Total pages in book: 158
Estimated words: 144908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 725(@200wpm)___ 580(@250wpm)___ 483(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 144908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 725(@200wpm)___ 580(@250wpm)___ 483(@300wpm)
Master could see Torpedo Ink members surrounding Czar and Blythe as they came out from under a truck. Blythe looked as if she was crying. That got to Master. She tried to break away from Czar, but he held her firmly, bending his head to hers and saying something she clearly didn’t agree with. She shook her head several times, but Czar was insistent.
As Master neared them, he could hear Czar’s low tone, the one that was a warning to anyone listening. He rarely used it with Blythe.
“He has to learn, Blythe. He could have been killed. He put your life in jeopardy along with his. He put Master’s life in jeopardy and then Ambrie’s. He’s old enough to learn the rules, just like the rest of the children had to learn them. You’re too soft and you know it. You have to let me handle this.”
“He’s just coming out of his shell and learning to trust us,” Blythe pleaded.
Czar put his hands on her shoulders and gently moved her behind him. “Do as I say, baby.” As gentle as he was, Czar meant business, and there was no getting around him.
Reaper put his hand on Blythe’s shoulder as Czar approached Jimmy and Ambrielle. Jimmy was squirming, wriggling and even outright trying to twist his wrist free of Ambrie’s grip. She held him in front of her, refusing to allow him freedom.
“You better let me go or I’m going to kick you again, only harder,” Jimmy threatened.
“Stay still until your father gets here,” Ambrielle said.
A flash of unexpected anger erupted in Master. It shocked him that he could feel wrath at a boy that young, but the little shit had kicked Ambrielle, and all she’d done was protect him.
Jimmy turned his head toward her arm and opened his mouth to put his teeth on her arm.
“You bite her, kid, and you won’t have any teeth left to eat with,” Master proclaimed, not caring what Czar might say or think.
Jimmy froze at the threat. Ambrielle looked up at him, her eyes lighting up, but she remained silent, focusing on keeping Jimmy corralled. The boy wasn’t intimidated for long. He wanted his freedom and was intent on getting it. He tried to yank himself free and once more pulled his foot back in a threatening manner.
This time it was the sight of Czar approaching, grim faced, eyes flashing silver, that stopped the boy from fighting.
“Did you just kick the woman who kept you from getting shot, Jimmy?” Czar asked, his voice lower than ever.
Master came up behind Ambrielle and circled her waist with one arm, drawing her back against his solid form.
“She wouldn’t let me go,” Jimmy said.
“She wasn’t supposed to let you go. She’s an adult, and in a situation where there’s an active shooter, someone threatening your life or the lives of your family, what do you do?”
Jimmy hung his head.
“I asked you a question, and I expect an answer. Someone was shooting at us, and you were supposed to stay with your mother, but you didn’t. What do you do in the situation you found yourself in?”
Jimmy continued to hang his head. He remained silent. Master knew how to use silence. He’d been doing it all his life. He also knew from experience that Czar would never let Jimmy get away with it, not when survival was at stake.
“We can stand on this street all day and all night if that’s what you want to do, Jimmy, but you will answer me. I’ll send your mother home with Reaper. I need to know that you have the skills to survive in any situation, and that means you answer every question I ask you. Do you understand me?”
Jimmy barely nodded his head.
“Then look at me, son.”
Master thought adding “son” was a stroke of genius because Czar didn’t change his tone. It was demanding and warning at the same time. Somehow “son” softened that lethal warning.
Jimmy tilted his head slightly. “I wanted to get my drinks from Hannah.”
Czar was silent for a moment as if contemplating the explanation. Master thought it more than likely he was counting to ten to keep from exploding. The kid had placed his life in jeopardy for some drinks he could have gotten at any time. He just didn’t know he could have those drinks anytime. He was young and still learning.
“Jimmy,” Czar said softly, using the same voice. “Would it matter to you if you had the drinks and Mommy was dead?”
Blythe gasped and shook her head, a fresh flood of tears tracking down her face. Reaper squeezed her shoulder. Master wasn’t certain if he was trying to comfort her or stop her from running to her son. Czar flicked her one glance, and she covered the lower half of her face with her palm and stayed very still.