Series: Silver Spoon MC Series by Nichole Rose
Total pages in book: 41
Estimated words: 37450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 187(@200wpm)___ 150(@250wpm)___ 125(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37450 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 187(@200wpm)___ 150(@250wpm)___ 125(@300wpm)
I miss my twin intensely. She's always been the one constant in my life, with me even in the womb. What's she doing right now? Is she missing me too?
"We need to talk, Bella," Cormac murmurs as he, Cash, Fifth, Hacker, Bender, Angel, and Andreas all file into the living room, grim-faced and unsmiling. Samara, Tate's wife, follows behind. I think Cormac asked her to stay so I wouldn't feel outnumbered and overwhelmed. I liked her immensely. All of the wives are really sweet. I'm really looking forward to getting to know them.
Samara and Cormac immediately cross to me. Cormac picks me up from the couch before sitting down with me in his lap. Samara takes a seat beside us.
I don't bother arguing with Cormac about putting me in his lap. I can tell by the expression on his face what his brothers want to talk about, and I can use a little of his strength. My stomach trembles, anxiety quaking through me.
Samara gives me a sympathetic smile, making me intensely grateful she's here. I like her. There's a quiet strength to her, an unyielding spirit that I recognize. She's known darkness in her life.
Cormac's brothers settle in around the room, each taking seats instead of hovering or looming. Once they're all situated, Fifth leans forward, his hands steepled together.
He's an interesting man.
"We need to ask you about Bellamy Hill, sweetheart," he says, his deep voice quiet and grave. "I understand it's probably not something you want to think about, much less discuss, but in order for us to protect you to the best of our abilities, we need to know what we're up against here."
"I thought Cormac was protecting me," I mutter, stalling. He's right. I don't want to talk about it.
"We don't fight alone in this brotherhood," Cash says. "What one of us endures, we all endure. You're under our protection now, Bella."
Of course. They're family.
"Talk to me, baby," Cormac says. "Tell me what happened."
I expel a breath. "There isn't a lot to tell. Bellamy was working late like always. I had some things to finish up, so I stayed over. When I was done, he asked if I could do him a favor before I left and run something down to the studio, so they'd have it in the morning," I say. "He went to the parking garage, and I went to drop off the flash drive. The studio is only one floor from the garage, so I decided to take the stairs."
Cormac runs soothing hands up and down my arms.
"I heard arguing when I made it to the garage. Two men had Bellamy pinned to the ground, demanding money from him. They kept saying he owed them." I shiver at the memory. Bellamy kept shouting that he'd get them whatever they wanted, but they didn't want to hear it.
They were so violent.
"I just…froze. I didn't know Bellamy had a panic button on his keyfob. Neither did they. One of them stomped on his hand, and he let go of his keys. That's when they realized he'd been pressing the button. Um, they got mad." I flinch, cowering into Cormac.
"The younger of the two kicked him in the stomach. The older one pulled out a gun and shot him twice." I cower deeper into Cormac, grateful when Samara reaches for my hand, gripping it tightly. "I screamed."
"Jesus," Cash whispers.
Cormac growls, a low, menacing sound.
"I didn't mean to do it."
"I'm so damn sorry, Bella," Cash says, his expression rife with remorse. "You never should have had to see that."
"They heard me," I whisper, licking my lips. "The youngest started coming toward me. I turned and ran back inside the building. Um, you have to have the code to get in, and they didn't have the code. A few minutes later, they peeled out of the parking deck in a black Charger." I exhale a shaky breath. "I waited for a minute to make sure they were gone, and then I tried to help Bellamy until the police got there."
He was already beyond help, but I tried anyway. I couldn't just leave him. The whole time, I was terrified they were going to come back and kill me too. But Bellamy was a friend. He took a chance on me when no one else would. I couldn't leave him to die alone.
"They must have gotten a good look at me," I mumble. "Two days later, someone set my car on fire. The next day, they broke into my apartment and trashed it."
"Do the police have any leads?"
"The Dixie Mafia."
"Motherfucker," Cormac curses, tension radiating from him.
Cash and Andreas look shell-shocked. Fifth just looks worried.
"Um, they think Bellamy owed them drug money. I don't think it was Bellamy though. I think it's his son, Brantley. Um, the musician." I meet Fifth's gaze. "I had access to Bellamy's bank account. Drug addicts aren't as careful with money as he was."