Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 33642 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 168(@200wpm)___ 135(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33642 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 168(@200wpm)___ 135(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
Rocket nodded. “They are. Cain said he thought the two of you needed the option to go with them or not. Piston said to consider it the first official act of the South Eastern MC Alliance.”
“That op went to shit two fuckin’ years ago,” Rattler bit out. He’d holstered his weapon, but he was still standing and looking like he wanted to be anywhere but in this fucking meeting. “What happened for ExFil to get this now?”
“Not sure,” Rocket admitted. “But I think Mama and Pops might have had something to do with it. Them, or someone they know.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Just something Cain said. He mentioned Pops in the same breath he told me they were being sent after your sister. That man doesn’t give out information without a reason.”
“When do we leave?” Rattler clenched and unclenched his fists. I knew how he felt. It had taken me a long while to make my peace with Joilyn’s death. She’d died in a fiery car crash on a rural road. By the time emergency services got there, she’d been almost completely burned. The autopsy had identified her by dental records and me and Rattler had mourned her death.
Joilyn had been Rattler’s last living relative. He, Joilyn, and I had become a small family of our own. I was included with them because their parents had fostered me. I’d been orphaned when I was only eight, and Rattler and I had been best friends from the first evening I arrived at his home. Joilyn had been born three months after I arrived so I’d known her her entire life. It had devastated me and Rattler both when she’d been killed.
Now, to know she was inside that hellhole, providing us intel at risk to her life and, not only had we not known, but we’d cut and run, it felt like the absolute worst betrayal. We’d left her to her fate. Once again, I’d failed someone who depended on me. Seemed all I did was fail people. At least, it felt like I had from that night on. Even now, I was actually planning on letting down one of the most important people in my life. Leaving on this mission and leaving Gina here was going to be hard on her. But I couldn’t leave Rattler to do this on his own. For more than one reason.
“You leave here in two days. Cain said he was sending a team to pick you up.”
“Sounds like you expected we’d not only accept their invitation, but that we’d insist on going.” I gripped Rattler’s shoulder as I spoke. It looked like a show of support, but if I touched him, I could tell how tense he was. Pulling the gun on Rocket had been bad. I thought Rattler had himself back under control, but the last thing I wanted was for him to accidentally hurt someone because he wasn’t thinking clearly. The PTSD resulting from that night wasn’t subtle. Rattler’s muscles were tight, but the trembling seemed to have stopped.
“I’m not a dumbass, Falcon.” Rocket gave me an annoyed look.
“Wait.” Dom looked from me and Rattler to Rocket and back. “Why would Cain make that kind of an offer? Seems risky puttin’ an unknown element with a team right before going on a mission.”
“It is.” Rocket’s gaze never left mine. “Which is why I want to know why he included you, Falcon. Rattler I get. Joilyn is his sister.”
“Yeah.” I scrubbed a hand over my face. I inhaled a shaky breath. “Joilyn was going to be my wife.”
Chapter Four
Gina
I woke when the bed dipped and someone brushed hair off my forehead. Gentle fingers traced my cheek and chin almost reverently.
“Hey, sweetheart.”
I opened my eyes and smiled up at Falcon. “Hey, yourself.”
“How you feelin’?”
“Little strung out. You know. Like I didn’t get much sleep.” He smiled tenderly at me, but there was something in his expression I couldn’t figure out. “Is everything all right?”
Falcon glanced away before shaking his head slightly. “I have to leave in a couple days, Gina. I hope I won’t be gone long.”
Everything inside me rebelled. I shook my head before I could stop myself. Then I closed my eyes and swallowed, trying to rid myself of the lump forming in my throat.
I sat up, pushing myself back against the headboard and tucked my knees to my chest. “Of course. Just be careful.”
Falcon hesitated a moment before reaching out to carefully take my hand and I let him. “It’s early. How about I fix us some breakfast and we can talk.”
Something about the way he spoke set off alarm bells inside my head. “What’s wrong?”
He gave me a small smile. “We can talk after we eat, baby. Everything will be fine.”
“The only time people say that is when everything isn’t fine.” I should have known this thing with Falcon was too good to be true. I’d deluded myself into thinking we could have some kind of relationship where I wasn’t a whore or someone to share with his brothers whenever he wanted a thrill.