Total pages in book: 43
Estimated words: 40524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 203(@200wpm)___ 162(@250wpm)___ 135(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40524 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 203(@200wpm)___ 162(@250wpm)___ 135(@300wpm)
“He was afraid the school would send the truant officer to the house.” I had no idea how Lemon and Apple had garnered my trust -- I grew up in an MC where you kept things close to the vest -- but they knew more than was safe for them. It was probably the fact that their adopted dad, Wylde, was in an MC. I’d actually heard my dad mention the Iron Tzars on occasion. He always spoke of them with respect. Whether it was because they were good men or because they represented a significant threat I had no idea, and no way of asking. Hammer had taken my phone three weeks earlier.
Lemon snorted. “Well, that’s what he gets for keeping you out of school so often. You know. After he beats the ever-living fuck out of you.”
“Keep your voice down, Lemon.” Apple, in a rare show of assertiveness against her sister, chastised Lemon. I was grateful because the last thing I needed was for someone at school to decide it was time to call in social services.
“It’s not like anyone’ll do anything,” Lemon shrugged, not lowering her voice at all. “She’s eighteen. Which means, though she’s still in high school, she’s an adult. Besides, I have an idea.” The younger girl looked positively vicious. “I’m going to have Wylde extend an invite to Hammer. From what you’ve said, it’s what he wants anyway. Iron Tzars will invite him to the club for a sit-down. Wylde’ll suggest he bring you since we’re such close friends and will phrase it in such a way that, if he doesn’t bring you, he shouldn’t bother coming at all.”
“Oh, that’s a brilliant idea!” Apple actually clapped her hands a couple of times in excitement.
“Guys, I can’t go to your clubhouse looking like this. I appreciate you trying to take care of me, but this is my mess. I’ll figure it out.” Then a thought occurred to me. “You said Wylde was the intel guy for Iron Tzars?”
“Yep.” Lemon gave me a smirk. “And, though I’d never tell him to his face, the man is a badass on the computer.”
“Maybe he could reach out to Claw at Grim Road? I could give him Dad’s number.”
“Let me have it.” Lemon didn’t hesitate or think it over. Just took out her phone, ready as I rattled off the number. “I’ll take care of this right now.”
“We’ve got class in five minutes.” I shook my head. “It’s not like there’s anything Hammer can do while I’m at school.”
Lemon leveled a look at me, her usual cockiness gone. In its place was the hard expression I usually saw with members of Grim Road. “I’ll take care of it right now.” This girl -- no, woman. She was a grown-ass woman. She might be the only person I’d ever met who might be able to save me. But I wasn’t getting my hopes up. I certainly wasn’t depending on it. I’d either have to get myself out or hope Hammer did something stupid and brought the wrath of the Grim down on himself.
I didn’t see Apple or Lemon the rest of the day. Which was odd. One or the other usually found me between each class and, most especially, after school before Hammer came for me. When Hammer arrived, bursting with energy, I knew why.
“Get on, bitch,” he growled. “We’ve got shit to do tonight.”
I struggled getting on the bike because he kept rolling it forward every time I’d try to get on, putting my leg dangerously close to the hot pipe. “I’m gonna burn myself.” I tried not to whine, but, honestly, I wasn’t sure how much more of the abuse he dished out I could take.
Hammer shrugged. “On a hill, bitch. Can’t help it if she rolls a little.” The evil smirk he gave me told me he absolutely could help it and chose not to, probably trying to burn me so he could blame my injuries on my own stupidity.
Sure enough, the second I committed to mounting the bike, he rolled it again. I hissed in a breath as my leg came in contact. I only had on leggings, which provided little protection. It felt like the hot metal seared me, branding me with Hammer’s mark. It was hard to bite back the cry, but I was proud I didn’t make a sound. The breath I sucked in was the only indication the bastard had accomplished his goal.
He glanced over his shoulder at me, probably to judge how much I was hurting. I kept a mild expression on my face and even managed a small smile, like I was settled and ready to go. Hammer just scowled before goosing the bike and nearly had me tumbling off the back. I knew better than to bunch his colors in my fists so I braced one hand behind me and the other on his shoulder. Given my right arm was next to useless it was almost too much for me to keep my seat. With him wearing his colors in public, I knew Lemon had made good on her promise to get him invited to the Tzars clubhouse. I just hoped this didn’t backfire on me. If so, I could be in worse trouble than I was now.