Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 121728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
He kept his guard up as he waited for the man to finish gathering the money. Once he did, he counted it out, all in fives and ones, and handed the wrinkled wad to Decker.
He pulled the gram out of the pizza box and tossed it at the guy. “Enjoy your night.”
Decker waited until the door shut, then he dropped the pizza box on the top cinder block step in case anyone inside needed food, then backed down the rest, keeping his eyes on the door and occasionally letting them flick to the windows.
He kept walking backwards until he reached the Ranger and climbed back in, locking the doors immediately.
Before putting it in reverse, he pulled out his cell and glanced at the text from Nox that only read: Call me ASAP.
Shit.
There was no way he was sitting out there in the middle of Methville calling Nox. He’d have to wait a few more minutes until he was safely down the road.
As soon as he was a few miles away, he pulled over, dialed Nox and put him on speakerphone.
“Yo,” filled the truck cab. “Got something for you.”
“You got me a present? Aww,” Decker teased. “I didn’t get you anything. Unless you want cold pizza?”
“Might’ve seen the woman you’re looking for.”
Decker’s grin dropped and he sat up straighter. “Where?”
“At the Wolf Den.”
His heart tumbled inside his chest, then began to thump heavily. He hoped to fuck this was good news. “You talking about the live feed?”
“No. I was skimming through the recordings from last night, almost zipped right past it and had to rewind.”
“Are you sure it’s her?” Decker didn’t want to get his hopes up.
“I watched it a dozen fucking times, brother, and I’m pretty fucking sure. But I can’t be one hundred percent since I only have those two damn photos to compare. If it’s her, just a heads up… she’s in really rough shape.”
Not unexpected. She was in rough shape in that second photo and that was from a while ago. She had to be even worse now. It was just amazing she was still alive with the constant abuse to her body.
“What time was that footage from?”
“Around ten.”
“Fuck,” he whispered. Decker ground his palm against the back of his neck. “Did you see her leave?”
“No. Not yet. My guess is she’s still there. I’ll check some of the feeds from the back door and the back lot just in case. If they left, I’ll let you know.”
“Then, I need to get over there fucking now. I can’t wait. If she leaves, it may be days or even weeks before we spot her again.”
“You really want to handle it alone?”
“I have a choice? Who the fuck’s going to walk into the Demons’ church with me without setting off red flags?”
Nox grunted his agreement. “We can’t even fucking send in Fletch.”
“Hell no. All right. Text me right away if you see any evidence that she’s no longer there or if you see them leave before I get there. I want to avoid a scene if I can.”
“You got it, brother. I’ll keep my eyes peeled. Hey, what are you going to do with her once you get her? If it is her.”
“No fucking clue. I’ll have to talk to Sloane. But rehab I guess and hope like fuck it sticks this time.”
Nox was silent on the other end of the phone for a long moment, before saying, “If that’s her, brother, she’s not going to be on this Earth long. She was a skeleton covered in paper-thin skin. Can’t imagine she’s eaten a good meal in a while. Whoever the biker was she was with basically had to carry her into one of those rooms in the back. She could barely walk.”
Fuck. “Nobody said or did anything when he did that?”
“Nobody seemed to blink an eye.”
Of course not. “Then those fuckers all know who she is and why she’s there.”
“Or they just don’t give a fuck. Doubt she’s the only one they’re keeping strung out like that, either.”
“I haven’t had a chance to spend much fucking time there.” Decker’s fingers curled into fists. “Goddamn it! All because of that goddamn Pizza Town shit! If it wasn’t for that, I might’ve come across her sooner.”
“Not your fault, brother.”
“Right.”
“Hey, fuck this investigation if you get in a tight spot getting her out of there. It happens, then you do what you have to do to get out of there in one piece, you hear me?”
Decker rubbed a hand across his forehead. “Yeah, hear you. I’ll do whatever I can to not blow it.”
“Do you have a story ready for why you’re going to be collecting her ass?”
“Fuck no. I’ll think of one on my way over there.”
“What about Pizza Town?”
“I’ll deal with that later. I don’t give a fuck if they pull my prospect cut as long as I find Sadie. The only one who will care is Crew.”