Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 64662 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 323(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64662 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 323(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
As the sun begins to rise, we finally finish the grisly work. My body is covered in a thick coat of blood and other ungodly fluids, and I’m desperate for a shower.
Stone and Olly appear in the van, ready to transport the remains to a crematorium owned by one of Aria’s shell companies. The smell of burning flesh fills the air as we watch the evidence of our ruthless actions disappear into ashes.
Another two down, so many more to go.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Cassidy
Aria stands near the truck, watching me with worry in her eyes. “Are you sure you want to take on this second load?”
We watch the guys doing double-time to get my truck ready to roll.
“It’s going to slow you down and extend your time away,” she says.
That’s exactly why I’m taking the extra load. “I’m sure. This is what I do, Aria. I’ll be fine unless you’re worried about something else?” I step aside so I’m not slowing down the guys loading the trailer. “Well?”
“After everything that happened yesterday, I don’t know how you can be fine.”
I smile. “I appreciate the concern, Aria, I really do.”
She shoots me a sheepish grin. “Why do I feel a but coming?”
“Because you’re smart?” We share an awkward laugh. “What happened yesterday is nothing compared to what I’ve been through,” I say with a wry smile, “so there’s no need to worry about me. Besides, the open road and time to myself is just what I need.”
The trailer is only half full, so I have at least another hour before I can leave Angel Harbor.
“Thank you,” Aria says eventually. “For last night and saving me. If you weren’t here, he probably would have killed me.”
“You’re welcome.” She’s probably right. Ghost is a crazy son of a bitch who gets off on hurting people. I have no doubt hurting someone who actually matters to the Reckless Souls would have gotten him hard instantly. “I’m just glad it all worked out.”
“I owe you,” she says, her tone suddenly serious and so at odds with the pale pink dress she wore with sparkling pink stilettos. “Anything you need, come to me. Day or night. I mean it, okay?”
“Sure. Okay,” I say, though I never intend to take her up on that offer.
“I don’t believe you, but I mean it.” She flashes a smile before walking away.
I turn my attention to the trailer and the guys loading it, silently willing them to hurry up.
A shadow crosses over me, and I don’t need to look up to know it’s Diesel. The air is charged between us, and his scent wraps around me, forcing me to face him.
“Diesel,” I say, keeping my voice low and even, with no traces of emotion.
“Hey, Cassidy. Can we talk?”
Now he wants to talk? It’s the last thing I want to do. “Go ahead. Talk.”
He sighs, “I owe you an apology, Cass. I’m sorry I didn’t believe you, that I didn’t listen to you.”
I shrug off his apology, not because I don’t believe it, but because it doesn’t matter. “It’s fine, Diesel. Thanks for the apology.”
“Cass, please,” he sighs. “I was an asshole about the whole thing, and that wasn’t what I wanted. It isn’t what the fuck I want.”
I swallow because now we’re getting to the truth. “Okay, then. What is it that you want? You need me to accept your apology? Fine, I accept it. I think you’re sorry, and I appreciate that.”
“Uhm, we’re just gonna give you guys a minute.” One of the guys helping load the trailer looks between us, clearly uncomfortable.
“No! We’ll go someplace else. Sorry about that,” I say with a smile and walk away from the truck, Diesel close on my heels.
“Cassidy,” he growls and the deep sound rushes down my spine, producing goosebumps all over my skin. “What I want is you.”
His words stop me in my tracks and makes my heart leap, whether I want it to or not. You totally want it to, my heart taunts. I risk looking over my shoulder, and the affection and desire I see in his eyes catches my breath. “Me?”
“Yeah,” he grins, nodding as he circles me, not stopping until he’s standing in front of me, close enough that I can see the gold strands in his hazel eyes. “You, Cass. I want you. I like you a lot, and,” he sighs, rubbing a hand over his scruff.
“And what?”
“And I want you to come back to Angel Harbor when you’re not on the road. I want to be the one to make your return special, each and every time, Cassidy.”
My heart pounds like a jack hammer in my chest, his words everything I’ve ever wanted to hear from a man. I shake my head. “You don’t have to say this out of guilt. I’ve already forgiven you.”
“You don’t believe me?” He closes the distance between us and hooks one hand around the back of my neck, pulling me in until our foreheads meet. “I think you do believe me, and you’re scared.”