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)
Reapplying my lipstick to the lips my sisters once called soup coolers, I checked my makeup and I was good to go.
Before I left my room, I slipped on my loaded holster and wore it openly. I wasn’t hiding anymore. Not from Lexi, not from anyone. As I made it into the family room, Lexi was standing, and when she looked down at the leg wrap I wore that housed my favorite hunting knife, her eyes widened a moment before she took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and stepped closer to me, placing her hands on my shoulders.
And what she said had me feeling things that made me uncomfortable.
“This house is only a home because of the people in it.” Lexi’s soft, maternal voice washed over me. “And it wouldn’t be the same without you. So, be smart and be safe.” I closed my eyes, and she touched her warm hand to my cheek. “Come back to us, Molly.”
I loved this woman. She reminded me of my mother.
“I will.” My tone was soft.
Without looking back, I made it out the back door and into the garage. When I turned on Big Red, she roared to life, shaking the walls of the interior with every rough rumble she spewed to let everyone know she lived.
Fuck. I loved this car.
I left then, and I didn’t know when I would be back.
But I planned on coming back.
To my family.
The dilapidated warehouse was old news. I’d been here hundreds of times before. It was actually where Tama and I first met through a mutual friend, who told Tama Hariana about my specialty. A specialty he just happened to have need of.
I was a mercenary. A gun for hire, and a damned good one too. I learnt from the best, training with the worst of people who gave me the edge I needed to get a foot up in a world that wanted to step on me, weighing me down until I sunk into the cold, hard ground.
Made a name for myself by sixteen, and by eighteen, they started to call me Quickbeat. I don’t know who started that, but it caught on, and while, once upon a time, people would shout my name openly, they started to whisper it.
I’d by lying if I said I didn’t like that.
They were waiting for me outside. There were four of them, huge Maori men, but I only had my eyes on one.
The one.
I sped into the lot, Cardi B’s “I Like It” blaring from the speakers. The subwoofer made the entire back windshield vibrate with the heavy bass that made my heart stop. I needed to get revved, and music helped me out in that department.
It had been a while since I’d done this.
Big Red roared when I hit the accelerator and spun the steering wheel, leaning into the door as the car drifted sideways, and I watched with a smirk as gravel sprayed the men, forcing them to cover their faces with their arms. I stopped the car suddenly, switching it off and stepping out with a shit-eating grin, bumping the door closed with my butt and slinking over to them confidently.
I looked over the guys. I knew them all.
Hemi, the giant teddy bear, was there. He jerked his chin at me.
Amoho did not spare me a smile. That was fair. I looked at him hard as he glared at me.
Kawana’s face was soft, but he didn’t greet me either.
That sucked.
I loved Kawana. He was my boy.
When my eyes landed on Tama, I stood in front of the huge, muscled man. His 6’3” height was a contrast to my 5’5”, but I held my own, standing tall and folding my arms across my chest. My melodic voice was so deceiving. It always had been. “Tama.” I looked him up and down, pausing over his crotch before lifting my eyes to his. “You look good.”
He did. My God, did he ever.
Tama was 275 pounds of pure muscle. His chest was wide. His shoulders were wider. I’d always considered this man a god. A vengeful god, and his black stare was on me. The tattoos on his face made him look terrifying, but all I wanted to do was run my fingers over them and trail them with kisses.
When he opened his mouth, the words came out rough and my entire body broke out in goose bumps. “Why did you come?”
Because you asked me to.
Because I’m sorry for the pain I caused you.
Because I will never love anyone the way I love you.
I shrugged, my eyes never leaving his. “The price was right.” My tone lowered. “Speaking of which....”
Tama reached behind him, and momentarily, my heart stopped.
I was outmanned, outnumbered, and outranked.
Oh, wow.
It was stupid to come here.
Faster than a lightning strike, I had both of my Glocks pointed at him, unblinking, and the asshole grinned, throwing the bundled wad of cash at my feet.