Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 77198 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77198 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
As he took the money from my hand, Tripp asked, “What about the girl?”
“I’ll handle her.”
“You sure you don’t want us to stick around and...”
“No, it’s late.” I motioned my head toward the door. “I’ll take care of it after I get you two back to the truck.”
“Whatever you say, boss.”
They both followed me out to my car, and I took them straight to Hopper’s truck. Once they’d both gone, I drove back to the house to check in on the girl. I felt torn. A part of me hoped that she would’ve already succumbed to her wounds and had passed, but there was another part of me that hoped that she’d held on and would find the strength to pull through.
When I walked into the med room, she was still lying on the gurney, and the blanket was still draped over her body. She was so still, almost eerily so, and I was beginning to think she’d passed when her eyes fluttered open. My stomach twisted into a knot when she moaned, “Please... help me.”
A shallow breath escaped her lungs, and then her eyes fell shut once again. I couldn’t do it anymore. I had to do something. I knew it was a bad idea, but I couldn’t just leave her there to die alone. I stepped over to the gurney and took her hand in mine as I whispered, “It’s going to be okay.”
She gave my hand a slight squeeze, then muttered, “I can’t.”
“You can,” I pushed. “You just gotta hold on.”
I released her hand and rushed over to the cabinet. I started sifting through all the medical supplies, searching for anything I could use to help her. Seconds later, I was hooking her up to an IV and was administering fluids. I needed to get a better look at her wounds, so I eased her over onto her stomach.
She groaned out in agony, then fell silent. The pain was too much for her, and she’d passed out. I decided to use the opportunity to remove her blouse and eased her onto her side. My stomach sank when I saw the three large bullet wounds in her back.
I couldn’t believe that she was still alive.
The bullets were buried deep in her flesh, and she’d lost a great deal of blood. She was in bad shape, really bad shape, and if I didn’t do something fast, she wasn’t going to pull through. Unfortunately, it would take a great deal of skill to remove the bullets without causing even further damage—a skill I didn’t have.
I stood there for a moment, just staring at her gaping wounds as I mulled over my options.
Sadly, I didn’t have many.
I couldn’t do this thing on my own, so I took out my phone and made a call I had no business making. I dialed the number, and seconds later, I heard, “You’ve got Viper.”
“Hey, brother. It’s Billy... Sorry to call so late, but I need your help with something.”
“What’s going on?”
“Can’t really get into it, but I need Doc and I need him now.”
“You okay?”
“I’m fine, but I’ve got someone here who isn’t.”
“Alright, I’ll send him now.”
“I’d appreciate that.”
“You need anything else?” Viper offered.
“No, just tell him to hurry.”
“You got it.”
Doc was the best at taking care of the Ruthless Sinners’ injuries, and I knew I could count on him to help the girl and be discreet about it as well. As soon as I hung up, I turned my attention back to her. I gently brushed the hair from her face, then leaned down and placed my mouth close to her ear and whispered, “Help is on the way. You just gotta hang on a little longer.”
I’d fucked up.
I could feel it in my bones. I should’ve done just like Hopper said and let nature take its course, but I simply couldn’t do it. I couldn’t just let her lay there and die. I had to do something.
It would be a decision that altered my life in ways I couldn’t begin to imagine, and it might end up costing me everything.
EVERLEIGH
Some monsters don’t sleep under your bed or hide in your closet.
They walk among us, living and breathing like you and me, but they aren’t anything like us. They are cold, wicked creatures who strive to rule the world, destroying anyone and everyone who tries to stand in their way.
I knew Antonio DeLuca was a monster the second I first laid eyes on him.
But I didn’t know how cruel and malicious he truly was until the night I tried to escape.
I was in my room and about to go to bed when I heard a pounding on my door. “Everleigh! Everleigh! Open up!”
I rushed over to my bedroom door, and when I opened it, I found Matteo standing in the hall with a panicked look on his face. “What’s wrong?”