Series: Straight to Hell MC Series by Sam Crescent
Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 43704 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 219(@200wpm)___ 175(@250wpm)___ 146(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43704 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 219(@200wpm)___ 175(@250wpm)___ 146(@300wpm)
Apparently, they were interrogating some woman who knew stuff about the judge. She’d shown up a couple nights ago. At times Grace could overhear information. She wanted all of this to be over so she could work, volunteer, and enjoy her life with Reaper.
Bell, Tank’s old lady, came over and sat next to her. She was sweet, down-to-earth, and they actually had a lot in common. So far, all the women at the club were normal, in her opinion, not what she expected at all. She thought they’d be rough, tough, and loose biker chicks. Although there were sweet-butts, all the old ladies were the types she’d want as friends.
“Have you heard the news?” Bell asked.
“I don’t know.”
“That girl in the holding tank is Cartwright’s secretary. She’s spilling her guts. I heard them talking. Even Lord was questioning her.”
“Lord? Really?”
Bell nodded.
“Cartwright was convinced his wife stole important information from him when she left. He had his secretary searching the shelter records from the night his wife was admitted. Then he wanted background reports on everyone.”
“Wow, that’s terrifying,” Grace said. “I’m surprised he trusted her enough with such incriminating stuff.”
“Well, he threatened to kill her if she ever talked or dreamed of quitting.”
“Guess that’s why she’s here. No place safer than a biker club.”
They both giggled.
Then she felt the sun being blocked.
“What’s so funny?” Reaper asked.
Grace turned around and looked up at him. “We’re just talking.”
“We need to head out.”
She said goodbye to Bell and walked hand in hand with Reaper toward his bike. The sun glistened off the chrome.
“Where we going? Or is it a secret?”
She got on behind him and he handed her the helmet. He still hadn’t answered her.
Grace held him tight around his waist and they rode out the front gates. They headed in the opposite direction of the city. The views along the way were breathtaking as they drove farther into the countryside. Wildflowers, old barns, cows grazing, and rolling hills. There weren’t many cars on the road besides them.
She wasn’t sure how long they were driving but the bike finally started to slow down and they turned off on an unpaved road. The bumpy ride wasn’t too long until they stopped.
“Where are we?”
“You’ll see,” he said, helping her off the bike.
They held hands again as they walked down the narrow, rocky path toward water. It was a very small lake. She could see the other side easily.
He led her along the shore. “I’ve been in the club for as long as I can remember. I used to come out here when I needed to be alone. Club life is good, but you’re always surrounded by people.”
There were two old Adirondack chairs tucked in the trees in front of the water. Right now, the water looked as still as glass and the sun made it twinkle like a billion stars. He sat down and patted the other chair. She joined him, already addicted to the view and the peace around them.
“I can see why you liked to come here,” she said.
“You know, there’s been a lot going on. I never really got to spend much quality time with you, like I wanted. I hope that all changes soon.”
“Well, it looks like we have a lot of evidence now.”
He tapped her lips with one finger and shook his head. “Let’s forget about all that bullshit when we come here. All we need to do here is breathe. Maybe reflect.”
She couldn’t disagree. Every day they were bombarded with bad news, new threats, and worrying about the future. Franklin Cartwright had thrown a huge wrench into their budding relationship. Or maybe he’d helped push it along. Either way, she couldn’t wait to live life with Reaper without all this life-and-death drama.
Grace settled back in the chair and breathed in the fresh air. The birds were singing all around them, so many different songs.
“What were you running from?”
“What do you mean?” he asked.
“To start coming here. Why did you need an escape?”
He leaned back, too. The man was so ruggedly handsome with a heart of gold.
“In the beginning, I was still angry, still grieving. There were so many what-if moments that gave me nightmares. It took a long time before I realized I couldn’t undo the past, couldn’t stop the suffering my mother endured.”
“It wasn’t your fault,” she said.
“I know. I was just a kid. But I want to go back, to do things different. To protect her.”
That’s why he volunteered. Everyone had a story. Sometimes the pain people experienced was actually the catalyst to become all they could be. She still hated to see him suffer.
“Look how you turned out,” she said. “Your mother would be so proud of the man you’ve become. You’ve helped so many women, and you always put others first.”
“And what about you, baby? I know you’re hurting, too.”