Total pages in book: 178
Estimated words: 170884 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 854(@200wpm)___ 684(@250wpm)___ 570(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 170884 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 854(@200wpm)___ 684(@250wpm)___ 570(@300wpm)
How inappropriate.
“I’ll call you about taking A.J. for another sleepover,” Julius called out as he and Ana walked to their car. That was when a sleek black Mercedes Kompressor crept past at a snail’s pace. And when the window lowered, my gut clenched and my entire body froze over.
Oh, no.
She looked over at Julius, licking her cherry-red lips before blowing him a kiss.
Oh, shit.
But when her gaze landed on me, she widened her eyes, pulled out her hand, made the motion of a gun, and pointed it at me, calling out, “Boom, bitch!”
Fuck.
I gasped loudly, stumbling backward, completely terrified and clutching at Twitch. And when her lips formed a wide, punishing smile, I knew she could feel my fear and I hated her for celebrating it.
It all happened so quickly I wasn’t sure if I had simply imagined it.
Twitch left my side and as he bolted to the car toward the open window, and as it crawled along slowly, Ling spoke, looking Twitch up and down meaningfully. Her tone was as seductive as the snake she was. “Death looks good on you, baby.”
I heard Ana begin to hyperventilate, and Julius ushered her into the car while Happy rushed over to stand in front of me, his body shielding me from harm. Nikki and Dave simply looked on in shock.
Twitch was furious, but he didn’t show it. The thing was, I felt his fury in my heart. I felt his dread. His anger seeped into the air around us. “I knew you were crazy, but you got some balls on you, Ling Ling,” Twitch uttered in false calm. “You made a mistake coming here.” The car picked up speed. “Test me. I dare ya.” He ran after it, and as it sped away, he called out, “Got a fuckin’ target on ya head now, bitch.”
The second the car was out of sight, he spun, the veins in his neck bulging as he looked to Julius and rested his hands on his head, muttering a quietly panting, “We got us a problem.”
Yeah.
No, shit, Sherlock.
Julius nodded, his jaw tight. “Let’s go.”
Happy stepped forward and shook his head. “No way. Something stinks here.”
Yes, it did. “No.” I stepped forward, eyes wide, hands shaking. “None of you are going anywhere. Do you hear me?” I twisted to face Twitch. “You’re not going anywhere!”
Ana shoved open the passenger door and stumbled out, trying to steady her breathing. Julius looked plain worn. “It’s okay. It’s all right, baby. I’ll take care of it.”
But Ana shook her head and tried to speak. “Do— Do—” When she closed her eyes and let out a pained groan, my heart broke for her. Her trauma had increased tenfold at seeing the woman responsible for her capture and torture. She tried again, “Do you remember—” She took in a deep breath. “—what happened—” She panted noisily. “—when she separated us?” She shook her head, and cried out, “Not again!”
Julius’s bravado seemed to falter at her words. He pulled his wife close, wrapping his arms around her and rocking her as she wept.
Twitch also lost some steam. “Okay.” His brows lowered in thought. “Everyone go home.” He looked from Ana to my pale face and his lips thinned as he sighed. “Tonight is not the night.”
But as everyone departed and Twitch walked me inside, holding my hand tightly in his, only one thought circled my mind.
The crazy bitch knows where I live.
Well, shit.
That can’t be good.
Chapter
Twenty-Four
Twitch
It was late, and I lay beside my angel, wondering how the fuck I’d let this happen.
My entire time away was about wrapping up loose ends. I was careless in believing the one I left behind would know to stay away.
I heard about Ling.
I heard about her betrayal, about what she had done to Julius and Ana. I heard about her forceful takeover of The Dragons, the execution of her father. More recently, of the mockery she was making in the underworld.
For the first time since their beginnings, The Dragons were now recruiting half-blood Viets. It was unheard of. The Dragons were known for their traditional values, and Ling was fucking that all up.
Some people even said she was fucking her brother.
Knowing Ling, I wouldn’t put it past her. She was mental and nothing was off limits.
I knew eventually curiosity would get the better of her, but I didn’t expect it so soon. Fuck, I didn’t expect her to ever approach. The bitch made a mistake coming here tonight.
Keeping my anxiousness to myself, I kept quiet as the woman beside me turned, snuggled close, and pressed her face into the side of my neck. Without hesitance, I scooped her up and pulled her to lie on top of me, because she needed comfort and I was working on being everything she needed.
I’d found my religion. Lexi was my bible. And with her mercy, I would be reborn.