Total pages in book: 151
Estimated words: 148238 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 741(@200wpm)___ 593(@250wpm)___ 494(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 148238 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 741(@200wpm)___ 593(@250wpm)___ 494(@300wpm)
Burn, baby girl. Burn.
I shivered. “What do you mean?”
It was Grasshopper who answered. His voice low and anger lacing every word. “It means those motherfuckers have used us again. First him, now you.”
Arthur’s fists turned white.
“Prez, didn’t think I’d see you here.” Mo appeared, his blond hair sticking up as if he’d just pulled his bike helmet off. His gaze fell to mine but he kept his questions hidden.
The tension that’d built in our small group faded thanks to the newcomer.
Arthur looked at him, his eyes dark and suspicious. “Are the other guys here?”
Mo shook his head. “No, just us. No trades today. No meetings. A lot of them are having a family day.”
Arthur nodded. “Good. We’re going on a little trip.” Dragging a hand through his long hair, he said, “The four of us are going on the hunt for fucking answers.”
Finally!
Arthur took my hand. “It’s time to unravel this mess once and for all. And when I find out what the fuck it all means…”
Grasshopper stepped forward, his hands curling by his sides. “It means we’ll finally have what we’ve been working toward all these years.”
Goose bumps scattered down my spine.
“Vengeance,” Mo muttered, his face glowing with eager pride. “Down with denial. Death to the traitors.”
Arthur nodded. “It’s time for war.”
Chapter Nineteen
Pain came in many forms.
Loneliness.
Betrayal.
Sacrifice.
But I’d found love to be the most painful of all.
I was invincible when no other emotion controlled me. I was single-minded in my determination to deliver justice. I had a gift of blotting out the world and throwing myself into numbers, calculations, and vengeance.
But when Cleo looked into my eyes with the same soul-depth connection we’d shared all those years ago, it fucking crippled me.
I became useless. Weak. Besotted.
I wanted to forget about all my plans and run far away to keep her safe.
Yet even though she granted me happiness with her tender touches and smiles, there was a blankness inside her, too. A scary void that blocked out all we’d shared, leaving me even more alone than before.
I loved a stranger. A stranger who knew me better than I knew myself.
Who would’ve thought her love for me could hurt so much?
Who could’ve thought my heart would break all over again knowing she’d forgotten?
Forgotten everything I’d whispered to her.
Everything we’d promised.
—Kill
The wind whipped in my face as I clung to Arthur’s waist.
It seemed life went from normal speed to hyper-overdrive. The moment he’d decided to solve the riddle that was my life, we all sprang into action. No planning, no hesitation.
A collective nod and intelligent men turned into hunting savages—focused on one goal.
I was surprised Arthur hadn’t thrown me over his shoulder and tossed me onto his bike with the rage he was in. The anger he kept wrapped around himself had been refastened after our tryst; he was back in full command.
He’d captured my wrist and the four of us stormed to the garage and its awaiting steeds. Instead of velveteen horses and lances, the knights defending my honor climbed aboard their trusty Triumphs and cocked their guns, ready for battle.
I just hoped there would be no war and answers would put aside whatever feud Arthur had with people I didn’t know. I wanted life to be simple again—not the messy ball of lies it had become.
I’d tried to speak to Arthur over the whipping wind as we shot down roads beneath hot sunshine, but with helmets and the insane pace he pushed his machine, my voice had no hope of being heard.
His body was tight, fists white around the handlebars. My body plastered against his in a borrowed leather jacket.
City, suburbia, then highway became my view as the rumble and thunder of three Triumphs ate tarmac with ravenous speed.
I had no idea where we were going.
Twenty minutes went by—zipping and weaving down roads and highways.
Forty minutes—my front grew sticky and hot pressed against Arthur’s powerful back.
Fifty minutes—my spine tingled with foreboding the longer we traveled.
An hour.
And still we rode.
The roar of not just our bike but Grasshopper and Mo’s too no longer lived in my ears but in my soul. My heart purred to it. My stomach churned to it.
Family sedans slowed down to let us pass. Big rigs moved off the median to let us charge in front. Was it respect or fear that gave the bikers the road? Either way, their throttles remained high and tires chewed up tarmac as cities disappeared behind us.
We finally slowed and entered a small town. We meandered down lanes and through suburban neighborhood perfection. At every corner, my heart beat harder.
I—I know this place…
My eyes fell on a park complete with faded monkey bars, seesaw, and swing.
My world disintegrated.
“Would you let me kiss you if I pushed?”
I spun around, locking eyes with the boy who, until last week, hadn’t wanted anything to do with me. He’d been so mean when I’d asked him to watch TV with me while my parents were out, I’d cried myself to sleep. I couldn’t understand how we’d gone from being so close and sharing our deepest secrets to being complete strangers.