Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 72126 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 361(@200wpm)___ 289(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72126 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 361(@200wpm)___ 289(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
After a moment, she took a step back and gave me a quick once over. “Are you guys okay?”
“No, but we will be.”
“I talked to Widow and Viper and told them everything that’s been going on.”
“And?”
“They’re going to help. Just like I knew they would.”
“Slow down.” Widow stepped forward out of the shadows as he said, “Viper wants a word with you.”
“Okay.”
“He’s waiting for you in the bar.”
“Okay.” The thought of going into that clubhouse bar terrified me. It terrified me even more to think about leaving my son behind while I did it. “What about my Toby?”
“Best for him to stay here.”
“I’m not leaving him out here alone.”
“It’s okay.” Frankie stepped over to the car as she said, “I’ll keep an eye on him.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah, we’ll be fine.”
I sat back down in the car so I could look Toby in the eyes as I said, “I’m about to go inside and find out what we’re going to do. Frankie and Widow are going to hang out here with you. Is that okay?” He nodded, but I could see the worry in his eyes. “Okay. I won’t be gone long, and when I can, I’ll come out to get you.”
“Okay.”
“Lock the doors while I’m gone.”
He nodded once again, and after I gave him a quick kiss on the forehead, I motioned for him to roll up the window and lock the doors. Once I heard the car lock, I turned to Widow and asked, “How do I get to the bar?”
“Just go through that door. Prez is sitting in the back. You can’t miss him.”
I nodded, then glanced back at the car. Once I saw that Toby was okay, I walked up to the back door and inhaled a deep breath, trying to summon the courage to go inside. It wasn’t easy. I could hear the music and various men talking through the door. I was terrified to go in there and face them, but I had no choice. I had to do it.
A sense of dread washed over me as I forced myself to step inside. I’d barely got my foot through the door when I was hit with a mixed scent of leather, smoke, and booze. I drew my wounded wrist close to my chest and quickly scanned the room. It was one burly, tattooed biker after the next, and each one of them exuded a menacing aura.
But none more so than the man sitting at the back of the room.
Even in the midst of his brothers, you could see that he was the one in control.
He had to be the one they called Viper.
Frankie had only talked about him a time or two but always made him out to be this father-figure type. She failed to mention that he was the kind of father who had an overwhelming presence and commanded attention without a word.
His eyes, dark and piercing, locked on mine and remained trained on me as I started over to him. As I grew closer, his fierce expression softened, and there was a kindness in his eyes that took me by surprise. “You must be Casey.”
“Yes, sir. I am.” I tried to keep my voice steady as I told him, “I’m sorry to come to you like this, but Frankie insisted. She said you might be able to help me.”
“Yeah, I talked to her, and she explained the situation.” He grimaced as his eyes skirted over my wounds. “I’ll do what I can, but first, we need to get Doc to check you out.”
“That’s okay. I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not. You’re anything but fine,” he clipped. “What about your son? Does he need to be checked out, too?”
“Yes, sir. I’m afraid he does.”
The words had barely left my mouth when Viper leaned over to the man sitting next to him and said, “Get the kid and bring him to the infirmary. We’ll meet you there.”
The man nodded, then stood and started out of the bar.
“Wait!” I called out. “He won’t go with you unless you say hungry hippo. I know it sounds stupid, but it’s our secret code. He’ll know I gave the okay for him to go if you use it.”
“Hungry hippo?”
“That’s right.”
“I got it.”
He continued out the door, and I turned my attention back to Viper. Seeing the concern in my eyes, he gave me a warm smile and said, “It’s going to be okay, Casey. We’re gonna get you through this.”
I wanted to respond, but I was too overcome with emotion to speak. So, I nodded, then followed him out of the bar and down a long, dim hallway. After passing several doors, we entered a room that looked like a cross between a doctor’s office and a surgical room. An older man with salt and pepper hair and a thick beard greeted us at the door. “Doc, this is Casey. I need you to check her out and make sure she’s okay.”