Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 80902 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80902 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
I want to cry, because my hands are tied, literally. It's so hard, because she understands that we're in trouble, but not why, or how, and our chances of getting out of here.
Of course, I don't know a lot of those answers either.
Ginger watches me from nearby. She’s sitting on another of the little desks, looking about as thrilled to be here as I am. The attitude she’s giving me right now is closer to what I was used to back in the day. That glare that dared me to try and take her place. Like I want to be here. If anyone should be mad, it should be me, for the things she's done, but I’m sure she’s just following Grinder’s orders. It’s pretty clear she’d rather me and Mia be anywhere else.
“I don't know yet, honey. We just have to wait patiently. What are you drawing?”
“It’s the tree from the picnic, remember? See—”
That's when the gunshots start.
“What the fuck?” Ginger asks, jumping to her feet.
It sounds nearby, but we can’t see a thing out of the gym windows that are nearly at ceiling height, designed to let in light but not for the view. There are collapsible bleachers along the walls, but there's too much junk in here to pull them out. “What's going on out there?”
Something explodes, just as Grinder returns to the gym. “We gotta move. They’re here.”
“Who?” Ginger asks.
“Who the fuck do you think? The Screaming Eagles,” he snarls. “I told Badger we should’ve hit them harder, but he was worried about their numbers. Fucking shortsighted coward. At least I got what I came for.”
I try to keep my face calm. I don’t want to draw their attention or to scare Mia. I knew they were on their way, but I was starting to worry. It was taking so long.
“Yeah, and big prize that was,” Ginger says, rolling her eyes.
“I dare you to fucking say that again, but to my face,” Grinder growls. He's pissed. Really really pissed. Someone's gonna die, pissed. Shit.
“Mia,” I whisper. “Come here. I want you to hug me tight, okay? Up in my lap and I want you to press your face into my chest and close your eyes. Hug me as hard as you can. Can you do that?”
She looks a little confused, probably because I don't sound at all like I'm looking to cuddle, but on the other hand, she really likes cuddles. And I think we could both use some right now. “K.”
“I said what I said. You heard me. At least Badger isn’t getting led around by his dick. No, sorry. His dead friend’s dick.”
I can see the exact moment Grinder decides that whatever talents Ginger has that have kept her around so far, they are no longer impressive enough.
“You're forgetting who's in charge here, Ginger.” Badger's tone turns ugly.
“Fucking men,” Ginger whispers under her breath, which right now is the first thing we can agree on. If I’m lucky, maybe they’ll take each other out.
“They're angry, Mommy,” Mia whispers.
“I know, honey. Just stay real close, okay?”
“K.”
I don't think either of them are stable in any way. Were all the Pit Vipers insane? Maybe they built their clubhouse over a toxic spill or something. But for as long as they keep arguing, maybe that'll help give the Eagles enough time to find us.
“I wasted so many years on you and all you can think about is her!” Ginger screams, pointing my way. “You going to shoot me? Go ahead and do it! I’m too fucking old to start over again and I refuse to be one of those old hags who bend over for anyone just to keep—”
Her tirade is cut off by a gunshot, way closer than the ones going on outside.
“Oh God. Mia, keep hugging me.”
“But Mommy—”
“I said, hug me. Mommy needs cuddles.”
It's difficult to keep my voice even while Ginger is collapsing right in front of me, her glassy eyes still open, like she’s still trying to figure out where her life went wrong. Grinder might be obsessed to the point of crazy with his promise to Dodger, but I can’t let myself forget that he’s a real danger to me and Mia. He shot her fast. Faster than I would've given him credit for.
“Bitch,” Grinder says before he gives her body a kick. “Let’s go—”
The whole building rumbles with the force of something big, much bigger than what took out the front of the Eagles’ Roost.
37
SLEDGE
A tank? They've got a fucking tank?
There's no denying my own damn eyes though. Armored and on treads, the thing comes rolling out of the utility building behind the church after they throw the barn-style doors open. It crunches forward on the gravel, the fucking turret swiveling back and forth as it looks for a target.
“Get down! Get the fuck down!” I scream to cut through the gunfire, as I run for cover.