Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 59738 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 299(@200wpm)___ 239(@250wpm)___ 199(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59738 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 299(@200wpm)___ 239(@250wpm)___ 199(@300wpm)
If she has any questions about my reasoning, she doesn’t say so. It’s a discussion I intend to save for later, when I have more time to explain the dynamics of our brotherhood and Crow’s request. For now, I lean down and kiss her just because I can. Once her lipstick is good and thoroughly messed up, I’m satisfied that the lads won’t have any question about who she belongs to anyway.
Inside, the club is packed like it usually is on Friday nights, and the lads are scattered throughout the bar. I spot Crow and Mack through the crowd and make a beeline in that direction with the intention of introducing Ivy to her. But before we get that far, Reaper appears out of nowhere.
“Conor, I need a quick word with ye in private,” he says.
He wants to talk shop and being that I asked for his help keeping eyes on the Locos, this could be important. I don’t want to abandon Ivy to the wolves, but I know Crow’s missus will take good care of her.
I give her arse a good squeeze and bring my lips to her ear. “Head on over to Crow. I’ll be back shortly.”
She looks less than pleased when I send her on her way, and I tell Reaper we need to be quick. We sneak into Crow’s office for a bit of privacy and I get straight to business.
“What have ye heard?”
“You were right,” he says. “They’ve been looking for her. I snatched up one of their latest recruits, not a very bright one at that. Only had to cut off three of his fingers to get him talking.”
Ronan discusses the gory details of his job with a blank face. He’s got the stomach for torture, but right now the specifics don’t matter. I need to know what was said, and I tell him so.
“The lad says the Locos want to perform some sort of honor killing,” Ronan goes on. “They all plan to have a go at her first. Then—”
“Okay.” I bite back the bile that rises in my throat. “I get it.”
He shrugs. “Crow gave us the go ahead to start finishing them off. I’ve got two fresh ones in the basement now if ye want to have a wee bit of fun with them.”
“Can it wait until tomorrow morning?”
“Aye.” He nods.
“Grand. I’ll be back then.”
“Ye best keep a close eye on her,” Ronan adds. “You know this is going to start a war.”
There isn’t even a question in my mind when I answer. “Then it’s a war they will have.”
I never made it across the bar to Crow and his wife. The minute Conor disappeared into the crowd, I found an empty table and sat down, thinking it was the safer option. Crow doesn’t seem to care for me too much, and I had no interest in pretending otherwise while I waited for Conor’s return.
I don’t know why he brought me here, but my gut tells me there’s going to be an issue, and after only a couple minutes, there is.
“Hey.”
I swivel around to find myself caught in the sights of a burly patron palming a glass of whiskey with his meaty hand.
“Hi,” I answer out of politeness.
“I’ve been wondering where you were.” His eyes rake over my body with a familiarity that sickens me. “Haven’t seen you around the last few weeks.”
I swallow down the hot humiliation threatening to choke my voice. “What do you mean?”
“I haven’t seen you up on stage,” he clarifies.
I offer him a weak smile. This is exactly what I was afraid of. One night of dancing, and already, it’s starting. Everyone in this club will think they can have a go at me simply because I worked here and showed them my body.
“I don’t dance anymore,” I inform him.
The guy smiles but it isn’t at all friendly. “That ain’t how it works. When Crow hires a dancer, you’re done when he says you’re done. You must think I’m pretty stupid.”
“Not at all.” My hands squeeze into fists at my side, and I hate Conor for putting me in this position. “I’m just informing you that regardless of what you might believe, I no longer dance here.”
He cocks his head to the side, studying me. “Do you think you’re too good for me, is that it?”
“Will you please just go away,” I snap. “There are plenty of other women—”
“Look here.” He snatches my arm and drags me up out of my seat. “You lose the lip and give me a lap dance, and we’ll forget about your shitty attitude.”
“Leave me alone, asshole.” I try to shove him away, but the guy is like a brick wall, and I swear it only makes him more excited. He hauls me even closer and grabs a handful of my ass like he has that right.