Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 26853 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26853 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 134(@200wpm)___ 107(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
She hadn’t been happy with me spending money on her like that, but she would realize sooner or later that I planned to take care of her—mentally, physically, emotionally, and financially.
“Only one man still has this line,” Rico rumbled when he answered the phone. “Heard you were out, Jax.”
“Been out a minute,” I told him. “You got some time to meet?”
“Sure you want to be back in my debt?” he asked.
I sighed. I really didn’t, but owing a debt was a lot simpler than numerous girls and women being stuck in a sex trafficking organization. This was a small price to pay for their freedom, and I knew Rico would never put me in a position that risked either of us.
“It’s worth it.”
He sighed. “Oh, fucking boy,” he muttered. “Meet me out at the river at midnight.”
With that, he hung up. I rolled my neck around, tossing my burner phone on the mattress beside me. Blakely looked at me over her shoulder, a shirt in her hand. “Everything okay?”
I nodded. “Everything’s fine, sweet girl.” I stood from the bed and headed for the door. “I need to talk to Shaw. You need anything while I’m downstairs?”
A smile tilted her lips. She liked to put up a fight sometimes, but my girl secretly loved me taking care of her.
“A beer would be nice.”
“My kind of woman.” She softly laughed, her eyes brightening. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
“Absolutely fucking not,” Shaw snapped at me from his desk chair. He’d been bent over his tablet when I walked in, working on a tattoo design for a client, and now, he was pushing the device away and tossing down the pencil thing—I had no idea what they were called—anger darkening in his eyes.
“Not your call,” I bluntly told him.
“Jesus fucking Christ, Jax, I wanted you to stay out of whatever shit Rico has going on. I know he’s not the reason you went to prison, but fuck, brother, he’s only gotten more dangerous since you went inside. He’s not someone you want to owe.”
I shrugged. “Whatever he asks as payment will be a small price to free those women,” I told him honestly. “And I’m willing to pay it.”
Shaw pinched the bridge of his nose, looking thoroughly put out with me. “I want to kick your fucking ass,” he finally growled before yanking his tablet back toward him. “Get the fuck out of my office. I need space.”
“When was the last time you got a piece of ass?” I bluntly asked him. “Because you fucking need it.”
He glowered at me and pointed to the door with his tablet pencil. “Out,” he growled.
“He hasn’t had any in a while,” Konrad said as he stepped into the office. Shaw sighed and set his pencil down again, glaring at both of us. “Maybe you should call that escort place Jax found his girl at.”
Shaw rolled his shoulders, his t-shirt pulling tight as he did so. “Maybe I should kick both of your asses.”
I smirked. “Let’s go then.” I could use a good fight. And while Shaw had military training, I had the streets. Didn’t matter who I was fighting; I fought dirty.
Shaw looked at Konrad, ignoring me. “He called Rico.”
Konrad sighed. “I heard.” He looked at me. “Just be careful, you hear?”
I nodded once at him and turned for the office door. The VP was on my side; that was enough for me.
“What the fuck, Konrad?!” Shaw barked. “You’re supposed to be on my side.”
“Jax knows what he’s doing,” I heard Konrad tell him as I walked down the hall, heading to the kitchen to grab Blakely’s beer. “Trust him.”
Rico was waiting for me when I pulled up to the river. It was just a spot beside a bridge. There wasn’t a boat ramp—just a steep drop-off into the fast-flowing river, which was roaring as it rushed past fallen trees and sitting debris.
“What’s going on?” he asked me as I made my way over to him.
“I need you to gather some info for me,” I told him as we both stood on the edge of the drop-off, staring down into the dark water. Couldn’t see a fucking thing out there. Even the moon had gone into hiding, providing us with the cover of darkness.
“What info?” Rico asked, his voice barely carrying to me over the roar of the river even though I was standing right beside him.
“There’s a sex trafficking ring happening locally,” I told him. “You know of it?”
He nodded. “I know of it. Had an asshole approach me to provide protection for the shipment of the girls. He ended up with a bullet between his eyes.” He looked over at me. “If you’re trying to get in on that shit, you’re going to suffer the same fate,” he warned me.
I shook my head. “The Pakhan’s daughter was kidnapped and sold. I rescued her, but now the Bratva have roped the club into bringing an end to the ring. I need to know who the major players are.”