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)
I unlock the chains to adjust them when chaos erupts outside, just as planned. My head snaps around as a gunshot echoes. Gerard’s sister jerks, looking around frantically. Another shot rings out. It’s just Cade outside, firing a gun, while everyone yells obscenities. But it’s enough.
"Jackson!" Spike bellows.
"Damn," I curse, dropping Gerard’s arms and rushing out.
I pull the door closed behind me, making sure it doesn’t latch properly in my haste to leave.
We let the chaos continue a bit longer until it grows quiet again, then head inside. By now, Gerard will have realized that he’s not completely secured. I didn’t fully undo his chains, just one arm, but with that free, he can gradually unscrew the bolt from the wall and pull the chain off. He’ll have to drag it with him, but that’s intentional.
"You think it’ll work?" Spike asks once we’re inside the club.
"It’ll work. Let’s ride. He needs to believe he can escape."
"Think the sister will go to the cops?"
I shrug. "Even if she does, what can she say? We abducted her and forced her brother to confess to murder? I doubt she’ll do it unless he persuades her. Either way, it’s a problem for another day."
"Fair point. Let’s move."
We mount our bikes and roar out, the loud engines echoing through the compound. Gerard will hear it and make his move. If he’s smart—and he is—he’ll seize the first chance to flee. It's his nature; he's slippery like a snake.
We ride to a prearranged spot with Walker, waiting for him. He had one job: ensure Hound knew we were looking for Gerard and that he was crucial to us. Hound will exploit any leverage he can find. If he thinks he can gain more, he'll try.
Walker’s role is to spot Gerard leaving the club and call it in. Hound will take it from there. It’s a perfect plan, provided Walker's as loyal as he claims. If not, it could backfire, but if he is, then he’s a weapon Hound won’t see coming.
His loyal son, the ultimate act of betrayal.
Walker arrives within the hour, stepping out of a car different from the one he drove yesterday. He approaches, slipping the burner phone we gave him into his pocket, and stops in front of us, arms crossed. "He got him."
The relief almost makes me shout.
"Did he suspect anything?" Spike asks, taking a drag on his cigarette.
Walker shakes his head. "No. I’ve been keeping an eye on your club when not taking care of Serenity, so he didn’t suspect I'd be there for no reason. I told him I overheard some members talking about searching for Gerard. Then, I just happened to be watching the club when Gerard sneaked out. I called him, and the rest is history."
Perfect.
This could work.
It might be our way to eliminate them both.
"What’s our next move?" Muff murmurs, eyes on Walker.
"We wait until he has Gerard at the house. Then Walker will make Serenity call the police, claiming she’s been kidnapped. They’ll trace the location, storm in, and take them down."
"What if Gerard runs?" Muff worries.
"He won't. He’ll try twisting it to his advantage, claiming Hound kidnapped him too. But I'll ensure a cop gets the recording before they go in," I growl, fists clenching.
I want nothing more than to kill them both, but we can’t risk anything happening to Serenity right now.
Once they’re in prison, though, it’s fair game.
They won’t last long enough to escape.
No.
We’ll make sure they breathe their last behind bars.
I vow it.
24 – Serenity
“You know,” Hound stalks the room, knife in hand, a scowl twisted across his features. “I was convinced Jackson would show up, but it seems his club holds more value for him than his Ol’ lady. A real shame.”
I clamp my lips tight, refusing to give into his provocations.
Walker has already shared the plan with me, and I’m certain Jackson is on his way. He'll make sure I get out of this hell. Hound’s grasping at straws, desperate because his thinly veiled threats have failed, leaving him without a clue how to get what he wants.
I’m enjoying the fact that the best option he has right now, is to sit in here throwing pathetic threats in my direction, hoping I’ll break and give him something. He won’t get that from me, not when I know how close freedom is, how close I am to being back with my family.
He won’t be taking that away from me.
Not again.
“Think another toe might persuade him? Or maybe a finger this time?”
He turns his attention to me, flaunting the knife menacingly.
I remain silent, glaring at him, my lips curled.
“Tongue-tied, girl? Perhaps I should send that to him, too.”
Swallowing the lump lodged in my throat, I fight not to react. I can't give him the satisfaction. He paces the room, continuing on his little rant, like he’s some sort of leader about to take his troops into battle. He’s pathetic, and very soon, he’ll know just how much.