Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 67757 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 339(@200wpm)___ 271(@250wpm)___ 226(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67757 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 339(@200wpm)___ 271(@250wpm)___ 226(@300wpm)
Hands grip my shoulders, and I stiffen as they spin me around until I’m face-to-face with McKenna. “Come on, Aria,” she says gently, “we’ll make sure to get them settled.”
I shake off her touch. “I can do it. I need to call them and let them know, and then I need to get them rooms somewhere.”
My mind scrambles to come up with local hotels, but I’m drawing blanks. Finally, I say, “The Regency, I’ll get them rooms there. I just need a phone.” My words stop, and I turn to Lucky, who’s staring at me like I’m a crazy person.
“Let Kenna help you, Aria,” he says coldly.
I shake my head. “I don’t need help. I need a fucking phone.”
McKenna growls beside me. “Yes, Aria, we all know that you’re a badass bitch, fully capable of leaping tall buildings in your stilettos, but you’re out of your depth here.”
I roll my eyes, biting back a cutting remark. “Trust me, I am quite capable of booking a hotel room.”
“No shit,” she snorts. “But in this instance, your credit cards are an easy way for them to track you. We don’t want this Birmingham asshole killing the help in search of you, do we?”
My shoulders fall forward at McKenna’s words, and I realize I was about to make a stupid move. No, not just stupid, but deadly. Suddenly, I’m out of my depth, something I’m not used to feeling.
“No,” I whisper. “I don’t want that.”
“You’re going to be fine, Princess.” Lucky lifts my chin with one finger until my gaze slams against his. “McKenna is going to help you reach out to Frannie and the staff, and then she’ll get you settled. You’ll be safe here because I will make damn sure of it. Feel me?”
I nod.
Lucky flashes a panty-melting smile. “Good girl. Here, take Coco before he shits all over the clubhouse.”
I nod and accept the doggie backpack that most men wouldn’t wear, not even to keep their best friend safe from harm.
“Okay.” My words are so quiet even I’m not sure if I say them out loud, but I can’t look away from Lucky. It’s almost as if I’m afraid he might disappear.
McKenna takes my arm. “Come on, Aria, you’ll be all right.”
I let her steer me away, but I keep my eyes on Lucky. He turns to his brothers, and they all huddle together in serious conversation.
“You don’t know that,” I tell her through a sniffle I’m powerless to hide.
“I do. I never in a million years would have guessed that you gave a shit about your workers, but you just went feral to protect them. It means you’re not the callous bitch I thought you were.”
“People change, McKenna.”
She laughs and guides me down a dimly lit hall before pushing open a heavy door that leads to a bedroom that looks like a fancy hotel room. It has a queen size bed, a beautiful nightstand, and even a desk with a chrome lamp. “Yes, they do. I’ve changed a lot.”
“You have,” I confirm. “It’s surprising. And refreshing.” It means maybe Lucky is right, after all. Maybe I can decide what my life is going to be now. “Thanks for helping me.”
She shrugs. “It’s what we do around here, Aria. If one of us is in trouble, we’re all in trouble.”
“That sounds nice, but I’m not one of you.” I absently rub Coco’s head.
“I’m not so sure about that, Aria, and if you think so, I think you might be losing your touch.” Her smile isn’t vicious as I remember. Instead, it’s more amused.
I shake my head. “I don’t belong anywhere, McKenna, and right now, I don’t have the mental energy to go through it all with you. Can we just call Frannie and make arrangements?”
McKenna doesn’t fight me. She lets out a sympathetic sigh, which I kind of hate. “Sure, Aria.”
“I’m not sure I can do this.”
“Call your house?”
I shake my head. “No, how do I tell them that I’ve been keeping them in the dark about the shitstorm coming down the pike, and now they’re all in danger? They’re going to hate me.”
It’s not less than I deserve, but these are the only people who care about me, even if they are paid to do so.
“Aria,” McKenna sighs. “They work for you, and even if you care about them or love them, they know that your business isn’t really their business. They will appreciate you getting them the hell out of danger. I promise.”
I nod and make the call. “Hello?”
Thankfully, it’s Frannie because she’s the easiest to talk to.
“Frannie, it’s Aria.”
“Do you know what time it is?” Frannie says in a daze, and to be honest, I have no idea.
“No. Sorry.”
“It’s after midnight. Are you okay?”
“Yes.” I inhale and let the whole story of someone breaking into the house, shooting at us, and leaving with one or maybe two carefully aimed bullet holes in him.