Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 103637 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 518(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103637 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 518(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
“I know where to plant the explosives. You stay on the lookout in case any of them have the smart idea of coming back. If they do, hoot.”
He circled the greenhouses, sweating into his clothes, but once he picked up the distant roar of motorcycles, the quiet compound came to life. Men and women shouted to get in position, whatever that meant, and as Mike peeked from under the shed that smelled of farm animals and heat, he caught a glimpse of familiar red hair as Harlyn sped inside an unplastered brick hut along with three other women and a little boy. The entrance to their shelter? It no longer mattered, because the metal door shut behind Harlyn the moment gunfire erupted at the front of the compound.
As far as marriage proposals went, this one was especially unappealing, and he’d make sure to let all the Jarens know what he thought of their prodding.
It was shit.
He snuck the explosives into a pile of manure and compost close to the pig shed. In the desert heat, it stunk so bad breathing through his mouth couldn’t help, and he hoped for a warm evening that would send his never-family the right message. Sweat beaded on his forehead, because despite the shootout at the front, someone could still be patrolling the rest of the compound, but he had Axel to look out for him. This brotherhood deeper than blood was what he’d joined the Smoke Valley MC for, and even though club members were annoyed with the mess Mike had started by dating Harlyn, they would also stand by him for as long as it took.
One more glance up, and he lit the fuse of the dynamite Kane was so fond of. This was for Arden, but also for Kane who’d acted tough but might have broken something in his tumble over caltrops.
He ran, gesturing at Axel, whose eyes went wide just before he rushed straight into a glasshouse. Damn, what a great idea that was.
Mike followed his example, rushing into the damp space that smelled of tomatoes, and closed the door behind him, capturing Axel’s gaze.
“How powerful are those explosives anyw—?”
The blast made both of them sink to the ground, and as he glanced through the misty glass, spotting fire and smoke, several globs of dirt and shit splattered the roof and wall. He thought the fun was over, but another explosion shook the ground under their feet and triggered the shit fireworks to rain manure all over the Jaren settlement.
Mike grinned when brown globs landed on the glass roof above them, but shouting and… cries of disgust erupted a moment later. Axel opened his mouth and cackled like a hyena, which was so unexpected from someone as stoic as him it could only be compared to a rattlesnake playing Jingle Bells with its tail.
Mike patted his arm, drunk on victory. “Now. Let’s go.”
The air outside was perfumed with the contents of pig intestine and undigested food, which prompted Mike to cover his mouth with his sleeve and run, but he froze when a figure stepped from behind one of the houses.
Brad Jaren, Harlyn’s older brother had brown goo all over him, and while he was bleeding from his hand, he didn’t seem seriously hurt, even if shocked.
“What… what the fuck, man?” he uttered, staring at Mike without bothering to look for a weapon.
Axel grabbed Mike’s arm, predicting the inevitable. “Come on, Mike, you’ll just get dirty.”
“Hell no!” Mike pulled out of the grip and charged at the fucker despite the stench. “You fuckers think you can come for my boy and not suffer for it? Next time I’ll blow the whole goddamn place to pieces!”
“What boy?” Brad frowned, but didn’t manage to avoid a punch in the gut.
Mike picked up a fallen toy bucket, which miraculously seemed free of manure splatter and tossed it at Brad. “I will never marry Harlyn, so give it up. I’ve just come out, and I’m with a guy. So this marriage you seem to want for some reason is not. Going. To happen. Now fuck off. Happy cleaning,” he said, pointing at Brad before storming off toward the path leading to where he and Axel had left their bikes.
“Say the fuck what?” Brad yelled, but didn’t chase them. Smart move, because Mike was itching for his gun every time he thought of Arden’s tears.
Axel was right behind him when they reached the bikes, catching their breath despite still riding the adrenaline rush. “You ever think before you talk?”
“Huh?”
Axel clenched his teeth and pushed at Mike’s chest in an attack so sudden and unexpected it took Mike’s breath for a second.
“You just put a target on Arden’s back!”
Mike’s eyes met Axel’s, and the sinkhole in his chest deepened as if it didn’t have a bottom. The sound of far off sirens meant there was no time to say anything more. Not that there was a need. Axel was right.