Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 36216 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 145(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36216 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 145(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
She moved her lips to my ear. Her breath feathering over my sensitive skin made me shiver this time. Instantly, my cock was aching and pulsing like mad. I was so fucked. “How long?”
I shrugged. “Not sure. Hopefully not more than a couple of days. I’m callin’ in my club early. But I have time to make a controlled exit so I can get the other women out.”
“I’m sorry, Atlas. I’m not sure what I messed up, but I’m aware your job is now more difficult.”
“It is, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. The alternative is them chasin’ you down. You’d be in their hands now instead of mine.”
She nodded, then pointed to the bathroom.
“Leave any towels or rugs exactly where they are. I found holes in the walls and floors and covered them. Pretty sure they were used for spying. Keep that in mind at all times.”
Rose stood and nodded once more as she walked to the bathroom. She wasn’t gone long before my phone went off with a proximity alarm. I pulled it out and saw Bozz striding down the drive. He didn’t look happy, but then he never did. And unlike some of the other officers, he was solidly in Dutch’s corner. I watched as Bozz pounded on my door. Fucking Christ! Would I ever catch a fucking break?
Chapter Three
Bellarose
When I shut the bathroom door, I collapsed in a heap on the floor. What the hell was I going to do? The way I saw it, I had multiple problems. First, I was on my own. While it had seemed like the greatest moment of my life when I’d left Rockwell, now it was a nightmare. I had no way to contact Mom or Alexi. I didn’t have my phone or my purse. Oh, God… what if they figured out who I was? There was no way Dutch would let Atlas keep me if they knew I was Alexi Petrov’s daughter.
The pounding on the outside door nearly made me vomit. If they’d come for me there was nothing I could do. Like I’d done in the closet, I hid. This time in the shower. It wasn’t big, but I was able to squat down on the concrete floor and pull the curtain shut. I was able to see the bathroom door. Hiding in the stupid shower wasn’t the best idea, but it was the only thing I could think of to do.
Not for the first time, I regretted trying to strike out completely on my own. I’d wanted to be an adult. I’d gotten an adult job at the university, gotten a sensible car that was safe but that I could afford on my own, and was using my education to teach others. I thought I was ready and, in my mind, I should have been. But not for this. This was so far outside my realm of experience. Even the times I’d stayed at the Black Reign compound hadn’t prepared me for the reality of a real outlaw biker club. This was way more than I was ready for and more than I could handle.
There was a soft knock at the door, but no one spoke. Had Atlas abandoned me? Had someone hurt him and was now coming for me?
Again, there was a knock. “Rose. I need you to come out.”
At the sound of Atlas’s voice, I let out a relieved sob but quickly bit it back. I jumped up and went to the door, unlocking it and opening it slowly so I could peek out.
“Come with me,” he said, holding out his hand. He gave me a steady look, and I didn’t dare take my gaze from his. He nodded once -- approval? -- then led me to the threadbare couch where we sat. Atlas put an arm around my shoulders possessively and crossed one ankle over the opposite knee. “Rose, this is Bozz. He’s the Sergeant at Arms for the Soul Reapers. He has questions for you.”
I looked up at Atlas, my eyes wide. Hadn’t he told me not to answer? Even if he told me to? I was to keep my mouth shut no matter what. My breath came in sharp pants as my anxiety rose, but I didn’t make a sound. I bit my lip and turned into Atlas’s body, shamelessly hiding my face in his shoulder.
Atlas wrapped his other arm around me, rubbing my upper arm up and down in a soothing gesture. “It’s OK. I’m here, and I’m not leaving.”
“Christ, Atlas.” Bozz scowled and scrubbed his hand over his lower face and beard. “Knew you liked submissives, but this is a bit much even for you. Can she even talk?”
Atlas shrugged. “The only thing she needs to do with her mouth doesn’t involve talking. Besides, the man I bought her from assured me she’d learned her lesson about speaking in public. Or to anyone other than me -- since she’s mine -- and only when I require an answer from her.”