I need you to know, even if you can’t forgive me, I’ll always be thankful for what you did.”
Harper snorts at that.
I want to defend myself. I honestly had nothing to do with whatever happened between Red and Lightning, and I didn’t know about the gun until after I was already here.
At the same time, if I were her, I probably wouldn’t like me either. “You don’t have to believe me, but I really am sorry, Harper.”
“Here.” Emily hands me a glass of water. “Are they feeding you? These guys mean well most of the time, but they aren’t always the best at remembering stuff like their captives need to eat.”
Harper snorts again, but this time it sounds more like she’s trying not to laugh.
“I’m fine, thanks. Rebel brought me lunch.”
“Okay.” Emily sits next to Harper. She looks at me for so long that I start to squirm, but eventually speaks. “I was eighteen when King, Hero, and Wild Child kidnapped me from my bedroom at home and held me prisoner here for days.”
“What? How… I don’t understand. You live with them. You have kids with them!”
She laughs. “I do, and I have no regrets. It’s a long story, but my father was a horrible man and was putting the club in danger. All of the women here have stories of their own, but more than anyone, I feel like I probably understand how you’re feeling right now. It wasn’t easy at first. Well, falling for them was easier than it should’ve been maybe, but it wasn’t straightforward. What I want you to know is that I am angry at you, but maybe not for all the reasons you think. I’m angry because this time I’m on the other side and I don’t like that you withheld information that could put me and my family in danger. The thing is, I’ve been where you are, and I know you can’t be trusted.”