Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 74655 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 373(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74655 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 373(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
“And the cop?” Mason asks, speaking for the first time.
I look at him, and I know my face is sad.
I shake my head.
I don’t want to talk about Oliver.
I don’t.
I won’t.
Mason nods.
He gets it.
“So, they took it down,” I say, my voice a little thicker than I’d like, thinking about Oliver and everything he did for me. “Of course, they didn’t get everyone, that’s impossible, but they shut most of it down and it would have continued, but most people would have scattered. They knew they were being watched. The information was too substantial. They weren’t game to take the risk. Obviously, I now know it didn’t fully stop, but without my father, it slowed down.”
“And he knows it was you,” Malakai says simply.
It isn’t a question.
“He knows it was me. The cops changed my identity, and I left. I moved as far away as I could. I tried to start my life new. My father was supposed to be away for life, but he knows people, he is corrupt, and so is the system. So, I guess, somehow, he got out early.”
“And he wants blood,” Maverick mutters.
I nod. “He wants blood. Mine.”
“Gotta know, how did he find you? Was it us? Treyton?” Malakai asks.
I nod. “I’m guessing Treyton. I should have known better than to delve into that world, but I wanted protection. I heard rumors, strange things started happening, and I just knew he was out and looking. I didn’t know who to turn to. I was scared. When Maverick asked me to help, I thought the protection from the club might be enough. I was right, but also wrong. My father is dangerous, and he’s smart. I didn’t realize when I went into it that Treyton was part of the new operation, whatever it is. When I got caught, it all fell together. Treyton figured it out. It didn’t take him long. And he sent my father on the hunt.”
“We were correct in assumin’ that Treyton was workin’ for your father, he was the big silent monster behind it all,” Boston mutters. “Makes sense. We couldn’t fuckin’ find out who was runnin’ it.”
“My father is smart, and he’s good at what he does. You can guarantee he’s even smarter about it now after serving time. He has unfinished business, mostly being me.”
“How’d Treyton figure it out?” Maverick asks. “Curious to know.”
“When he took me, because he knew I was snooping for the club, he didn’t know I was any relation. He had no idea. Of course, I had a suspicion. Once I got out on the streets and the talk started coming in, I knew someone big was behind it, and I had a strong idea who that was. I got scared, came and asked you for money, I was going to give you what information I could and use that money to run, but I screwed up and I got caught.”
My fingers are trembling, so I take another drink. And another.
“Treyton purely took me because I was working for the club, and at that point, you were all getting too close to figuring out that what he was doing, was far bigger than you first thought, and they wanted to take you down. When he was holding me hostage, he was talking to people, telling them he had a girl who was working for the club, name was Charlie. I guess that sparked a question. It must have got back to my father, and he only had to ask one question to know for sure ...”
“And that was?” Malakai asks.
I smile, but it’s sad. “What color is her hair.”
“Your father would know you by hair color alone?” Maverick asks, a little confused.
“A girl named Charlie, which is ridiculously close to Charlene, on the streets asking questions, with flaming red hair. How many girls do you think would be brave enough to enter the streets, looking the way I do, unless they had past experience? He’s not stupid. I’m stupid. Because I should have kept my hair dyed, and I should have requested a completely different name. I was young when it was changed, and the reason it was picked, was special, but I didn’t think it through. I was a fucking idiot. But mostly, I should have never agreed to help you.”
“You’re not an idiot,” Scarlett says. “Not even close. You were young. You were scared. You had just done a massive thing.”
“She’s right,” Malakai says. “Not an idiot at all, darlin’. And we appreciate your help more than you’ll ever know. Because of that, we’ll make sure you’re safe. Promise that. Now, your father put two and two together. He didn’t get to you, though?”
“No. Treyton only figured it out just before you came and took me. I don’t know how much information he told my father. That’s the worst part. I don’t know if he mentioned the club or if he just mentioned me. Either way, he obviously shared my name, and details, and my father figured it out, so he must have given enough for that to happen.”