Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77394 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77394 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
“I came to get the bag.”
“I’m gonna need more than that, babe.”
He stood there waiting for me to explain, but I was having a hard time forming the words. The past few hours had been the worst of my life, and just thinking about the moment Delgado ripped Luna from my arms brought tears to my eyes. “He’s got Luna, and it’s the only way I can get her back.”
“Who’s got Luna?” Just thinking about her out there alone, crying for me to come and save her broke my heart. I was overcome with guilt and struggled to keep it together. “What the hell are you talking about?”
I had to fight to keep myself from breaking down as I explained everything that had happened and why I’d come to Jimmy’s. When I’d told him everything, I added, “I know it sounds crazy, but it was the only thing I knew to do.”
“You could’ve come to me.”
“I thought I could handle it, but clearly, I thought wrong.”
He brought his hand up to my chin, forcing me to look up at him. “Do I mean something to you?”
“Yes, of course you do.”
“Then, you come to me. No matter what.”
I nodded, and then we both got to our feet. Lawson leaned down and kissed me on the forehead as he whispered, “We’re gonna get her back. You have my word on it.”
He grabbed the duffle bag and led me out of the room. As we started down the hall, I glanced behind me and asked, “What about them?”
“I’ll take care of it.”
I thought back to the day he and his brothers killed Jimmy and Steven. They’d torched Steven’s entire house, and I hoped they would do the same with Jimmy’s. I’d always hated this house, and I hated the men inside even more. Seeing it burned to the ground would be nothing more than a relief.
When we got out to his truck, Lawson opened the door and waited as I got inside. I paused and studied him for a moment, then asked a question that I doubted he would answer. “How did you know I was here?”
“Best you didn’t know.”
“You tracked my phone or something, right?” When he didn’t answer, I let it go and asked, “So, what are we going to do now?”
“I’m taking you to the clubhouse.” He tossed the duffle bag in the back seat, then walked around and got inside next to me. “I’m gonna need you to tell Prez and Creed everything you told me. Can you handle that?”
“I’ll do anything if it means getting Luna back.”
“That’s what I needed to hear.”
Lawson grabbed his phone from his pocket, and after he sent a couple of texts, we were on our way. With each mile we drove, Lawson became more and more on edge. I could almost feel the rage radiating off of him, and it wasn’t long before he was no longer the Lawson I’d come to know and love. He’d shed that skin, becoming Grim and nothing but Grim.
I didn’t mind.
Grim was who we needed. He was the one who’d bring my Luna back to me, so I welcomed him by not saying a word. I just sat there and let him stew in his own fury. He would need it to face what was ahead. We both would—more than I even realized.
When we got to the clubhouse, it was well after midnight, but that didn’t stop Preacher and Creed from meeting Lawson at the front door. We followed them into the bar, and together, we told them everything that had taken place. Preacher listened with a blank expression. I feared he might refuse to help me, but then, he turned to Lawson and asked, “Have you claimed her?”
“In every way that counts.”
“And she knows what that means?”
“She knows enough.”
“Then, how do you want to play this?”
“We gotta get the kid back, and once she’s safe, I’m gonna make him pay for ever touching her.”
“Then, that’s what we’ll do.” Preacher turned his attention to me as he said, “You mentioned that you did a pick-up for your brother.”
“Yes, sir. I did.’
“Do you remember where that was?”
“Yes, sir.”
“What can you tell us about it?”
“He was set up in an old plant down by the river. It was right next to the lumber yard. I’m not sure what it was, but the building itself was in rough shape. If I didn’t know better, I’d say it should’ve been condemned. The bricks were crumbling, and lots of the windows were shattered. But it’s completely different on the inside.”
“How so?”
“As soon as you walk in, you see polished floors, fresh paint, and bright lights. The whole place is fixed up. And there were lots of guards. They were pretty much everywhere, especially at the doors. They pat you down and send you forward down this long hall that opens up, and you see the different levels above. His office was on the second floor, and it has all these windows so he can keep an eye on what’s going on.”