Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 59950 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 300(@200wpm)___ 240(@250wpm)___ 200(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59950 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 300(@200wpm)___ 240(@250wpm)___ 200(@300wpm)
For my baby.
TAKING A WALK IS THE only thing that keeps me sane right now.
The woods surrounding this house are thick and lush, so I spend hours on end exploring them. It’s literally the only way that I can stop myself from running. Every ounce of my being is screaming at me to run, to go and fix this, but I know I have to be careful about any future decisions I make.
No matter what, I have to be sure that they are well thought out so I don’t make those same mistakes once more.
Ahead I can hear the trickling of water. Quickening my pace, I move toward it, hopeful that I might have found somewhere that I can swim. That would at least give me something to fill my days. Smiling, I walk toward the sound, when I hear a stick crunch behind me. Pausing, I tip my head to the side, wondering if an animal is out there, following me.
I glance behind me, but I don’t see anything.
Shrugging, I keep walking, but I could swear I hear leaves crunching, like someone is following me.
Turning again, I narrow my eyes, my heart racing.
What kind of large animals would be out here? I didn’t even think of that.
Biting my lip, my eyes scan the trees, but I don’t hear anything.
Maybe it’s my imagination in overdrive.
I keep walking, but the sounds continue to happen. Maybe it’s best that I turn and go back, but that means walking right toward whatever is following me. Are there mountain lions out here? Bears? Oh gosh, what if it’s a bear? My mind frantically comes up with a plan. Do I jump in the water? Climb a tree? Bears can climb, right?
Damnit, what was I thinking coming out here alone.
I jog toward the stream and finally see it ahead. It isn’t big, just a small, round lake with a waterfall. It’s beautiful, but I don’t have time to admire that, because my heart is racing, and my palms are sweating as I try to figure out a way to protect myself if some large animal decides to launch out of the bushes in my direction.
Just as I am making the choice whether to jump or climb, a chuckle behind me has me freezing. I wish it was a chuckle from Spike, or Jackson, teasing me for acting like I’m scared, but it’s a chuckle I’m familiar with. There is no way. No way he could have found me out here. Turning slowly, I come face to face with Hound.
His face is black and blue like he has been in more than one fight. Hound no doubt has a list of enemies as long as his arm, especially considering he was in prison so long, but seeing him like that makes him look even scarier than he usually does. My heart jumps in my chest as I shake my head, wondering how the hell he found us out here.
“You look shocked.” He grins, crossing his arms, allowing his jacket to move enough that I can see he is packing at least two guns. “Wondering how I found you?”
“What the fuck do you want?”
I’m trying to sound strong, brave, scary, but really, I sound like a pathetic mouse fronting up to a tiger. He knows I’m afraid of him, and he plays on it.
His grin widens. “You caused quite a scene in town yesterday. Not the smartest thing you’ve done. But, who am I to complain when it allowed me to follow you back out here?”
How? There is no way. Jackson is so careful; he ensures that nobody is ever behind us.
“It’s not possible,” I say, shaking my head.
“I put a tracker on Jackson’s truck, it’s possible. He thinks he’s slick, hiding you out here, but really, he’s just asking for people to come hunt you down. That’s exactly what I did.”
“What do you want?” I say, crossing my arms and rubbing them, trying to stop my skin from prickling.
“You know what I want, Serenity, and I’m going to use you to get it.”
“Why?” I whisper.
“Because he caused the death of my old lady years ago. He shot the wrong person and took her from me, then the two of you proceeded to take out my entire club. So, you see, this revenge is a long time coming.”
Jackson killed his old lady?
Jackson would never kill a woman intentionally, at least not without good reason. My memory flashes back to the moment he found out who I was and that I had betrayed his club. He held that gun up at me, and, for a moment, I was so sure he was going to pull the trigger. I have never been so afraid in all my life, and seeing the cold emptiness in his gaze was enough to forever damage a piece of my heart.