Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 127213 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 636(@200wpm)___ 509(@250wpm)___ 424(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127213 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 636(@200wpm)___ 509(@250wpm)___ 424(@300wpm)
It was obvious to Ezra that all the roads with asphalt would be safe to drive on, but Frank didn’t want him to approach places where he could see something he shouldn’t. He was fine with that. The bike offered him an opportunity to exercise and move around faster, and the last thing he wanted was to get mixed up with the wrong people.
Well, technically he already had, but as long as he remained unaware of who Frank’s customers were, that fact could be ignored.
“I will, don’t worry. I rather enjoy not being buried alive under an avalanche of junk.”
Shane took a drag of smoke. “You’d hate to get that watch scratched.”
Ezra sensed Frank tensing next to him but was quick to stroke his back. There was no need to get agitated again. “Well, it is one of the very few things of my own I still have.”
“I feel you. I had to let go of all of my stuff when I went to prison,” Shane said and patted Frank on the shoulder. “But Frankie kept the important shit for me.”
Frank took a deep breath. “This isn’t prison. He’ll get to retrieve his stuff.”
Ezra’s blood ran faster, but he stayed calm, not wanting to have this opportunity turn into a trap if he said the wrong thing. “Yeah, the lease on my apartment runs out soon, and I’m getting a bit worried about what happens to my belongings.”
Frank glanced at his friend. “Shane’s got nothing to do today. He can come with me, and we can grab some of your stuff. Just tell me what’s most valuable or important.”
A sense of relief flooded Ezra so fast he barely noticed the drooping of Shane’s shoulders. But, to the judgmental bastard’s credit, he didn’t protest. “You’d do that for me?” he asked as if he hadn’t voiced his worries for that very reason.
“Sure, baby, just make a list,” Frank said and kissed the side of his head. “I’d take you with us, but I don’t feel it’s safe.”
Ezra stalled, because he wasn’t anyone’s baby. Or was he? His mind said no, but when he met Frank’s dark, intense eyes, his body said that yes, he definitely was.
Chapter 18
Frank
The door unlocked with a dull click, and when no sound came from behind it, Frank pushed it open, facing the dark interior of Ezra’s apartment. The glow of the lamp above his and Shane’s heads illuminated the paneled floor inside and offered enough light to reveal the rough shapes of the furniture in the living room, but if someone was waiting for Ezra’s arrival in the bedroom, there was only one way to find out.
“Check the living room. I’ll go right,” Frank whispered and pulled the safety off his gun, but as Shane slapped the light switch, they both stalled at the sight of the open plan room.
It looked as if a hurricane named Paul had stormed through it twice.
Shane whistled. “That looks promising.”
The dark humor in his voice prompted Frank into action, and they both went to their respective sides, checking the apartment for intruders. They found none, but the whole place was wrecked. Even the mattress where Frank had slept only weeks ago hadn’t been spared and now featured long tears showcasing its gutted insides.
The sole idea that it could have been Ezra cut from groin to throat made Frank shudder. Not much moved him these days, but Ezra wasn’t some sack of disposable meat. Frank had chosen to protect him, to make him his if only Ezra allowed it.
Walking around the place he knew so well and seeing it in ruin made him want to go back and stay at Ezra’s side, like his personal guard dog, but that was an unreasonable thought. Ezra was safe at the junkyard, with Jag keeping an eye on him. And Paul should thank the heavens that he hadn’t caught up with Ezra that first night, because if Frank had seen the amber eyes looking back at him from the second body bag that night, he—he probably would have broken his vow to never kill again.
Frank put away his gun. “Looks safe. Let’s get his stuff,” he said and went back to the corridor to grab the duffel bags they’d brought with them.
Shane sighed and pulled up tonight’s shopping list on his phone before stepping into the kitchen. “This place looks like a statement. You really think you can hide him from Paul forever?”
Frank approached one of the cupboards with grim thoughts swirling in his mind. He wanted to bark something back at Shane, but the question was reasonable, even if agitating.
“Probably not, but I don’t even know if he’ll stay. With the new ID, if he travels far enough, he’ll be safe.”
“Only that you don’t want him to go anywhere…” Shane glanced his way as he opened a large drawer.