Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 88536 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88536 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
I don’t want to draw attention to ourselves so close to a busy area, so we set up a small arson attempt, anticipating they’d have a meeting about it.
Unfortunately for them, while they had their attention on the club, we rigged a few bombs under their vehicles and around the garage, which is attached to a fuel station on a very quiet highway.
“They set the perfect scene, really,” I say because it’s too easy. No cameras, and for the few strays that do make it out, we’ll be waiting for them.
I hand over a controller to Thomas and we step out of the car. Two men sitting out front on their bikes, smoking. They notice our arrival as we cross the street.
“There should be about twelve members inside,” I murmur as another two walk outside. “Make that ten.”
The bikers snicker and sneer as we approach. One of the men addresses Thomas. “You have a lot of balls coming here yourself. Didn’t even bother hiding your face,”
I look at Thomas, who has tears in his eyes, rage fueling him. One of them laughs as he points a gun in Thomas’s direction. “Thank you for making it easy for us to tie up some loose ends.”
For a moment, I consider that Thomas isn’t going to hit the button. Maybe he’s reconsidering this “hero” notion. But then I see the twist of rage roll through him.
“You stole my daughter from me.”
The man pointing the gun raises his eyebrows. “Oh, so you found her body. You should’ve been there to hear her scream and cry. Pappa,” he says theatrically. “Papp—”
Boom!
Thomas presses the button, and the entire garage explodes. Then, there’s a second wave as it hits the fuel tank. I turn my face away as hot wind pushes against my hair. Men go flying and screaming. The four bikers who were guarding the front are trying to stand, staggering from how disoriented they are.
Thomas hands me his gun and the controller before he storms over to one of the bikers, who is attempting to roll out the flames on his back. He picks him up and begins hitting him. It’s the same man who antagonized him only moments before.
He turns into a madman. Hit after hit after hit. Another man approaches them, but I take the easy shot and shoot him in the head.
Thomas is now kicking in the man’s head, tears streaming down his face as I take this moment to mourn for him because there’s grief in this moment. Realizing no matter what, nothing will bring her back.
No matter how clever, rewarded, or strong in his role and talent, none of it means shit when it comes to looking after his family. I know that feeling too well.
It draws me back to my own darkness and need for escape.
A certain brunette comes to mind.
I sigh, exhausted. I convince myself it’s just sex, but she’s left an impression on me.
I pull out my phone and hit dial on the number from which I’ve purposefully ignored multiple calls.
“Mr. Percy,” I say with no emotion in my voice. “Your deadline is up.”
“I still have two days to get the money to you! I have it! I can get it!”
“No. You’ve run out of time. Our business is done.”
“Is this how you conduct business!” he screams, and it’s his own problem of not realizing how small of a fish he really is in the grand scheme of things. The only reason I took his job was because I was curious about her.
“I suggest you stop trying to find your ex, Alina Harper, Mr. Percy. I’ll leave it in good faith that you understand that is a threat. Never call this number again.”
I hang up.
At the start, Alina was only ever a job, but curiosity turned into something else entirely—a personal obsession.
Thomas is still on his rampage, his knuckles bloody, and no one else moving. I’ll make sure to clean up any ounce of evidence. This man doesn’t deserve to be behind bars. He’s already imprisoned from his loss.
I look down at my phone and at the live footage of Alina getting ready in a shimmery gold top and tight jeans. I bugged her apartment while she was out working. There is no space that I can’t get into. She might’ve thought I had no idea where she was staying, but I knew the moment Honey handed her the keys. Considering she’s still under the assumption Dawson and Honey paid for her hotel, it made it all the easier for me to slip through the cracks.
When Mr. Percy phoned me about his ex, who’d stolen something from him, I didn’t care. That’s until my sister suggested hiring the very same brunette. At first, I thought Alina had somehow made a targeted attack against my sister. But as I studied her, I realized she was a woman running away from her past and starting afresh.