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)
“I don’t know, but if Dad was the shooter, then it must’ve been the murder weapon, right?” Playing this stupid actually hurts. “But wait, why would he have people waiting at our house? And the people looking for me at the hospital?”
He laughs, and it sounds hollow. “What the fuck have they been filling your head with while you’ve been gone, girl? Don’t you trust me?”
“O—of course. I just don’t want my father hurt if he didn’t do anything. Is that so strange?”
“No, I understand perfectly, honey. What happened to the gun?”
“Hm?”
Clutch’s smile is as fake as it comes. “The gun you said Joker gave to you.”
“Oh, the Screaming Eagles have it. They’re doing some sciency stuff on it I think. To make sure they get the right person.” I’m lying straight through my teeth.
“Sounds like you got pretty friendly with them if you know all that. More like you were a guest than a prisoner.” He laughs.
I slip my hand to my phone and check the screen to see if the call is still going. It is.
“Hey Uncle Clutch, do you know who invited me to the rally?”
“Joker, obviously.”
“He said he didn’t though, and he was really surprised to see me. Maybe someone told you wrong.”
“Must be.”
“So maybe Dad didn’t shoot that guy?”
“Will you fucking stop it already!” he yells. “I don’t give a shit if you believe me or not. So long as they do, that’s all that matters. Your father’s no fucking saint and—what are you doing? Give me that!”
Before I can stop him, he snatches my phone, and since it’s in the middle of a call, the screen is already unlocked. “Who’re you talking to?”
I reach for the phone. “A friend. Could I have it back, please?”
He laughs darkly. “I don’t think so.”
“It’s my phone, Clutch. I thought I was safe here. What is this?”
“No ‘uncle’ anymore, huh? I suppose you had to grow out of it eventually.” He ends the call. “This really could’ve been much easier for both of us if you’d just kept your fucking mouth shut. Your obsession with the Screaming Eagles is disgusting. You’re as big a traitor as your daddy. I want you to know I was going to let you go. I didn’t want to do this, but you’re giving me no fucking choice.”
“Just give me my phone and stop the car. I’ll figure out my own way home.”
“You’re as stubborn as your old man. And as bullheaded. And maybe a little slow.” He slides the phone into his jeans pocket. “We’re almost there.”
“Insulting me isn’t going to help anything. Or stealing my things. Give it back.” A week ago I would’ve been more intimidated, but I’ve been through a lot since then, and I’ve felt what it’s like to actually get support. “Where are we actually going?”
He reaches forward to pat the shoulder of our driver. The driver turns to look at us, and I get my first real look at his face. “Yeah?”
“Hey, you were at the rally.” With everything that’s happened, I totally forgot I saw Clutch at the rally, and the guy he was walking with.
The driver grins like a cat that’s cornered a mouse. “You’re right, I was.” There’s something dead and lethal in the look he gives me that sends chills up my spine.
“We’re going with plan B,” Clutch tells him. “Exit 94.”
“Sure thing, boss.”
“I really need you to give me my phone back.” I don’t expect him to listen, and I’m not disappointed.
“Trust me, Dee, you’re not gonna be needing it where you’re going.”
Shit.
33
RIPTIDE
“The call disconnected. Fuck!” Mad Dog curses. “He has her phone, and that brave little idiot had to keep asking questions that pissed him off instead of just playing nice and waiting for help.”
“Where do you think he’s headed?” Rebel’s looking itchy, like he wants to throw himself on his bike and ride toward the Devil’s Brigade clubhouse. And honestly, maybe we should while we try to figure this out, but if Clutch is headed somewhere else we’d just end up losing time.
“I don’t know. He left when shit kicked off so he might not know what happened, but all it would take is one phone call to fix that. It didn’t sound like he was planning on hurting her, but if he really is the one behind all this, and he thinks she’s a threat, he’s not going to let her go with a pat on the head.”
“Any way we can track her?” Rebel asks.
“I didn’t sneak a tracer onto Clutch’s car if that’s what you mean.”
“Nah, but her phone or something. I don’t know this shit, but…” He looks past me and waves. “Snark, get the fuck over here. Quick.”
Our resident tech expert hurries over, followed by Bear, his teammate. Two of Alessa’s boys. “What’s up? You got something for me?” Snark asks. He’s the kinda guy who talks fast, like he needs to race to keep up with his own brain.