Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 72756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 364(@200wpm)___ 291(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 364(@200wpm)___ 291(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
“What made you get out?” Crash looks at me, probably thinking of Summer, his mother and a lot of people who got sucked into something deeper than they ever anticipated.
“Fuck… I grew up. I was already losing the stomach for it, and then I picked the wrong mark and ended up with Eagle-Eye on my fucking doorstep. He gave me a choice, that wasn’t much of a choice.”
Snark watches like he's already heard this, probably has, but Devil and Crash joined after I did, so they weren't around to see my early days. I can still feel him staring at me with that one milky eye and the other one looking right into my soul. He's as human as the rest of us, but he's a good judge of character, and not a single one of us doesn't owe him who we are today.
“Yeah, yeah. And?” Devil pushes.
“Hold your dick, man. He told me to get the fuck out and if he saw me again, it would be my last day on Earth, or to go with him and put my skills to better use. If I knew I'd end up with you two dickheads, I might have made a different decision.”
Snark barks out a laugh. “I think Viking says the same about me.” Matteo starts to squirm and whine. “Uh oh, time to go find Alessa. Sorry kid, I don't got what you're looking for.”
Crash is staring at my phone, looking at the police report from when they picked up Timothy, Grayson or whatever his name really is for harassment. “She said she'd ask for help if she needed it, right? I've fucking tried to get her out of there twice. I've got worse on my own record at this point.”
I slap the side of his head. “Doesn't mean shit. Some of the worst fucking people in this world look pure as snow. We know who we are and why we do what we do. Don't listen to my bitching. We're the Fallen fucking Angels and I wouldn't want anyone else at my side. You got that?”
“Aw, me too? Is this… Do we hug now?” Devil grins at both of us.
“Fuck off,” we say in unison.
Crash's phone rings. He slides it out of his pocket and looks down, brows furrowing. “Unknown.” He slides his thumb over the screen and holds it out between us. “Hello?”
“Is this Jacob?” a timid voice asks, not Summer.
He goes to hang up, but I stay his hand. “Yeah, you reached him. Who wants to know?”
She's whispering under her breath, and it sounds like she's scared. “Miss Summer gave me this number. She's—oh, God forgive me. She's in trouble.”
“Why isn't she calling herself?” Crash asks in a voice so sharp it could cut glass.
“Pastor Hale, he… I'm sure he has his reasons, but that poor girl. He took her phone, and she's locked in her room most of the day. She's a grown woman, Jacob. This isn't right. She doesn't like that man her father wants her with.”
Crash's breathing gets shallow, and I can tell he's barely hanging on by a thread. I grab the phone. “What does she want us to do?”
“I've already said too much,” the woman says, sounding legitimately terrified. “This is my job. Summer asked me to pass on the message. That's all I know. Goodbye.” Before I can try to talk her into telling us more, she hangs up.
I hand the phone back to Crash. “You okay?”
“Not even close.” He puts his phone away and straightens up. “I'm going to kill that son of a bitch. I couldn't do it when I was sixteen, but I'll fucking do it now.”
“Do we ride?” Devil asks.
I nod.
“We fucking ride.” Crash confirms.
14
CRASH
The Hale estate is a revolting testament to Aaron's money. I remember the first time I came here, how impressed I was with the marble, glass and wrought iron. It looked like something out of a fucking movie, and I was going to get to live there.
That lasted about ten minutes until I realized it was about as fun as a museum. I couldn't touch anything without getting my ass whipped. Summer would just look at me with her wide, innocent eyes when I tried to swim in the pool or climb the trees. As an adult thinking back, I can see how her fear of doing just about anything that wasn't dainty and modest was just as fucked up as punishing an overactive kid for messing up a fucking topiary.
We cruise past, not stopping until I signal about a block away and we all stop together. “The security is mostly focused at the gate for show. It looks like a lot, but the back is clear for most of the day. He's too cheap to bother with more when nothing ever happens around here.”