Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 101911 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 510(@200wpm)___ 408(@250wpm)___ 340(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101911 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 510(@200wpm)___ 408(@250wpm)___ 340(@300wpm)
I have a hundred or more names I’m still going through for the next-in-line team members. No doubt others will be picked off. And we’re looking for people with the skills, and people who’d have a reason to never turn on us. Like for instance, their sister was taken and sold by Phillip, or he killed someone they cared for…that sort of thing. Or they simply hate the Cartels and are good with hitting them through a proxy like Phillip.
“You want to stay there?” Ezekiel asks like he’s confused. “Why?”
“Because it’s not so bad, and it’s easier to oversee things from the ground level. And we agreed that it needed to be one of us to oversee it to cut out the risk of leaks, so there’s no one else I’d feel comfortable leaving in my place.”
I hear a sigh, and I know it’s Ingrid. She wants me home to help her deal with the crazy level right now. Because she doesn’t have a Smitty like I do who can run the Family and never miss a beat in my absence.
“You’re at risk of being seen or captured every day you’re there for longer than planned.”
“I have a plan for that. Just had a salon girl leave my room, and I’m a whole new girl. But also, I have a very strong security setup. No one will look for me here, and I’m staying bunked down—not going into public unless necessary.”
“Yes, your MC that’s not technically a MC. Motorcycle clubs usually have cuts and charters. These guys are the rebels who broke off from the pack and think they can just start anew if they slap a name on a piece of leather,” Ingrid says, annoyed. “I don’t feel like they’re a long-term solution for you to stay secure. This was a temporary deployment to begin with, and the unstable club doesn’t instill confidence in its abilities to keep you safe. Besides, it sounds like they have their own war brewing, which is an unnecessary risk for you.”
I check the door, making sure it’s still shut, before I slowly stand from my seat.
“This is my plan. You put your trust in me to make it work. If I’m not here, then we run the risk of it going to hell. This club has ears to the ground, and they can hear things here that we can’t hear there. You know how this works. I need to stay close to the action to ensure this wasn’t all for nothing. My life is expendable, and we all agreed on that.”
Ezekiel curses. “Your life may be professionally expendable, but not personally. Don’t you feel as though we’ve all suffered enough loss? Staying there puts you at graver risk daily—”
“Lathan is looking for me in New York. He’s not looking for me here,” I remind him.
It’s enough to shut him up. Well, for a second. Ezekiel always has a backup argument at the ready.
“If they see you, they’ll know it’s us and not someone who is after the Cartels. It could ruin the entire plan.”
“But that’s where you’re wrong, Ezekiel. If Lathan sees me, he’ll grab me and try his shit all over again. His problem with me is personal, and he’ll likely believe my presence in Halo is solely related to him. Phillip doesn’t think us capable of something this elaborate, so he’ll think the same thing. I’m the only safe option to be here.”
The door opens, and I look over as Axle walks in. His eyes widen when he sees my new hair, and I twirl a lock of blonde while winking at him. He starts moving toward me again, but pauses when he hears the phone on speaker and Ezekiel speaking.
“You know I hate this.” Ezekiel sighs. “I want you back here. We’re stronger together.”
Axle, I swear, looks a little jealous all of the sudden, since he’s hearing that out of context.
I like that look. It lets me know I’m not the only crazy one here.
It’s been two weeks since we got back from the hotel.
In those two weeks, we’ve barely spent a second apart. And I get the private Axle every day the door closes us off from the rest of the world.
“I’m aware, but rest assured that I’m safe where I am,” I say, watching as Axle glares at the phone. “We are stronger together, but I’m not gone. I’m just in a different state.”
“We’ll call in two days to see how the next retrieval went. You’re logging the progress, I assume, and counting how many girls we’ve freed?” Ingrid asks.
Axle’s angry expression changes, and he looks up at me, his face going blank. He starts to turn and leave, as though he just realized what this is, but I move in front of the door, blocking his escape.
I’m almost done, and he’s been missing most of the day, which is something I’ve not had to deal with in two weeks. Today is the day I get my cars. Finally.