Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 67975 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67975 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
This works. It works because I see a flash in his eyes, just a flash. Enough to let me see that he’s concerned over my words, that what I just said to him has him worried. He is concerned that I’m going to find out who he is, and I’m going to make this bad for him.
He’s right.
I am.
“I’ll tell you what,” I say, my voice a low, dangerous whip. “You tell me what I want to know, and I ensure the safety of whoever you’re tryin’ to protect. You don’t tell me what I want to know, then I don’t ensure their safety and I use them for whatever I have to, to get the answers I need.”
His face tightens, and he growls. “You think I’m scared of you, biker? You have no idea what you’re up against.”
“Then why don’t you tell me.”
“I’d rather fuckin’ die. Go ahead, find out what you can, take them and torture them. I will never fuckin’ speak.”
“We’ll see about that,” I say. “Cohen, get Zariah in here and see what we can use to identify this fucker. We’ll see what he’s willing to go through before he talks.”
There’s a flash in the man’s eyes again, and I know that whatever I find out about him, and whoever I link to him, is going to be enough to get him talking.
I just have to find who they are first.
Don’t doubt it though.
I’m going to bring this fucking thing to a conclusion.
One way or another.
16
BRIELLA
I can’t take one single deep breath as I pace up and down the halls, wondering if Mykel is going to make it out of this alive and praying that this isn’t the end of the road for him.
God, do I pray.
With tears streaming down my face, I pray.
He can’t go out like this. Not Mykel. He’s one of the best people I know, he’s got the biggest heart and the kindest soul, and I can’t bear to see him taken away.
“Here,” Karen says, walking up to me and handing me a cafeteria coffee.
I take it, and it’s warm at best, but it’s a slight distraction from my racing heart, over-worked mind, and broken soul.
“Sit down, Briella, there’s nothing we can do but wait. You need to try and calm down so you’re better prepared.”
Better prepared for his death.
I look to her, and I don’t say a word. I sit down on an old, worn-out waiting chair and sip the terrible coffee in my hands. I haven’t spoken a great deal to Karen since I found out she went to Alarick. I get why she did it, I do, but she’s the only real friend I’ve had since I’ve been back and her loyalty wasn’t with me. That hurt, it hurt more than I’m willing to discuss right now.
Sighing, Karen sits beside me, and we wait in silence, both of us pretending to drink the coffee.
“He’s strong,” she finally says. “He’ll get out of this.”
She didn’t see him though. She didn’t have her hands on his blood-soaked chest. She didn’t hear his gurgled breathing as he nearly choked on his own blood. She didn’t see any of that, so it’s easy for her to say he’ll come out of this.
I don’t know if I feel that same hope.
“I know you’re angry at me, Briella, and I’m truly sorry. I don’t want to fight, because right now you need a friend and I’m the only one here. So please, either yell at me or just get over it until this is done, so we can at least support each other.”
I turn to her and meet her eyes. “You were the only friend I had here, Karen. The only person I could confide in. It really broke my heart when you went to Alarick.”
“I know,” she says softly. “I know it did, and I’m sorry. But, Briella, I was concerned—not just for you, but for your life. I didn’t want you to be hurt because I knew I couldn’t live with it. You weren’t thinking clearly, and I’m sorry if what I did hurt, but I wouldn’t have done it if I didn’t love you.”
I look to her, and right now, in this moment, I just don’t have it in me to be angry. My best friend, the only other one I have, could by dying on the table right now and I can’t think of anything else. So, I reach over and take Karen’s hand. I say nothing, because I honestly have nothing to say. I just hang onto her hand and pray that she doesn’t let mine go right now, because I don’t think I’ll get through it.
“We’re going to get through this,” she tells me, as if reading my mind.
God, I hope so.
The doors to the waiting area open, and I turn to see Alarick and Samson walking into the hospital, looking like dark, broken angels. Their faces stony.