Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 86052 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 430(@200wpm)___ 344(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86052 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 430(@200wpm)___ 344(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Officer Samuels had called during the week to let me know that my truck had been recovered during a raid on a chop shop, and that I could pick it up anytime. Though it had a few scratches and dents, it’s nothing that my insurance won’t cover.
I pass some shady-looking asshole in the alley, who looks like he’s smelling a pair of lace panties. But hell, everyone has their fucking kinks, right? The fucker scowls at me, but I continue on my way. I’ve got places to be, people to fuck up. Cole is going to kill me if I miss the fight. Not to mention, I’d miss out on twenty grand and forfeit it to the other guy.
Not fucking happening. Not on my watch.
Getting in my truck, I hit the gas and peel out of my parking space before sailing down the street, my mind already deep in tonight’s fight.
I get a minute down the street and am just pulling onto the main road when a text comes through on my phone, and I groan as I read it.
Jaxon - Dude, left your wallet on the bar.
Fuck. I consider telling him to leave it with Charli, but you never know when you’re going to need it. I’ve always made a habit of never going anywhere without it. Besides, it’s brand new. I don’t want to lose another fucking wallet in less than a week.
Xander - Shit. Be there in a sec.
I whip my truck around and head straight back to Micky’s, knowing this shit is bound to make me late. I park in the spot I’d been not a few minutes ago, and throw the door open before flying out. I dash back down the alley to find Jaxon beating the ever-loving shit out of the shady fucker with the panties. I rush forward to break it up, when I realize it’s the asshole who’d gotten too handsy with his girl here a few weeks ago. The very reason we all avoided coming to Micky’s for so long. Rather than break it up, I let Jaxon have at him.
It doesn’t take him long to knock the guy out. I guess he does have anger on his side. I find my wallet laying on the ground and dash forward.
“Dude,” I say, trying to pull him back to reality, looking as though he’s about to go for round two. “I didn’t know you had it in you.” Jaxon’s head flies toward me, ready for another attack, but quickly realizes it’s just me. “Everything good here?”
“Yeah, man,” he responds, his gaze shifting back to the asshole, sprawled across the dirty ground. “Just had a little misunderstanding is all.”
Little misunderstanding, my ass. “Right,” I scoff, remembering the wallet at my feet. I pluck it up off the ground, giving Jaxon a look. “Thanks for this.”
He gives me a slight nod and I take off up the alley again, hoping I haven’t wasted too much time. I get to the end when I hear noise back at the bar’s side exit. I turn back around, hoping the fucker hasn’t regained consciousness, when I realize it’s just Shorty with some chick.
I roll my eyes, knowing exactly what’s going on there.
Fucking Shorty. Such a whore.
Chapter 14
XANDER
After pulling up at tonight’s venue, I rush out of my truck. The clock on my dash tells me I still have a few minutes to spare, but Cole is going to kick my ass for cutting it this close.
I head around the back of the building to find Caden and Luke waiting for me. The moment they see me, matching looks of relief and anger fall over their faces, and I know they’re dying to knock some sense into me. We don’t have time for that shit, though.
“Thank fuck,” Caden breathes as he practically claws at my arm to get me inside. “That was too fucking close.”
“Don’t I know it,” I grunt, hating the way he pulls my arm, which sends a shooting pain right to my broken rib.
We rush down the hallway while Luke spurts out every last detail I should know about my opponent, but I’ve seen the guy before. He’s the kind who likes to go for the kill, so as annoying as it will be, I’ll have to fight with my weaker side so he doesn’t get an opening on my ribs.
I enter the fighters’ room and find Cole speaking with some official, trying his luck at delaying the fight, but we all know the rules around here. If you’re not here at your scheduled time, you forfeit.
Cole clocks me the second I enter and his panicked features morph into a heavy scowl. Yeah, I’m fucked.
He storms over to me, already pulling the tape out of his pocket, and lets me have it. I tune him out while he begins wrapping my hands and adding extra tape to my ribs. Noticing someone else in the room, my stare locks on his, and I recognize him from some of the fights I’ve stayed to watch.