Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 110550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 553(@200wpm)___ 442(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 553(@200wpm)___ 442(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
“Brothers, on my mark, aim—”
No, I would not die here while Mackenzie and Laurel were out there waiting for us. I promised her I’d be there.
I latched on to my last chance. “Grant put you up to this,” I said quickly. “Whatever he’s paying you people, I’ll triple it. Let us go and—”
Snyder’s high, gasping laugh stood my neck hairs on end. “Brother Grant? He is no more in charge here than you are, Sole. You cannot corrupt our purpose with bribes or empty promises. The one we serve has a higher vision for this city—one where we are finally free. It is our honor to hand down your executions, knowing we further that goal.”
Liam said, “Who do you—?”
“Enough,” Snyder barked. “Brothers, aim!
“Fire!”
Gunfire rang in the empty, starless night.
Chapter One
Snyder rocked on his feet, eyes growing as big as mine. We stared at each other and something passed between us—an understanding that would link us in life and death.
Hatred.
Snyder staggered forward, his gun clattering to the floor. I twisted away as he dropped, lips curling at the body. With the hole blown through his chest, the fuck was fit to fall over my head and let me wear him like a necklace. Two other shaved brothers fell on top of him.
Grant and the others swung around, aiming their weapons at the door. Bugsy let loose, blowing Grant off his feet. A wave of tatted biker chicks flooded the room.
“Sunny, up!”
Bane hauled me up and threw me at a shaved guy who was shouting at Ryker not to move. Normally, throwing your kid brother at an assassin would lose you the Sibling of the Year award, but Bane believed in using any and all weapons at his disposal... and I was his best one.
I crashed into him, using the distraction to snatch the gun from his loose grip. I shot through his neck mid-plea.
“Ryker! Makai!”
They were way ahead of me, snatching up their fallen weapons to join the fight. We spun as Missy shot the last man.
Bugsy swept the carnage, shaking her head. “Candace, call FGH.”
“Bugsy, your timing is incredible,” I said as I knelt beside Snyder, patting him down. His phone disappeared in my pocket.
She snorted. “It isn’t actually. Sienna ran to Eve immediately after you left, and she called in the real guns. You’re lucky we got here in time. Cardinals riding in to save your asses again.” Bugsy snapped her fingers for Candace’s phone. “Yeah, FGH? They’re still breathing but it looks like your girl and her kid aren’t here.”
I yanked Snyder’s semiautomatic out from under him, nodding at Bane, Liam, and my guys who were picking all the bodies clean. We needed everything on them, including the weapons.
“Still want us to deliver your message?” Bugsy asked. “Okay. Candace. Missy.”
I stood up. Bugsy, Candace, and Missy punched me and my brothers dead in the face. “What the fuck!” I barked, head snapping back.
Bugsy shrugged with a smirk. “That’s from FGH.” She put the call on speaker.
“—lucky that’s all you get!” Our sister’s dulcet tones filled the office. “Don’t know where you fuckers get off doing this without telling me. At least Mini Blaine has some sense.”
“Thank Loki for that,” I breezed. “You’re a peach, sis. Thanks for sending the rescue crew. Now if you don’t mind, my girls are waiting for me.” I hit end.
“152 Bayview Way.” My other side, Demone, stepped into my skin like a new driver taking the wheel. “We’re bringing them back. Anyone gets in your way, you kill them, then hunt down their mothers, brothers, former babysitters, and their accountants! Send the message through all of North America that Mackenzie and Laurel Blaine are off-limits!”
Liam flicked blood from weeping lip. “You’re getting soft, little brother. We’re not stopping at their accountants.” Liam glared at Snyder with pure hate.
“The whole city burns for this.”
MACKENZIE
I peeled my eyes open, wincing in the gloom. My whole body, from my roots to my toenails, ached.
Pushing up, a dizzy spell hit me—dropping me flat on my back. I bounced on a firm, springy surface, fighting to remember what happened.
Weight pressed in on my skull, forcing my thoughts apart as they struggled to come together.
“Wha...?” I croaked, then grimaced at the thick film coating my mouth.
What’s going on? Where am I? Where’s—
Laurel!
I bolted up and tumbled off the mattress. Nausea bowled me over and I vomited on the concrete—heaving and retching until there was nothing left but bile.
I breathed slowly, forehead pressed to the cool concrete, as my mind began to clear. Whatever was wrong with me, I think I just purged it from my system.
Forcing up on shaky knees, my vision adjusted in the dark.
I was in a small room with a window high above, out of reach of my fingertips. An opaque window covering stopped me from seeing out, but let in just enough light from a streetlamp, I assumed. I could make out a glowing circle but nothing else about where I was.