Total pages in book: 41
Estimated words: 38800 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 194(@200wpm)___ 155(@250wpm)___ 129(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38800 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 194(@200wpm)___ 155(@250wpm)___ 129(@300wpm)
“Knox! Oh, God!”
“Fortunately for me, I didn’t get the memo. Got in and out with barely a scratch. When I couldn’t reach anyone at the pick-up point, I broke protocol and called Rocket. He was my team leader. He directed me to a secondary pick-up point and sent his own people after me. That’s when I joined Grim Road. The club’s been around since before the formation of the CIA, but most of us are there now because of our ties to that agency.”
“So that’s why you keep to yourselves.”
“Yes. We’ve come out of our compound and into the city more in the last few months than we have in all the years since I’ve been there, but we still have to be careful. We’ll always have to look over our shoulders and keep our heads down, but with the proper paperwork for the vehicles and bikes, as well as some creative identity manufacturing, we manage.”
“You said you were working on homeschooling for the kids?”
“Yeah. Effie is living with Rocket and Lemon. She’s not much younger than Aneshya. Gina and Lemon are getting a homeschooling program together for her. I see no reason Luke and Aneshya can’t do the same. If they need more help than what we can give them here, we’ll figure something else out. There’s a club in Kentucky called Bones MC. We have ties to them through our weapons guy and a couple named Mama and Pops. Their president’s old lady is a teacher. If we need to, we’ll contact Cain for help.”
“Are you sure we won’t be in the way? I don’t want to be a bother.”
“Honey, it doesn’t matter if you’re in the way. You’re coming with me. You gave me your trust, and I’m not lettin’ you take it back. I want you with me. I want the kids with me. I’ll do whatever I need to make you comfortable in order for all of you to be with me.”
I took a breath. Looking up into Knox’s eyes, I could see not only the sincerity but the determination to make that happen. This was a man who wanted us where Danny never had. It felt like something settling in my chest. An easing of pressure and stress. “OK.” It was all I could manage around the lump in my throat.
“Good. Leave it all to me. All you have to do is what I tell you. If you have questions, ask. But I swear I’ll do right by all of you.”
The thing was, I believed him. With all my heart, I believed him.
Chapter Eleven
Knox
We pulled into the compound in late afternoon. Evelyn hadn’t said much and the kids were pretty quiet. Aneshya was taking Dad’s death pretty hard. Luke was occupying his mind by fussing over Evelyn and Aneshya, but he was having trouble as well. Evelyn was just shell-shocked. They’d all been through so much I was surprised she’d only had the one meltdown. Thankfully, she seemed better than in those first few minutes and, most importantly, she hadn’t fallen back into that despair.
As we pulled through the gate, a couple of men pulled in front of us as an escort. That told me there was news, likely that the club had found the shooter and had him on club grounds. I’d follow our escorts and let them guide us where Rocket wanted us. I’d learn what they’d found then.
Not surprisingly, they had us go straight to the family area. Our compound was completely fenced off with the common areas around the outside. The club whores and our family areas were both fenced off inside the main compound giving both areas an extra layer of protection. The whole thing was over a square mile with our territory inside the wildlife sanctuary extending a much larger area. As a result, we were able to keep the overgrowth thick to prevent us being spotted from the air.
As we entered the family compound, I followed the escort until they pulled into the driveway of one of the larger cabins we’d built. It would be large enough for us all to be comfortable and for the kids to each have their own room.
I shut off the truck, then turned to Evelyn and the kids. “I think this is where we’re gonna set up shop. You guys wanna take a look around?”
Aneshya sniffed but nodded her head. Luke took his sister’s hand and squeezed. She smiled at him, and I thought that maybe they’d be all right.
Once out of the truck, I helped Aneshya out, then went around to Evelyn’s side. She’d just slid from the truck when I reached her. She stepped into my arms willingly without hesitation, and I hugged her close.
“Hey, guys.” Falcon approached us, a welcoming smile on his face. “Lemon said you were coming to stay with us.” He held out a hand to Luke. “I’m Falcon.” Luke took his hand and nodded at him.