Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 58604 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 293(@200wpm)___ 234(@250wpm)___ 195(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58604 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 293(@200wpm)___ 234(@250wpm)___ 195(@300wpm)
“I know.” He nods, grasping my face in his hands, brow furrowed, eyes searching.
“What?” my palms cover his.
“The cop? He’s been found.”
No…
CHAPTER 2
GOOD COP/BAD COP
I can’t catch my breath. My lungs seize. It’s over. How the hell did they already find him?
As if reading my mind, Callan says, “Grease went to check our perimeter when we heard gun shots. He just called me. We’ve found him.”
My head fills with static. My heart hammers against my ribcage.
“I—”
“Shhh, we’re taking care of it. I don’t want you to think about that bastard, you hear me?” His dark eyes implore me before he crushes me against his body. It hurts, but I don’t say anything. I just soak him up. “I came looking for you. Fuck, I’m so sorry, Rogue.”
He flinches, guiding me back from his hold, his eyes dragging over my battered body. “I’d bring that fucker back to life if I could, just so I can kill him again.”
“I’m fine.” I close my eyes, trying to un-muddle my thoughts. “He waited out there for me. The guy from Ray’s—it was his dad.”
“He’s as corrupt as they come. We knew he would come for us. We planned to deal with him before that happened. I didn’t think for one second that he’d go after you.” Veins bulge in his neck, throbbing erratically.
“Now you don’t have to deal with him.” Damn, how much deeper can I get with the Kings? They now have the power to destroy me without even killing me. Knowledge is power.
“He wasn’t on duty or working within the law. No one will ever find him or the car.” He takes my hand in his, closing his fingers around mine. “I promise you don’t have to worry about this.”
“Okay. Thank you.” I nod, offering a tight smile that hurts to achieve. Taking my hand from his, I shove it into my back pocket.
“We need to take you to the hospital, Rogue.” His brow crashes as his eyes rack over my face mapping all the damage.
“No.” I shake my head, the action sending ringing through my ears. “I just need to clean up.”
“Rogue.” It’s pained, a groan rumbling up his throat.
“Please, Callan.”
Kitty’s footfalls sound behind us, “leave her, Callan.”
Silence dangles between us, his chest rising and falling as he contemplates my plea.
“Do you want to shower?” He finally asks. My gaze flits to his bathroom. Sickness roils in my gut as images of Georgina from earlier flash through my mind.
“I’ll use Kitty’s.” I relax my lips, my gums stinging.
“Rogue.” He wipes a hand across his brow. “Nothing happened with Georgina. She tried her best, grabbed at my zipper before I could stop her.”
“It’s true.” Kitty interrupts. “He told her nothing was ever going to happen with them. She needed to get that through her thick skull or leave the club for good.” Kitty walks to where we’re standing. “Don’t let her play mind games.”
My head drops, exhaustion draining me. “Let me clean you up then you can sleep for a little bit.” She edges.
“Okay,” I agree.
She leads me into the bathroom, shutting the door on Callan, who followed us and now resembles a stone statue at the threshold. I jerk involuntary when she reaches for my jeans. “I’m sorry.” She gasps, snatching her hand back.
“No, I’m sorry.” I shake my head and hurry the fabric down my thighs, closing my eyes when hers go wide. Pain burns the skin with the rushed action. When I open them again, I catch my reflection in the mirror and gasp. My hair looks like I got swept away by a tornado, the strands matted with leaves and grit. The copper undertones glimmering in the light remind me of embers flickering beneath coal. Bruises color my cheeks, and my lips are swollen and encrusted with blood.
“Not going to lie, you look like you just crawled out of a grave.” Kitty grimaces.
I chuckle and clutch my ribs, instantly regretting it. “Ow.”
“Shit, I’m sorry.”
“Can you help me with this bra?” I manage a slight smile that she mimics.
“Of course.” Her fingers delicately unclip the hooks and shift the straps down my arms. “I can’t fucking believe that bastard did this to you.”
“The law has never been a friend of mine.” I snort. “Biker brat and all.”
She pauses her movements, looking at me through the mirror. “I’m sorry about how I reacted to everything before.”
“I get it,” I say, waving her off. I have no animosity toward Kitty. I just want us to be okay. “Tell me about Georgina. Why is she around if Callan doesn’t want her?”
She runs warm water in the sink, wetting a washcloth.
“She and Callan went to school together. They were together when they were young.” My body stiffens, I catch her eyes in the mirror. It’s irrational to be jealous of a past I have nothing to do with or any control over, but the stab scrapes against my heart all the same.