Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 45515 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 182(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45515 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 182(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
“Right.” I had to consciously keep myself from rolling my eyes where Apple could see me. “We’re all alone in the big wide world with no one to watch over us. However will we manage?” I sighed, sounding bored as I put my sunglasses on and my hands behind my head. Apple might not have spotted the men from a local MC called Salvation’s Bane, and I wasn’t going to point them out to her. The last thing Wylde told me before we left was that if we needed anything while we were in Florida, I was to go to anyone at Salvation’s Bane. He’d even given me the phone number of Bane’s tech guy, a man called Ripper. So when I’d seen the cut the men wore, I knew they were there watching over us.
I’d never admit it to a fucking soul, but I liked that situation for more than one reason. First, I knew Wylde and the Tzars had our backs, because there was no way Salvation’s Bane had decided on their own to watch over a pair of random women. Second, Bane had our backs because they were helping out the Tzars. And lastly, it just felt good to know someone besides me was watching over my sister. And I would do anything to keep my sisters safe, but especially Apple. Wylde had Dani’s back. While I was sure he’d do his best to protect me and Apple, his first priority would always be Dani. At least, it better be. Otherwise I’d allowed him be with my sister for nothing. While I really liked Wylde, I would kill him if he didn’t.
“Bitch.” Despite her words, Apple laughed and threw a handful of wet sand at me. I was stretched out on a towel in a bikini, my skin hot and damp from sweat and lying under the noon-day sun. Bliss!
“Whore.” I threw a handful of sand back at her along with the word. It was our way.
This was the start of our third day in Florida. We’d come to this beach each morning at sunrise and hadn’t left until the sun set each night. Which I hated. At least, the morning part. But Apple was one of those people. You know. A morning person. It was hard to believe she was my sister, let alone my twin. Morning people sucked, and my sister did not suck. She was a far better person than I was, and I didn’t care to admit it.
But none of that was important. What was important was the fact that I’d seen the same guy on this beach the three days we’d been here. He’d watched the whole beach, studying everyone in the area. I’d seen his gaze briefly focusing on us more than once. The last time I’d caught his gaze and gave him what I hoped was a fucking death stare. Because if he had any thoughts of coming near my sister, I wanted him to know I’d make him wish I’d only killed him.
That had been Tuesday morning when I’d given him the stink eye. It was now Wednesday afternoon. I’d seen him a few more times since that day, but I didn’t think he saw me. He still studied the beach, but I’d noticed he seemed to be focusing on children. Girls in particular. At least, that’s what it looked and felt like to me. Had we been at a more crowded beach, I might have dismissed my concerns as me being a bitch who didn’t trust anybody. But this was a smaller section and in a spot that was more difficult to reach than other sections. So there were many fewer people. Following this guy’s gaze wasn’t difficult. And he always stopped on and watched young girls.
I was half listening to Apple going on about what a beautiful day it was and how free it felt to be outside under the sun, and blah, blah, blah, when I saw him again. This time, I saw him zero in on the same girl of about seven or eight, whom he’d been watching the past two days. She was by herself at a water fountain. I wasn’t sure who she was here with, but there wasn’t an adult in the area. Which is when the guy made his move.
“Apple.” I got to my feet and shoved my legs into my shorts.
“What’s wrong?” My sister could always tell when my mood had shifted the second it did.
“Behind us next to the food truck under the canopy are two guys in black MC vests. They’re from Salvation’s Bane. You go to them, then shoot an S.O.S. text to Wylde. Tell those men from Bane I’m following a man who took a little girl and for one of them to come after us. You stay with the other man and Bane until Wylde sends help.” I slipped on my flip flops.