Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 69759 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 349(@200wpm)___ 279(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69759 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 349(@200wpm)___ 279(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
She nods. “I actually did see him in the hospital when I was there yesterday. He’s got bad burns to both his hands, he’s in a lot of pain and will probably need a fair bit of time to recover. He’ll go home in a week, he has a few surgeries ahead of him. I think there is damage to his hands, so he’ll need rehab.”
My heart drops. “That’s horrible.”
“He’s alive, honey. It could be worse.”
Yeah, maybe.
Right now it feels like nothing could be worse.
Nothing at all.
“HEY.” CARMEN SMILES, strolling into the café later that afternoon just as I’m packing up for the day.
“Hey,” I say to her, wondering where she has been the last few days. I haven’t seen much of her. “How are you?”
“Good. I heard what happened next door, that’s awful. Was anyone hurt?”
I nod. “One of the bikers got burned on the arm, but he’s okay. They were lucky. They think it was me, so now Riggs isn’t talking to me.”
Her eyes widen. “They think it was you? Why?”
“Because we’ve had that stupid war going and they think I’m dumb enough to go and do something like that.”
“So you two aren’t together now?”
I shake my head, wiping a table before stacking the chairs. “No, we’re not, not that we ever were. He hates me, I’m certain of it. He refuses to admit we had something and told me he doesn’t care about anyone. So that’s over.”
She steps forward and reaches out to hug me. “I’m so sorry, that’s horrible.”
“It wasn’t meant to be anyway. He’s probably in love with someone else or just wants to live a free life without a woman by his side. I don’t know.”
It hurts thinking of either of those options, but I don’t tell Carmen that.
“You’ll find someone amazing, I’m sure of it.”
“Not if I get locked up for that fire.”
“Do they have any proof?”
I shake my head. “No, but Riggs wasn’t the only one who said they saw me there. If they don’t find anything, then I’m worried they’ll be forced to consider me the only suspect.”
“It’ll work out, I’m sure of it.”
I nod, trying to fight the urge to scream and cry. I pass it off the only way I know how. Humor.
“Well, just think, I’ll look pretty hot in a prison jumpsuit.”
Carmen laughs. “Oh, you’ll be someone’s bitch no doubt.”
I chuckle. “I’m ready.”
We both laugh, and I make her a coffee, chatting with her a bit more before closing up shop. I head back to my apartment, talking to Dom on the phone as I walk. He believes me when I say it wasn’t me, and so does Mom and maybe Dad, but I know my parents still think I could have avoided it. Hell, maybe I could have. Maybe this is all a result of the childish game we were playing.
I can’t wait to see what Giorgio has to say about it.
I hang up with Dom and my phone rings, Riggs’ name flashing across the screen. He’s calling me? Why?
I answer without hesitation.
“I didn’t light the garage up, Riggs. I swear.”
He doesn’t say anything for a second. “Not here to talk about that. The cops will prove you did. I have your brother here.”
I blink, confused. “Dom?”
I was just talking to him.
“No, Stefano.”
What?
Why?
“Why?” I question.
“He stole drugs from me.”
Oh.
Oh no.
No, Stefano, no.
“Riggs, don’t hurt him. Please. I’m coming right now.”
I hang up the phone, turn, and run toward the clubhouse. I bust inside when I do, rushing past the people milling around the bar and straight down to where Riggs usually spends his time. I shove the door open to see Beckett, Hugh, Hank, Remy, and Riggs all standing in the room with Stefano on a chair, hands tied behind his back. His eyes swing to me and my heart races.
“Let him go!” I say, rushing over.
“You untie him, I fuckin’ kill him,” Riggs growls.
I stare in horror at the man I actually allowed myself to have feelings for. Surely he wouldn’t be so cold as to kill my own brother?
“If you so much as touch him, I promise you I will be the one to burn down that god damned garage and that clubhouse and I’ll make sure every single one of you is inside.”
My voice comes out like a whip.
Riggs steps forward but it’s Beckett that puts a hand out, stopping him.
“Your brother stole drugs from one of our dealers, and then he sold them for double the price and made a profit. We can’t have that shit happening. We let this go then more and more people will think it’s okay to fuck with the club. We have to make it known that it won’t fly.”
I stare at Beckett, and then I look to Stefano.
“Is this true, Stefan?”
My brother looks to me with empty eyes. I should have listened to Giorgio when he said he was in trouble, I should have paid more attention to what was going on around me. I didn’t, and now my brother has gotten himself into this mess, and I’m not entirely sure I can get him out of it.