Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 75406 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75406 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 377(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 251(@300wpm)
38
EAGLE-EYE
The first sign of life from the water is a jet ski, coming in at high speed. Is it one of the boys? There's no fucking way all three of them and Kaylee are on that thing. I wave Nicholas back, and take a step behind one of the dock buildings to watch.
The guy on the jet ski cuts the engine and glides into the boat ramp. The moment it strikes the asphalt, he's off it and coming up. Hawthorne.
Motherfucker.
I wait for him to get to the top, then step out. “Long time, no see.”
“Eagle-eye.” His voice is fucking ice. Is he armed? Doesn't look like it, but that doesn't mean I'm not watching.
“Last I saw you, your boat was bigger and had more people on it. You better have a good fucking story as to what happened.”
He laughs dryly. “Or what? You'll shoot me? I think we already know what's going to happen here.”
“You might be right. You've caused a lot of fucking trouble, Hawthorne. Beat your daughter. Beat your wife. Hurt a lot of fucking people. If it'd been up to me, you'd never have made it as far as fucking jail, and now you're here, stirring up all the old shit all over again. Trying to start a fucking war in your own city. Getting sweet kids like Kaylee in trouble well over her fucking head. Maybe you should've stayed on the fucking boat.” I loosen the gun in my belt.
He throws his hands out. “I did what I had to do. This city is turning into a fucking shithole, with your little play group at the center of it. Was it so fucking hard to grow up someday? To just act like fucking adults instead of… whatever the fuck you do? Of course I have to get rid of you. It was my fucking duty, Eagle-eye. And somehow you've managed to turn it all against me. I've got nothing left, and it's all your damn fault.”
“I think I speak for just about everybody in the whole damn city except you, in saying that you brought this shit on yourself.”
He shrugs. “So now what? You going to end it?”
I nod, feeling grim, but righteous. “I am. You've hurt too many people I care about, and if I let you go, you'll just keep on doing it.”
“Jesus Christ. How do you even fucking sleep at night?”
“Easy,” I say as I draw. “With your wife.”
One shot is all it takes, and he collapses like a sack of potatoes. Do I feel satisfaction? Nah, because this doesn't undo anything that he did. But it's a fucking conclusion, and I'll accept that.
And that's when I hear the sound of a boat coming in.
39
KAYLEE
All my concerns about Nicholas were wiped away when I learned he drove to Hawthorne’s place. We’ll have to go back for some of the bikes, but my men were definitely not in any shape to ride. Well, Tank wanted to, but I cried until he agreed to ride with us, and I have zero regrets.
It’s three in the morning, but the courtyard is packed with bikers when we pull into the club with Eagle-eye leading on his bike. I feel gross. Dirty. Both because I stink like lake water and terror, and because I've racked up a whole new pile of memories that I need to scrub away.
The reception is muted until we open the SUV door and Wraith, Tank and Nitro come out, with me in tow. Then I feel bad for all the kids who probably wake up when the members cheer at seeing everyone alive.
“I'll take him inside,” says Nitro, helping Wraith up the stairs. A thick-bodied biker with short white hair and beard follows them in, followed by a woman who I think is Emily. Is he a doctor or something?
The crowd swarms Tank and Eagle-eye, as everyone wants to congratulate them on a job well done. I actually feel a little left out. And a little insecure. Now that Hawthorne is gone, Harris and Anderson are gone, and the Giordanos and Screaming Eagles are going to be mending fences, where does that leave me?
Do I go home? God, I can finally call Mom and Dad! But what do I tell them? I glance at Tank, then I look at the gate.
I could leave all this craziness behind, but where would that leave me? What would I do? Go back to washing hair and working for Mom? I can't unlearn everything I've experienced. I love Tank, Wraith and Nitro. I don't want to leave. But now everything is over. Mission successful, but how do they feel about it?
About me?
Tank's arm slips around my waist. “Let's go inside, baby.”
I lean into his touch. God, it feels so good, and I don't want to leave that behind. But I'm nervous anyway. If they still want me here, it's because we're flipping a new page, because all the 'real' reasons for why I'm here are gone. For some reason, I'm worried about the answer. “You guys don't need to protect me anymore. I mean, they're all dead now. So—”