Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 69155 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 346(@200wpm)___ 277(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69155 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 346(@200wpm)___ 277(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
“What’s in it for me?”
Alarick cracks his neck, and then growls, “What do you want?”
“You’ve got somethin’ I want.”
“No,” Alarick mutters, his voice a low hiss. “Not happenin’.”
Wait what has Alarick got that he wants? I don’t understand.
“No deal then, you can leave or I can make you leave. We both know I’m goin’ to win if it comes down to that,” he growls, stroking his gun.
Alarick’s fists clench and Kendric steps forward and, in a voice that’s so terrifying my skin prickles, he says, “You can have it.”
Alarick goes to argue, but Kendric puts up a hand. “I’m goin’ down if we don’t get movin’, Pres. We need the information they have. Gotta sacrifice somewhere.”
“We’re not fuckin’ doin’ it, no fuckin’ way,” Alarick barks.
“We are fuckin’ doin’ it. She don’t wanna be around us, she’s goin’ to do a runner anyway. He can give her what she fuckin’ wants.”
“I won’t fuckin’ do it,” Alarick snarls in a voice so deadly it makes me jerk.
Her?
Who is her?
“Give me Cova, I give you everythin’ you need to know,” the man says, his voice a low boom in the large warehouse.
Wait, what? Cova? He wants Cova? Why in the ever-loving hell would he want Cova? What has he got to do with all of this?
“It ain’t happenin’, I’ve got twenty men outside, armed. You want a fuckin’ war, we can lay it out right here,” Alarick snarls. “Your choice.”
The two of them lock gazes for so long I feel my knees tremble. I didn’t know this was going to go like this. If I thought there was a chance of bloodshed, I would have come prepared.
“She’s mine; one way or another I’ll have her. It’s only a matter of time. You know this.”
Who the fuck is this man?
“Right now, I’m not here to sell lives that don’t belong to me. You goin’ to give up what I want or am I goin’ to leave?” Alarick asks, crossing his arms, but his expression remains steely.
“I’ll give you what you want, you give her a message ...”
Alarick nods.
I don’t understand what’s happening.
I don’t get it.
What the hell is going on?
Is this man related to Briella and Cova somehow? Is he an ex-lover? Is he someone she dealt with in the time she was living with Bryant after being sold? I don’t understand. I have so many questions swirling around in my head, and very little answers. I need those answers, and I need them now.
“Your cop owns an island south of here. Don’t know what goes down there, but I do know that he’s runnin’ somethin’. Got names, people who can give you answers, locations. As for your boy Dax, got word he was seen in a town where boats from the island dock. Not tellin’ you who gave that word. Got the niece, Aviana, and her location just yesterday.”
Jesus. Who are these people?
Alarick nods. “Appreciate what you can give me.”
“Now, it’s my turn,” he says, his voice low. “You tell Cova that I’m comin’ for her, and she will be mine.”
Jesus. Christ.
What the hell is happening?
“I’ll pass it on.”
“You can’t hide her forever. One way or another, I will have her with me.”
“I’m not hidin’ her, she’s free to make her own fuckin’ choices now. She wants to be with you, she’ll come to you.”
The two of them have another stare down, and then Alarick turns and walks toward the entrance. The guy hands Kendric some papers, and just as we reach the door, he says, “Alarick?”
Alarick turns.
“Don’t ever fuckin’ come here again. Next time, I won’t be so nice.”
Alarick nods.
Then we leave.
What the hell just happened?
THE SECOND WE ARRIVE back at the club, I immediately turn to Alarick and demand, “What the hell happened back there? Why does that man want Cova?”
“What?” Briella says, placing her helmet down. “What man?”
Alarick gives me a look that could kill, and in a deep voice growls, “My office. Fuckin’ now.”
We move quickly, and the moment we reach his office—Alarick, Briella, Kendric and me—I spin again. I cross my arms, but before I can speak, Briella demands an answer from Alarick. Taking a deep, angry breath, he tells us everything we need to know. I guess it’s clear to him nobody is backing down from this.
“That man was Colton ‘Jagger’ Ferguson. He’s the leader of a big, dangerous fuckin’ cartel. Known him a long time, he’s come through over the years. We don’t have beef, but we don’t get along. We stay out of each other’s way and business. He’s a dangerous man and he’s not someone you want to cross.”
“Then why the hell does he want Cova?” I demand. “He was adamant on getting her.”
“What’s going on?” Briella asks, her voice soft. “You’re going to sell my sister?”
“I’m not fuckin’ selling anyone,” Alarick barks. “I’m not fuckin’ doin’ a damn thing. If you’ll let me speak, I’ll tell you what I know.”