Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 103637 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 518(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103637 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 518(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 345(@300wpm)
“He’s something else,” he whispered, rubbing his palms as his throat closed up. “He’s this precious, wonderful creature that came into my life by surprise and changed everything.”
Rain put a cigarette between her lips and snapped open a lighter. “See? I told you he needed an intervention.”
Jack spread his massive tattooed arms. “So what now? You gonna at least talk to him? I never thought I’d be supporting you going gay, but I prefer that to you sulking like some snubbed prima donna.”
Mike groaned. “I’m not gay.”
Leo sniggered. Okay. Mike deserved that.
Rain frowned and walked toward the open door as she picked up a call, but Mike’s brain was fogging up with the need to call off everything he’d said this morning, get on his bike, chase down Kaley’s car, and apologize. Or, better yet, get their address from Rain and apologize with an amazing arrangement of jasmine flowers forming the first letter of Arden’s name. Or maybe both their names? A ring? A property vest? His brain sizzled with grand gesture options, and his heart came alive again.
Would that… could that actually work out?
“Fuck!” Rain exclaimed and dropped the cigarette to snuff it out on the tiles with her boot. She turned around to face everyone, but her eyes zeroed in on Mike. “The Jarens. The fucking Jarens have Arden. They must have waited for him to leave the compound without club protection. Kaley just called me. They blocked her way, took him, and told her Arden’s staying with them until you marry Harlyn. That girl’s out of her fucking mind!”
The floor crumbled under Mike’s feet, but Mom grabbed his hand, and when all his brothers rose, their words of comfort turned into a cacophony that couldn’t quite get to Mike through his fear. And yet, he wasn’t changing his mind about Arden.
He swallowed, took a deep breath, and spoke.
“Let’s get my boy back.”
Chapter 23 – Arden
Arden tried to rock the chair again, but the Jarens must have seen all the abduction movies in existence and ensured it was stabilized with ropes on either side. Crates of fruit and vegetables stood tall around him, three chest freezers hummed in the back, and the metal shelving units were filled with all kinds of canned and dry goods. A ridiculous decal featuring aliens dressed as cowboys stared at him from a fridge. He chose to ignore it and took in the space, looking for weaknesses.
This could have been a small store. And it smelled of the produce, which was pretty pleasant, considering the situation.
A strange sense of calm had overcome Arden after the initial panic. As if he were in a movie and watching himself in an out-of-body experience. When Luke had been after him, he’d feared death. Rape. Torture. But he didn’t think these abductors wanted to hurt him. He was a bargaining chip, worth more in good condition.
But while he felt relatively safe due to the severity of the revenge Mike would unleash on the Jarens if a hair fell from Arden’s head, he wasn’t a princess, who’d just await rescue. He refused to let those people use him against Mike and if there was anything he could do to free himself, he’d jump at the opportunity.
He usually despised it when people underestimated him, but it paid off to be non-threatening sometimes. Unbelievable as that was, none of the men who’d blindfolded and taken him from Kaley’s car bothered to search him. And he was still armed. Granted, the keychain switchblade hadn’t impressed or scared Mike when they first met, but it was sharp enough to cut the rope binding Arden to the wooden chair.
Breathing in the scent of raw potatoes, he wiggled his hands, trying to loosen the knots that kept him in place, but while that did nothing to improve Arden’s situation, his legs were free, and he pushed his hips up, climbing to his toes until his fingers could reach the front pocket of his jeans.
Sweat beaded over his lip as he gasped from the effort, imagining the key slipping from his sweaty hands, out of reach, but he’d made it! Unfolding the switchblade with his teeth wasn’t a pleasant experience, but once the small knife was out, freedom seemed within reach.
A door nearby screeched open, and he got back into position, squeezing the knife in his hand. It was small enough to hide this way but his stomach still tightened with worry. He half-expected for the sounds to die down so he could resume his attempt, but the door to his makeshift cell opened, and a young woman walked in with a bottle of water and a sandwich wrapped in paper.
Dressed in cut-off shorts and a yellow T-shirt with a wide neck that uncovered one tanned arm, she seemed way too wholesome to be a part of this family of abductors. She was the sexy girl next door who managed to look stunning while hardly wearing any makeup, and she even had a smile for Arden as she glanced at the bread and bit her lips.