Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 93195 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93195 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 466(@200wpm)___ 373(@250wpm)___ 311(@300wpm)
If that fucker hurt her, Jinx didn’t know what he’d do. But it would be cataclysmic.
The second Liv slammed her door, he was peeling out of the driveway. Spec would have his ass if he left a black streak on the driveway, but he didn’t give a fuck. He’d have the damn thing repaved if necessary. All he cared about was getting to Harper before Lobo or his fucking goons found her.
As he weaved in and out of traffic, he gripped the wheel so hard it creaked under his hands. Liv’s voice registered every few seconds as she said something soothing to Harper, but he couldn’t make out the words over the rush of blood in his ears.
He barely knew this woman, and yet finding out she’d been scared and could be hurt had his blood boiling in his veins. God help him if he came across the man who assaulted her.
“Jinx? Hey, Jinx?”
He blinked and risked a quick glance at Liv before depressing the gas harder. “What?”
“She’s gonna be okay. She’s hidden, and we’ll find her.”
Please let that be true.
“She still on the phone?”
“Yes,” Liv said. “I just muted for a second.”
The light in front of him turned yellow. Goddammit. This light took for-fucking-ever. Not wasting time stuck there, he floored the pedal and soared through the light a second after it turned red. Liv gripped the oh-shit bar but, thankfully, didn’t berate him. Hell, she was probably as anxious to get to Harper, even if she did a better job keeping her cool.
“There’s the market,” Liv yelled, pointing as though he didn’t know exactly where they were. “We’re almost there, Harper.”
He blew past the store and the rundown gas station and screeched into the strip mall’s parking lot on two wheels.
Liv yelped and grabbed the handle again. Jinx skidded to a hard stop at the end of the row of stores, not bothering to shut the engine off or wait for Liv. He flew out the door and charged for the dumpsters.
“Jinx, wait,” Liv called. Her softer footfalls sounded behind him as he ran.
It was so goddamn dark. Harper had to be terrified, hiding and not knowing what was around the corner. “Harper?” he called out in a low voice. “Harper, it’s Jinx. Liv and I are here. You’re safe.”
“H-here,” she yelled.
He followed the sound of her voice to the small space between two dumpsters, where he found Harper wiggling herself out.
“Let me help,” he said, reaching out a hand.
She took it, letting him guide her out into the night. Liv reached them just as Harper worked herself free.
“Harper,” Liv cried. The two women embraced. Actually, Harper threw herself into Liv’s outstretched arms with a harsh sob. “Shh… it’s okay. We’ve got you.” Liv met Jinx’s gaze over Harper’s head, and he couldn’t help but feel a stab of what could only be jealousy as he watched Liv hold Harper.
He wanted to be the one with his arms around her, which was insane. What the hell did he know about comforting a traumatized woman? Absolutely nothing. He knew sex and jokes but not tender care. Much as he’d love to feel her all pressed up against him and settle his mind that she was truly okay, Liv was the better choice for comfort, and he’d have to suck it up. His job was to get them all out of there safely.
“I’m sorry I got you involved in this mess,” Harper said, still squeezing the life out of Liv.
Jinx clenched his teeth. Either the ladies did a shit job of letting her know she was one of them now and she could call anytime for anything, or she had some serious self-worth issues. Knowing the ol’ ladies, he’d bet the latter.
Which was bullshit.
“Don’t even start with that,” Liv said in a firm tone. “I am so glad you called.” She glanced at Jinx again. “C’mon, let’s get out of here.” She guided Harper toward the idling vehicle.
“My car is parked over there.” She pointed in the direction of the market.
Jinx whipped out his phone. “I’ll have someone get it.” A quick text to their new prospect would take care of that. He also texted Curly and Spec to fill them in. Spec wrote back immediately, letting him know he and Curly would meet them at the clubhouse.
“The keys are on the ground with my purse. I dropped them when he startled me.”
Jinx clutched his phone. It was either that or punching the side of Liv’s car, imagining Harper being startled so bad she dropped her stuff fucked with his head. “We’ll grab them before we leave. Prospect’s gonna meet us at the clubhouse, and someone will ride him out to pick up your car.”
“Thank you.”
She needed to stop with that shit. He didn’t want her thanks. He didn’t fucking need it. He wanted her snark and sass back. He wanted the prickly woman who’d look him in the eye and say, “I got it” if he offered to hold her damn door.