Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 105398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 527(@200wpm)___ 422(@250wpm)___ 351(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105398 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 527(@200wpm)___ 422(@250wpm)___ 351(@300wpm)
Luke spoke in gentle tones when asking me questions, and when we were through, he gave a long drawn out sigh and ran his hands over his face roughly.
“Alright, this is what’s going on.” He started. “Apparently there is a new process the Blue Skulls are using when they initiate their newest members. The senior members follow the initiates around for a few days, and see the people that they hang with, or that they look up to the most. If they see that certain someone, then the seniors think up acts that they know the initiates won’t want to do so they can prove that they are loyal to the Blue Skulls. The victim has to be someone you know, or have helped. The reason we know all this is that we caught a perp about a week and a half ago beating the shit out of an older woman who gave him side work when she knew the boy could use the money. The neighbors heard the commotion and the cops got there in time to catch the little fucker. He was only thirteen, so he was an easy crack. The old woman is dead, by the way. We aren’t sure if another member did it, but she was released from the hospital on a Monday. Later that week we got a well check on her when the granddaughter couldn’t reach her; found her dead in the kitchen. Gunshot wound to the head. We can only assume that it was related. And that’s how we end up with all of this.” He said as he waved his hands over the notes he took.
Gabe packed like a caged panther. His movements were graceful, yet calculated. I watched mesmerized as veins pulsed up and down his arms. His hands fisted at his side.
“Gabe.” I whispered.
Gabe took a deep breath, and then turned to me with his Terminator face. He looked like he was ready to kill someone, and I’m pretty sure he would’ve if the option had been available to him right now. The guy who’d done this to me wouldn’t have even stood a chance.
“Okay, we’re going to put round the clock surveillance on her. Do we need to worry about her friends?” he asked.
“Not that I am aware of. The granddaughter lived with her and wasn’t harmed.” Luke said.
“Okay. We’re gonna get out of here. Here is my number in case you need any more information, or you have anything more for us. Thanks for your time.” Gabe said as he handed Luke a card with his cell phone number on it.
A uniformed officer escorted us out to the lobby, and we left the building shortly after that. Gabe’s eyes never stopped scanning. He looked like a man possessed. Gone was the Gabe that was a silent mountain at your shoulder. In his place was a man that rather terrified me. I’ve never seen anyone with such intense concentration. He was ready to kill if needed. And it was all for me.
Gabe came to a sudden halt about four car lengths from his truck. I was walking behind him, checking out his ass when I smacked into his back. His arm hooked around my waist and he shoved me behind him tight, his body strung tight. My arms went around his waist reflexively and I stood waiting for what was about to happen. I chanced a peek over his shoulder and blanched at what I saw.
There was a blue older model Buick with those really big wheels. You know the kind, the ones where they look like monster truck rims with about an inch of tire. That’s not what made my stomach feel like it dropped to my feet though. No, it was the two young kids, maybe sixteen, leaning against the trunk with blue bandana wrapped around their heads. Their eyes were trained in a different direction, but it was obvious they were there to intimidate me. Show me that they hadn’t forgotten about me. A quick glance around the parking lot showed that they were drawing the attention of the cops that came and went hourly for shift change. Two were leaned up against their own squad cars, just waiting to see if anything happened. They hadn’t done anything wrong, so there was no reason to confront them. Apparently, it didn’t mean they couldn’t be watched like hawks.
Suddenly they got up from their perches and rounded the car, got in, started it up, and roared away, bass thumping as all those cars do now these days. Gabe visibly relaxed, his arm disengaging from around my waist. He started walking again, making sure to have my hand in a firm grip.
Adrenaline pumping, I asked, “That was because of me wasn’t it.”
Thank you Captain Obvious!
“Yes, but now they know you have the support of me, and also of the KPD. They looked like scouters, sent to take in a situation before any decisions are made. We’re gonna go by your house, get your shit, and then you will be moving in with me. This is too dangerous for you, and I don’t want to lose you before I’ve even had you.” He said angrily.
“Okay.” I said back to him calmly.
I wasn’t going to be arguing with him, I was creeped the fuck out. No arguments what so ever. No sir-ree-Bob. Plus, maybe it would get us where I really wanted, and that was in his bed. I’ve wanted him forever. I’ve been in love with the broody silent man for nearly a year now. I’ve also not had sex in twice that long, so I wasn’t wasting any more time on the inevitable.
Chapter 3
Say hello to my little friend.
-Scarface
Ember
“Okay, when you go in, don’t freak out. Hoochie is all meow, and no bite.” I said to Gabe.
Gabe gave me a funny look, but nodded in agreement, as he turned the key in the lock of my apartment door. I laughed inwardly. He was going to be in for a surprise when he walked in the door. Gabe insisted on being the first inside so he could check to make sure there weren’t any gangs hiding out under my bed, or in my panty drawer. I told him I needed to come get my cat and some clothes if I was going to stay with him. He agreed on one condition, and that was that he went in first to check things out, and that Jack came for backup.