Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 33520 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 168(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33520 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 168(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
“What was that?” I snapped, wanting Falcon to know I wouldn’t tolerate disrespect. Though, I’d have thought he’d have learned his lesson when I beat the fuck outta Ringo.
He raised his hands. “Nothin’, prez. Just that if Lemon were my mom, she’d have busted my balls a long time ago. That woman’s got a vicious streak.” He grinned. “I like it. But I’m glad she set her sights on you and not me.”
I snorted. “Like you could take Lemon on.”
“That’s exactly my point.” Falcon pointed a finger at me. “Ain’t too proud to admit it either. She’s way the fuck more woman than I could handle.”
“Good. Glad we got that straight. But you still don’t get to disrespect her.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it, Prez.”
“Now that that’s outta the way, where’s my woman?”
“It’s not like her to not be at a party when she knows you’re gonna be here.”
“Yeah.” I took out my phone and checked it. Didn’t look like she’d read my messages. Which was damned odd. “Crush in his office?”
Falcon nodded. “Last I saw.”
Without another word, I stalked in that direction. A couple of the girls tried to approach me, but one look at my face and they backed off. I didn’t like Lemon not being here. She was capable of taking care of herself, but I still didn’t like it. I’m sure my expression told how much I didn’t like it. And how much I wasn’t in the mood for bullshit. Neither woman came closer.
I’d rounded the corner as Crush opened the door and hurried out, his expression tight. When he saw me, he stopped.
“You need to be looped in on this, Prez.”
I followed him inside. Crush shut and locked the door behind us. Byte was busy at his computer, talking to someone as he pulled up several camera feeds.
“Is that Tito’s restaurant?” I leaned over Byte’s shoulder to get a better look at the screen.”
“Yeah.”
“What’s Falcon’s bike doing there? Did Gina go out with one of the guys?”
“No. Lemon’s on it.”
That surprised me. “Lemon? At Tito’s?”
“Yeah. But that doesn’t matter. Watch.” He started the camera feed.
“What am I looking at?”
Instead of Byte answering me, a voice from the speakerphone spoke up. “Lemon’s been kidnapped.”
That was Thorn’s voice. President of Salvation’s Bane. We had a loose alliance with their club, but we weren’t exactly friends. More like we agreed to stay out of each other’s way and to help each other out if things got too out of hand. Looks like they were. Had Thorn punched me in the balls, he couldn’t have dealt a more debilitating blow.
“What?” I barked the question. “You better be fuckin’ with me, Thorn. Then you better take your ass beatin’ like a fuckin’ man.”
“I wish like fuck I was, Rocket. Venus was on her way to Tito’s when it went down. She thinks they were looking for her.”
“Lemon looks nothing like Venus. Not to mention all the pink.” Then a thought occurred to me. “The bike,” I whispered, glancing over at Crush. His expression was hard but resigned. “That Goddamned bike.”
“Yeah. She was riding Falcon’s bike.” Ringo stuck his head inside the room. “You think they thought Lemon was Venus?”
“That’s exactly what Ripper thought.” Thorn continued. “When Venus contacted us, Ripper started pulling camera feeds all over the city. Those guys are good. They know what they’re doing and how to stay off the cameras. Venus is on ‘em, though. She’ll keep on your girl, Rocket. Venus is deadly as any of us.”
Ringo snorted. “That’s not what I heard.”
I gave him an exasperated look. “Run along, little boy. The grown-ups are having a conversation.”
Ringo barked out a laugh. “The little hellion’s rubbin’ off on you, Prez. You sound just like her.”
“I must not have beat you hard enough before.” Even though the man sported a still swollen-shut black eye, he couldn’t keep his mouth shut.
“You beat me plenty, Rocket, but I’m bettin’ you no one’s considered Lemon’s sharp tongue and how it’s gonna affect her kidnappers. Because that woman could try the patience of a saint. I say that with the utmost affection, Rocket. But you know it’s true.”
Yeah. My little sourpuss could rip a man to shreds without batting an eyelash. “I hear you, Ringo.” I turned my attention back to the phone and Thorn. “Where’s Lemon?”
“Venus is following them. Ripper has a GPS on everyone’s bike, so he’s following her. She’s also got an open phone connection with Ripper, giving him real-time information. They’re headed to the reserve. Your direction. They know you guys are there?”
“No,” I said without hesitation. “We all take great pains to protect our area out here. I’m not saying no one knows where we are, but in this case, I’d be willing to bet my life they’re looking for a place to hole up and think the nature reserve is the perfect place because no one is allowed in here.”