Total pages in book: 144
Estimated words: 135382 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 677(@200wpm)___ 542(@250wpm)___ 451(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 135382 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 677(@200wpm)___ 542(@250wpm)___ 451(@300wpm)
It was. And it was surreal because no one seemed to know what was going on. Even the big bad mercenaries didn’t seem to know how to react.
How the hell were they here? How had they found her?
“It is indeed, my old friend,” Taggart replied. “‘Sweet Child o’ Mine’ is my sweet, sweet lovemaking song. This is the one I kill assholes to. GN’R provides the soundtrack to my whole life. Hello, Fedor. I thought I told you we would meet again. You have something of mine and I’m here to fucking take it back. You boys might not give a shit about your people, but I’m smart enough to microchip all my puppies. Tucker, you brilliant motherfucker. You get all the hookers you want, my brother. I’m paying.”
She looked down at Tucker, who was staring at de Vries, seeming not to hear Taggart. That was why he’d come along, why he’d allowed himself to be tortured? Because he’d known he could be the beacon that brought their people here. He’d had little time to figure out what to do, but he’d offered himself up in an instant.
“Perhaps we could talk, Mr. Taggart,” Fedor said, his voice steady. “My sister is right. I was about to murder them all and give you your people back.”
“You’re outnumbered, you idiots,” de Vries yelled.
Taggart smiled, the pure, happy smile of a predator about to get a meal he’d long been denied. “Not on your life, asshole. You see, you forget. I came prepared. I brought snipers to the party. Hello, boys.”
Suddenly the room seemed filled with red laser lights painting the chests or heads of every man in there.
“Speaking of parties, I’m supposed to be at one in about five hours,” Taggart said, glancing down at his watch. “So we should get this one started.”
“Aye, I’m double-booked, too, brother, and I have to be there to work the grill.” Li continued on as though they were talking about a damn hair appointment that was running long. “Adam can’t do medium rare to save his life. He overcooks everything.”
She gasped as an arm curled around her waist and started hauling her back.
“Time to go, luv.”
Brody. It was Brody. He was here. Oh, god, Brody was here and he was taking her away from the brink of what would have been death and pain, and she wanted to turn and hold on to him and beg his forgiveness.
That was when she noticed Brody wasn’t alone. Theo and Case Taggart had his back, providing him with access to move to her and start to drag her away.
“Anya, I think you should go with the doctor’s friends,” Fedor said, never taking his eyes off Taggart. “I don’t believe they’ll hurt you.”
“I think I better stay here and try to explain that you are an idiot, but you don’t deserve to die,” Anya replied.
Alfi got to his feet. “Bloody hell. Save me from stubborn women. I’ll take her.”
Before Anya could say another word, Alfi had her in a fireman’s hold, walking her back to the McKay-Taggart line.
“If you think we’re going down without a fight, you better think again,” de Vries promised.
“You are going to run to the back of this bloody building and you’re going to hide,” Brody whispered into her ear. His voice was cold as ice, his hold on her not at all lover like.
He was angry. So angry. She could feel it.
“I can walk, Brody,” she said, trying not to be a burden.
“Alex McKay is back there along with Erin, and they’re going to get you someplace safe. I want you safe. I can’t do my job if you’re not safe. Is that clear?”
She was going to have to handle his rage at another time. Now wasn’t the time to argue or to explain that she’d seen the light.
She hadn’t meant to hurt anyone. She’d only wanted to go to a party and see her friends. That had been the reason, the motivation behind her crime. It hadn’t been the same for de Vries. De Vries meant to kill them all. His sin was an act of evil, hers of youth.
She might never be able to find the meaning in it that Kai and Avery talked about, but maybe she could try to have something good in her life, try to forgive herself enough to be worthy of them.
“Yes, Brody. You can let me walk. I’ll go back there. Tucker needs help. They hurt his feet.”
“Can’t worry about Tucker because I can’t trust you,” he whispered back. “Get behind me. Something’s wrong.”
She found herself pushed behind Brody’s body. Theo Taggart moved in behind her.
“I’ve got her back, Carter,” he promised. “But you’re right. I got a feeling de Vries won’t go down and Big Brother is going to get his firefight.”
“Why don’t we get the women and hurt puppies out of here and then we’ll talk?” Taggart seemed tenser than before, as though he’d realized what his brother had as well.