Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 34939 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 175(@200wpm)___ 140(@250wpm)___ 116(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34939 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 175(@200wpm)___ 140(@250wpm)___ 116(@300wpm)
She shook her head. “Deliberate.”
“Fuck.” Brick scrubbed a hand over his face. “We ain’t had this kinda trouble in Evansville in a long fuckin’ time. Come on,” he said, motioning for the men to move in front of him. “Zip-tie their hands, then get ‘em to the barn. Put ‘em with the other two. Maybe if they see what they’re in for we can get some more answers from them.”
“She’s lying!” Mick screamed. He was still defiant, but there was real fear in his eyes now. “She’s just tryin’ to get us in trouble!”
Brick snorted. “In trouble?” He shook his head, chuckling lightly as he glanced at Atlas. “Is this guy for real?”
Atlas shook his head sadly. “Son, this ain’t high school. You don’t ‘get in trouble.’ You are way the fuck past ‘in trouble’.”
“Where did these fucks come from? They can’t have been far. She was running too hard. And naked.” Brick pulled his phone from his pocket, pressed something on the screen, then held the phone to his ear. “Wylde. Got a couple dumb shits I need a hit on. Yeah, I’ll get you pics. Hang on.” Brick snapped an image of each man and sent them to Wylde, our tech guy. For good measure, he searched them, coming out with their wallets. He took their licenses and sent those images to Wylde as well, then put the phone back to his ear. “Got it? Good. We’re headed to the barn. Meet us there when you have something. Need to know where they live or where they might have come from in this area.” When he disconnected, Brick jerked his head to indicate deeper into the compound. “Let’s go. We’ll take these guys out as soon as Clutch has a cage ready.”
“What about the girl?” I’d tried to keep my mind focused on the men, but it wasn’t them I was interested in. There was something about the woman that caught my attention and refused to let me go.
“Take her to Stitches,” Brick ordered. “He can assess her injuries and tell us where we need to go from there. I’ll get Sting to send the old ladies to the clinic. That way she won’t feel so outnumbered.”
I nodded, but didn’t much care if the women were there or not. I’d be there. “Come on, honey. Let’s get you inside where you can clean up. Doc’s gonna take a look at you. Help you with anything that might need doctorin’ or some shit.” Yeah. I wasn’t good with words.
“You sound like a moron,” Blaze chuckled. “Doctorin’? Who the fuck says that?”
“Shut up, you piece of shit.” I wasn’t mad at Blaze. It’s how we worked. He knew that and clapped me on the back with a soft chuckle.
“I predict someone’s givin’ up his man card real soon.” Blaze poked me as he shoved Dumb and Dumber on ahead of us so they followed Brick and Atlas while Blaze and me would follow behind with Cyrus, who’d stepped out of the shadows to assist. As soon as I got my woman ready to come with me.
“Get on with yourself. Make sure those dumbasses don’t try to bolt. I’ll be there in a second.”
“Take your time, man. Cyrus and me got this. Don’t spook her.”
“I think she’s already spooked.” I held out my hand to the girl while I continued to crouch in front of her. “Can you come with me? Ain’t gonna hurt you. Nothin’ happens you don’t want.”
“C-can I h-have some w-water?” Her voice was a little rough and a lot wobbly. I had no doubt she was thirsty. Not to mention terrified out of her mind.
“You can have whatever you want, honey. Food. Water. A hot bath. The last one in private. Once Stitches has looked you over, I’ll find a place where you can rest safely. Sleep as long as you like. Rest. Heal.”
She shook her head. “Just some w-water.”
“How about we talk about it later? I’ll take you inside, and we’ll get you that water. Then we’ll go from there. Can you do that for me?”
She looked at me for a long time. I wasn’t sure she was going to answer me but she finally nodded her head. “O-OK.” Gingerly, she took my hand and I stood slowly, helping her to her feet.
“Can’t walk on this gravel in bare feet. Can I pick you up? Carry you to the clubhouse?”
With a curious tilt of her head, she looked like she might ask a question. Instead, she just nodded. I didn’t wait for anything more. I scooped her up and followed the others toward the main clubhouse on the compound grounds. The brothers were waiting on Clutch when I reached them, the girl securely in my arms. It really should have been more difficult than it was, but not only was I fucking strong, the woman was light as a feather.