Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 36052 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 180(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36052 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 180(@200wpm)___ 144(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
“You’re asking me?” I was incredulous that he’d even ask me that question. “You know what we have to do,” I snapped. “That’s a fuck of a lot bigger than simply leadin’ the feds to our door. We’ve killed people for less.”
“So, that’s what you want to do?”
“Why are you making it sound like this is my decision, Rocket? You’re the fuckin’ president. Hell, your woman’ll make it if you can’t.”
There was a silence while I took a moment to process that I’d just called out the one man I trusted with my life, same as accusing him of not being able to make hard decisions.
“Yeah,” Rocket drawled, but his tone of voice said he was barely restraining himself. If I was standing in front of him right then, I was sure he’d punch me. “I’m gonna forget you said that. I can absolutely make the hard decisions. The only reason I’m not now is because you claimed her, you bastard. And I absolutely will not pass a snap judgment on one of our old ladies. I’m extending the same courtesy to Olivia because of you.”
“Why? What do you expect to gain? She’s guilty. Not like we didn’t expect it.”
“And you took responsibility, Bear. Means the kill’s yours.”
“Name the time and place, Rocket.” The words burned in my throat. This should be an easy task. After all, I’d known this woman a couple of hours at best. I claimed her because I’d never had such a strong reaction to a woman. Not after knowing her for weeks or months. Certainly not on first sight. Even though I tried to act like I could kill Olivia if Rocket said it had to be done, I wasn’t so sure I could.
“Uh-huh.” Yeah. Rocket was calling bullshit. “Here’s what’s gonna happen. Strip search her. Venus and Piston should be there shortly. Tell Venus. Olivia takes nothing with her but the clothes we give her. Bring her to the compound and we’ll lock her down until the boys work this out.”
I grunted, but didn’t acknowledge Rocket in any other way, disconnecting the call. I’d set myself up for this. All the way around. Any discomfort I felt was my own fault for getting carried away. Hell, if Leon Black was her handler, he’d likely handpicked Olivia for me. The man knew me almost as well as Rocket did. Rather, he used to know me that well. I’d changed. Being set up to be killed on the other side of the world would do that to a person.
I sat there, thinking, trying to process what I was feeling. I never had such a strong reaction to a woman -- or any person for any reason -- in my life. I’d known her a couple hours. I knew nothing about her, except she was likely a mole. Even worse, Leon Black, the fucking bastard, was fucking with my head. Again. Only this time, he’d dangled something in front of me I had no hope of resisting. I didn’t know if he’d done it intentionally or not, but I was sure as hell going to find out. First things first, though. Once Piston got here with Venus, we’d pack out the trash and hit the trail. Back to Grim Road.
When my anger faded to become a little more manageable, I stood and went through the house to the living room to wait for Piston. No need to be angry at Olivia. I’d known she was involved in something she didn’t want us to know about. Even told her I knew she was lying. I put myself in this situation. Which meant I had to tell that asshole, Ringo, he was right.
Stupid.
Stupid, stupid, stupid!
I wanted to get on my bike and just… ride! Mainly because the craziest thing about this whole situation was that I still wanted to protect Olivia. I still wanted her to be mine, and I meant to get to the bottom of this. Before the end -- whatever the end might be -- I would know exactly what was going on with Leon Black and what part Olivia was playing. And why.
I expected that monstrosity of a pink Harley Venus rode, but she and Piston pulled up in a black Bronco.
They entered the house, and Piston shook my hand in a firm grip. “Heard you needed a babysitter.”
“Somethin’ like that.” I glanced at Venus. “You talked to Rocket or Lemon?”
“Da. Lemon filled me in. We brought fresh clothing even though she had some in bag Lemon brought. I’m to search her. Make sure she has only clothes I give her.”
“Crush came with us.” Piston hiked a thumb over his shoulder in the general direction of the Bronco. “Brought some fancy-schmancy electronic shit. Said he’ll be scannin’ her person as well as anything she’s had contact with before we leave.”