Total pages in book: 154
Estimated words: 148220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 741(@200wpm)___ 593(@250wpm)___ 494(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 148220 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 741(@200wpm)___ 593(@250wpm)___ 494(@300wpm)
He accepts that with a nod.
“And that deal with Blowback about the heads-up…I don’t want Papa any more. If I get him first, I get him.” Otherwise she can have first crack. “The heads-up I want now is Victor.”
The fucker who pulled the trigger on her brother and is the reason she’s crying now.
“All right,” he agrees. “That suits me better, anyway.”
I don’t give a fuck what suits him. All that matters is that my girl is huddled up on the floor of a bathroom, hurting so bad. And that she told me I should go, and I’ll give her anything she wants.
The cold air outside burns my eyes, my throat. Makes it hard to breathe. But this is the only thing to do. She had one real good reason to walk through that door. But for me, going through that door would mean cutting ties with my family and the club. I’ve got a million reasons to stay out—and only one reason to go in.
And I don’t even know her name. But she’s all that’s inside me. Because there’s no hole in my chest now.
There’s just her.
I reach my bike, and my eyes aren’t burning. Breathing is easier. Because the way ahead is clear. So many reasons to stay out.
But one real, real good reason to turn around and walk back through that door. And that one reason to go in is more important than a million others.
I turn back.
Up ahead, the door to the last room flings open. “Stone!”
My girl comes running out, clutching her pack and jacket, frantically looking in my direction. When she sees me, relief pours over her face before she races closer.
Swearing, Creek comes after her.
I head for her and she reaches me halfway, a light in her eyes that I’ve seen before—rage, burning like fire through that emerald. “When you go after Papa, you won’t just have him thrown in jail, right? You’ll literally be nailing him to the wall?”
Messy, but doable. “If that’s what you want me to do.”
Her chin lifts. “I want to do it with you. I want to make him really, really pay. I’ll tell you everything I know. Just let me go with you.”
“All right.” Anything she wants.
Gratitude slips over her expression. “Thank—”
“Don’t.”
“Miss Faraday,” Creek says, coming up slowly with his hands held out, as if thinking she’ll bolt like a frightened doe. “Leaving is not a safe option for you. And if you’re thinking of taking justice into your own hands, remember that is not what Matt stood for.”
“I know what he stood for,” she snaps at him. “I’ll still give you everything you want to know—just set up more meetings like this and I’ll do my duty. I’ll still sit in that witness stand. But I’m not going to sit in another cage until then.”
Gritting his teeth, he pulls his hand through his hair, then looks to me. “Talk some fucking sense into her.”
“She’s making sense to me.”
“I’ve given you a lot to go on already.” She heads for my bike, straps her pack to the back. “But here’s something more. At that town I was bait in. I don’t know what it was called—”
“Cactus Gulch,” I say.
“There was a sheriff who took a roll of cash from the Iron Blood. Baumgarten, according to his name tag. So if you’re looking for someone who might be smoothing the way to these other stables, that might be a good place to start.”
His eyes narrow. “While you start somewhere else.”
She doesn’t say anything. Just stands beside my bike with her helmet in hand. Waiting for me.
Creek meets my gaze. “This is grief talking. So when this anger passes, bring her back. Anytime, anywhere.” He hands me a card. “For now, just keep her safe.”
With my own life. I tuck his card away. “Be seeing you, Creek.”
“Soon, I hope.”
He can keep hoping. I’m done with wishing when it comes to this girl. I’ll take everything she gives. But until she gives it, I won’t ask for anything more.
I head back to my bike. That fire’s still in her eyes, though a tremble has returned to her lips. “You sure about this?” I ask her.
She nods and pulls on her helmet, the faceplate still up.
“Then hold onto me, angel.” I settle onto my bike. “We’ve got a ways to go.”
“I know.” Her hands briefly rest on my shoulders for balance as she straddles the seat behind me. “And it’s Maxine.”
My heart squeezes tight. “What’s that?”
“My name.” Her arms wrap around me. “It’s Maxine.”
My chest feeling real full, I fire up my engine. So there it is. The name of the girl I’d do anything for. The girl who’s got me so damn deep in love with her. This fucking girl.
Maxine.
III
The Road
29
Stone
That morning, for the first time since leaving the barns, my girl doesn’t stir awake before sunrise.