Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 72937 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72937 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 365(@200wpm)___ 292(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
“He’s the best of the bunch,” I told her sincerely. Dealio wasn’t a horrendous piece of shit, at least not directly. He knew what the Black Jacks did and supplied the drugs, but he didn’t take part in the abuse.
Tits barked out a laugh and increased the speed a little more. “That much is true, but he’s not the kind of guy you can have a forever with, ya know? One or both of us will end up dead or in prison, eventually.”
“But that’s your choice, and I suppose that’s what your mama wanted when she came to this country.” It’s not like I was ever in a position to judge. My life choices would have led me to the same two endings. A coffin or a cell.
Tits laughed again. “Well, Dealio has exactly what this girl wants. A big cock, a long tongue, tons of money and an endless supply of drugs.”
There was no regret in Tits’ words, and I envied that. It reminded me of the woman I was before they turned me into a whore. I’d chosen to stay at my father’s side and run the business, a silly notion in my head of growing up to be like Sadie Ashby, a badass bitch in charge. No, the head bitch in charge.
“You think I’m stupid?” she asked, keeping her eyes peeled over the steering wheel.
“No, I think you’re smart. You know exactly who he is and you accept it because you know what you want and how to get it. More women would be better off if they were honest about what they wanted.”
“Yeah, and what do you want, Blue Eyes?”
“Freedom,” I sighed and my voice cracked, not from emotion but from dehydration.
“You’re getting that honey, so think just a little bit bigger because I have to find somewhere to take you. You got somebody to take you in?”
A bitter laugh escaped that led to a coughing fit. My ribs hurt like hell, and I cried out. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had anything to drink, and all the talking had only dried my mouth out more.
“If he hasn’t come to get me, chances are good he won’t take me back, so no I have no place to go.”
“Shit, Blue Eyes, that’s not what I wanted to hear. I’m already doing more than I should, but I can’t keep you at my place. It violates Green Zone rules.”
“I know,” I sighed because I knew them well. The Green Zone was neutral, the Switzerland of the greater Las Vegas area, which meant she couldn’t do anything to help or hurt any of the crews that operated within it.
“This is plenty,” I told her sincerely. “Just drop me off anywhere,” I said as another coughing fit took over.
“Stay here,” she said as she pushed the gearshift into park on the old car and stepped out. “You need food and water.”
“And smokes,” I called out to her. “I haven’t had a fix in days, and I need…something, Tits. Please.”
“And cigarettes,” she mumbled before slamming the driver’s side door behind her.
I sat up slowly, grunting through the pain in my side to see where we were. It was a free-standing convenience store that sat just off the interstate with a duo of payphones out front. I was tempted to make a call to my father, because a small part of me wanted to believe he was still looking for me, but I knew better.
Too much time had passed, and he’d moved on, probably gave the reins to my brother like Brendan always wanted. They’d forgotten all about me, most likely. Or worse, they didn’t want me because after all this time, I might have revealed organizational secrets to put the Rhymer family and The Crusaders in danger.
Either way, I was a woman without a home—or a family.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Charlie
“You throw one hell of a party, Ashby!” It was tough to be heard over the loud thump of the bass music below, where curvy girls with big tits shook and shimmied to the music while hungry and horny men tossed one, five, and twenty-dollar bills onto the stage.
Jasper smiled and leaned in, the amber liquid in his glass sloshing around as he did. “It’s not every day your kid brother gets married.” He shrugged it off, but he wore a wide smile, either from too many drinks or just because who didn’t like to hang out with his boys while naked women danced below.
“Lucky Lopez is a damn good place for a man’s last night of freedom!”
I tossed my head back and laughed at his words, true as they were.
“No shit. There’s some hot ass down there, that’s for sure. But this VIP room, it’s the shit, Jas.”
The room was mirrored glass on three sides so important guests could see out into the club, but no one could see inside. “It’s pretty fucking perfect.”