Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 117494 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 587(@200wpm)___ 470(@250wpm)___ 392(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117494 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 587(@200wpm)___ 470(@250wpm)___ 392(@300wpm)
I hit send, knowing she wouldn’t respond back.
I started to tuck it away when it buzzed back.
Unknown: It’s Aly. We got my phone switched over this afternoon. Have you heard from Harper?
I took a breath before typing back.
Me: You should call me.
Aly: I can’t. Brandon is extra sensitive right now. He’s worried, thinking all sorts of bad things. You know.
Oh, boy. I did, and he’d been right to worry.
Me: Are you safe?
Aly: Yeah. Worried about you. Worried that I can’t get a hold of Harper. Brandon said they don’t know where Harper is or Justin. I assumed they were with you.
Me: You should really call me.
Aly: Now I’m getting scared. Just tell me. I’ll handle it.
Me: Where are you? Just tell me you’re safe.
Aly: Yeah. We’re at Brandon’s brother-in-law’s house. He’s that bounty hunter so his whole team is here, and there’s a bunch of others as well. It’s a full thing but you’re making me scared.
Things changed so fast. Aly had ‘her people’ and I was here with ‘my people.’ We were at two different places, being protected by two different groups.
Me: Do they have guns?
Aly: Um, I don’t know. There’s some HUGE guys here though. I feel safe with them. Stop stalling. Where is Harper?
“Just tell her.”
I jumped, screaming.
Shelly sat back, grimacing a tiny bit. “Sorry. I got bored and you weren’t hiding the phone. I did try not to read them, but couldn’t help myself.” She nodded to the phone. “Just tell her. She’s asking about your friend, the one that was taken right?”
I stilled. “What do you know about it?”
She shrugged, pulling the ends of her sleeves further over her hands. “Nothing much except that Crow said there was a couple attacks. Estrada tried to take you and your friend. I’m guessing that’s the friend? On the phone. He said that they took others instead. I’m also guessing that you’re meaning your friend ‘Harper.’ Am I right?”
“You always this quick with business that’s not yours?”
She flashed me a grin. “I’d like to tell you that this doesn’t happen or this isn’t a common occurrence, and while it’s not really that common, this does happen. Your man’s a Red Demon. They’re not a riding bike club. They’re the real deal. You should know whose bed you’re getting into because what Crow says, your man is now their president. Or soon-to-be their national president. You’re with Ghost and that means your whole world is going to change. The Reds aren’t small time. They’re going against a cartel for a reason.”
A cartel?!
I inhaled my gasp because I couldn’t let it out. I wouldn’t. No one could know how I was reeling on the inside. “What did you just say?”
“The Estrada Cartel.” Shelly sat further back, giving me a set look. “They’re a 1% club. You know what that means, right?”
I bristled. “I know.”
She settled down beside me. “Good. For a moment, I was getting nervous. Thinking you had no clue whose dick you’re blowing. I’d get educated real quick if that was the case.”
I gave her a look, but she wasn’t noticing it. Then my phone started ringing.
Aly calling.
Oh boy. I heaved a breath, trying to squash the nerves as I answered the call. “Hey.”
“Where is Harper? Brandon’s all grrr right now. I don’t know how to explain everyone’s relation here but some chick just showed up and said that they got reports that ‘some others’ were taken. Those were her words. Did they take Harper?” Her voice went up a notch.
I stood, and started walking. My mind was a mess, literally. My stomach was a mess. Everything was a mess. “Aly.”
“Oh God. It’s really bad if that’s how you’re speaking to me. What is it? Is it Harper? Did they take him too? We didn’t find him and we were going to look for him. What is going on, Kali?! Tell me.”
“I–”
“Kali! Just tell me.”
I stopped, my head falling back. My stomach was emptying out to my feet. All my insides were being dumped. “I don’t know who took him, but someone did. I think… I think it was a cartel.”
There was absolute silence on her end.
I couldn’t bear it, waiting for her.
I knelt down, wherever I was. I had no clue. I didn’t care. I squatted as low to the ground as I could go. “I’m so sorry, Aly. This is all my fault. We came out here because of me. I went with Shane, and now, these guys–I think they tried to grab us to hurt Shane’s motorcycle club. I’m so sorry.”
“You’re saying,” her voice ground out. “You’re saying a cartel took Harper?”
I pressed my eyes closed so tight. I was holding my phone against my face, so hard that I’m surprised I didn’t crack it. “Justin too.”
“Justin too?!”
“I think they got my sister too. And some other lady.”