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)
“Hope!” Warlock lunged for his wife, but Hope managed to dodge him and continue toward the gate.
“Iris?” Hope called out and waved a hand as she hurried toward the girl. “Iris! What’s wrong?”
The girl -- Iris -- jerked her head around to find Hope. She was distraught. Angry. “You know my sister! She was with you last night!”
“Yes. Jerrica.” Hope looked around. “Is she with you? You’re both welcome here if you need a place to stay.”
“She’s gone!” Tears started streaming from Iris’s eyes as she found someone she knew. “Someone took her!”
“Gone? Oh, no! Do you know where?”
Iris shook her head. “Mr. Brown, the administrator at the home, said she was adopted, but I don’t believe him. Girls disappear there all the time. Now it’s Jerrica!”
“Disappear? What do you mean?”
“There’s something going on there, Hope. Since Mr. Brown took over, there have been a bunch of these ‘closed adoptions.’ He said the new parents don’t want a scene and want the children to be able to adjust, to make a clean break from their old lives. But Jerrica would never go along with that.”
“Of course, she wouldn’t. She loves you.” Hope pulled the other woman into her arms. And really, this Iris wasn’t more than a girl herself.
“I need help! I need someone to help me find her!”
“Come inside.” Hope urged her past the gate and back toward the clubhouse. Warlock shook his head as he acknowledged the prospects.
“I’ll take it from here,” he said.
I looked at the girl’s back and followed Warlock back to the clubhouse, though at a much slower pace. Iris was short and slight. Her clothes were ill-fitting, but clean. Her dark hair was in some kind of tight, elaborate braid atop her head. Though her features were etched in worry and frustration, she was still strikingly lovely. For some reason, I felt compelled to continue to follow her even though this -- whatever it was -- certainly wasn’t my fight.
“Just look into it.” Iris was pleading with Hope. Hope looked up at Warlock, her eyes wide, all but begging him to help the girl.
“Of course, we’ll look into it.” El Diablo descended the stairs, a woman on his arm. She was petite and blonde. Maybe close to my age. “Shotgun and Esther will find your sister. If they can’t do it themselves, they’ll reach out to people who can.”
“But if whoever took her figures out you’re on to them --”
“They’ll do it discreetly. Not to worry, my dear Iris.”
She finally let loose a small sob. “I -- I didn’t know where else to go. Hope was so nice to Jerrica. Jerrica loves her.”
“I love her too, Iris. I’ll help in any way I can. Do you need a place to stay?” Hope glanced up at Warlock. “Is it OK if she stays here so she can get information whenever she wants?”
“Of course, it’s fine if she stays.” This came from the woman with El Diablo. She stepped forward and pulled Iris into her arms in a fierce hug. “We’ll take care of everything. I’m Jezebel, El Diablo’s wife. We met at the party last night.”
Iris nodded. “I remember. Please. She’s all I have in the world.”
For some reason, this small plea from Iris tore at my heart. I wanted to slay her demons and, more importantly, find her sister and kill whoever had taken her.
“You have us now,” El Diablo insisted. “We’re all family here.”
Iris looked confused but nodded. “If it means you’ll find my sister, then I’m all for it. I don’t expect you to do anything for free, though. I don’t have much money, but what I have is yours. Maybe I can work around here?”
“Go with Jezebel. She’ll take you to Esther, and she and Shotgun can get started. As to payment, making sure you and your sister are safe is the only payment we need.”
Iris didn’t look like she believed him. Still, she went with Jezebel and Hope.
“You’re welcome to stay and help if you wish.” El Diablo gave me a welcoming smile. “Maybe bring some of your club down here to go hunting?”
I thought about declining, but then I caught a glimpse of Iris before she disappeared through a doorway. She turned her head and looked straight at me. It wasn’t intentional. In fact, her lips parted as her gaze met mine. I thought she inhaled sharply, like the impact of our gazes colliding hit her as hard as it hit me. And it did hit me hard. It felt like a punch to the gut. There was a pull toward her I didn’t welcome but couldn’t avoid or resist. Which is how I found myself nodding.
“I’ll get a team together. I doubt they can be here before late tomorrow evening at best, though. Long ride. Lots to prepare.”
“Good!” El Diablo held out his hand. I took it automatically. “I look forward to an alliance with the Iron Tzars. I’m certain it’s an arrangement that will be mutually beneficial.”