Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 34282 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34282 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
Chapter Four
Iris
I sat outside a warehouse on the edge of the industrial shore area. Ships on- and off-loaded their cargoes about a quarter mile away. The warehouses were easily accessible to the road and any truck ferrying cargo. This warehouse was on the remote edge. Close enough to be part of the complex, but far enough away not to draw attention. No one had come or gone, but it wasn’t fully dark yet. I figured anything they did would be under the cover of darkness.
This was a stupid idea. There was no way I stood a chance of actually rescuing Jerrica. Not only was I not strong enough to actually win a fight, I was absolute shit at fighting. The only thing I could hope for was to be captured and be put with Jerrica and any other kids inside. At least then I could provide a small layer of protection for her.
As if I’d summoned them, the door opened, and two men stepped outside the warehouse. One was on his phone, the other scanning the area like he knew what he was looking out for. Yeah. I didn’t have a chance in hell of taking Jerrica from these men if they had her.
I was about to back my way out of the area and try to find a better way in when a hand clamped over my mouth and pulled me down to the pavement. I tried to fight off my attacker, but he was infinitely stronger than me, trapping me face down between the hard ground and his equally hard body. My heart raced as I tried to buck him off me, but he was so Goddamned heavy! He didn’t seem to feel anything even though my feet connected with his shins more than once.
“Knock it off, Iris. It’s me.”
That voice…
I stilled. When I did, he slowly removed his hand from my mouth.
“Sting?” We hadn’t spoken to each other aside from in meetings, and I’d never addressed him directly. He always seemed to be watching me, though. It was as unnerving as it was exhilarating. Sting was the type of man you didn’t defy. He was hard and unbending. Anyone could see by the way he handled his club his word was law. Now he had me under his control. The thought should have been disconcerting. Instead, I felt an overwhelming sense of relief.
“The one and only, little hellcat.” His deep, rumbly growl at my ear made my insides shiver. God, this man was potent! The heat from his body was scorching. Even more so with his breath in my ear. In another situation I’d be swooning. Now I was pissed off.
“What are you doing here?” I hissed my question.
“Could ask you the same thing.”
“I’m trying to rescue my sister since you’re too big a pussy!” Lashing out at him wasn’t the smartest thing I’d ever done, but he’d scared the life out of me.
“Always intended to go after your sister, Iris.” He didn’t sound angry or annoyed. Just matter-of-fact.
“You said it was too big a risk! That you didn’t have time to set things up or whatever!”
“Honey, your sister’s already been moved. Brick’s got a crew following her. They will get her to safety when they see an opening, and she’ll be safe and sound back with you in less than twenty-four hours.”
“What?” Panic seized me. “They’ve… they’ve already moved her? Oh, no!” I struggled anew, doing everything I could to get the big bastard off me. Still, he didn’t budge.
“Take it easy, little hellcat. We’ve got this under control. All you have to do is stay where I put you while we take care of these bastards. They’re bringing in a new group of kids. When they get here, we’ll rescue the kids and erase the bad guys. Yeah?”
“But you said it was too risky!”
“I said we’d never get her if we tried to take her at the warehouse because we only had an hour to plan and get set up. Not nearly enough time to do it without risking Jerrica. I never said we’d leave her.”
I stilled beneath him, looking back over my shoulder. “You promise?”
“I do, hellcat. I ain’t no saint, but I’d never leave a little girl in the hands of monsters because I was afraid to go in and take her. Only wanted to minimize the danger to her as much as possible. But we got eyes on her. Brick thinks the risk is acceptable, or it becomes more dangerous to her for them to wait any longer, he’ll strike and risk everything to bring her back safe.”
“You really believe that.” It wasn’t a question. I could see it in his eyes.
“I do. Now. ‘Cause you jumped the gun and didn’t trust us, I gotta take care of these fuckers a little quicker than I’d like. I’ll be spankin’ your ass later for not trustin’ me on this.”