Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 78534 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78534 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
I start to laugh, but cover it up with a grunt when Hellfire glares at me. Cooper’s got balls, I’ll give him that. Thirty years ago, he might’ve made a decent prospect, but career Army or not, he’s spent most of the past decade or so behind a desk and it shows. He’s not in horrible shape for pushing sixty, but he’s a long way from boot camp. I bet this is the first time in years that he’s seen any real action.
“Then get in there and do what you have to do. We’re here on your dime, but you can shove your money up your ass if you think I’m going to risk my men more than I have to just so you can play out your little revenge fantasy. If you weren’t tight with General, we wouldn’t even be standing here.”
Cooper nods. “I know you think I’m being an old fool, but he would’ve understood.”
I’m not sure that’s true. Maybe the General he knew a lifetime ago would have gone along with his little revenge fantasy, but the man we swore to follow would’ve put the safety of the club above his personal need for blood. I wasn’t there when Cooper hired us, but from what I’ve understood, he’s retiring and wants to tie up one last loose end before he goes. Kane was responsible for the death of one of his best friends. After trying to take him down legally for over a decade, Cooper finally decided he’d rather go outside the law and see justice done than let him get away with murder.
That’s where we came in.
I hope he gets what he wants, but in my experience, death doesn’t solve as much as you might think it would. Even if you can spit on their grave, the pain doesn’t fucking go away. Still, I’d rather drink and fuck my sorrows away knowing my enemies are six feet under instead of knowing they have a fucking beach house like Kane, so maybe I’m no better.
A door opens and Savage walks down the hall towards us, followed by Poe, one of the newer guys.
“Good to go?” Hellfire asks.
“We’re clear. Kane is tied up like a fucking Christmas ham, and Poe got us into the security system. I can’t guarantee someone didn’t make a call before we took control, but there’s no sign a distress signal went out.”
"Good." Hellfire nods towards the door, while looking at Cooper. "You’ve got ten minutes. Clock starts now."
Cooper clears his throat. He looks a little green around the edges, like a kid who’s been waiting in line for a roller coaster but now that it’s his turn, he’s not sure he’s up for it. “Right.”
“Cold feet?” I ask.
“Not a chance.” Cooper narrows his eyes at me.
“He’s got a kid, you know. We found her hiding in a bolt room with her nanny and a couple guards. Twelve years old.” Why the fuck did I bring that up? I’m I trying to talk this guy out of killing a man who probably deserves it ten times over? I won’t lose a minute of sleep over Victor Kane, but I’m not a fucking monster. Watching his daughter curl up into her cute little nanny while trying not to cry didn’t exactly fill me with warm fuzzies.
Instead of making him rethink his plan, Cooper’s expression hardens at the mention of Kane’s daughter. “Ted’s kid never got to be twelve. They made me the godfather, you know that? I was there for the baptism. I guess in a way, this is me seeing my duties through. I feel bad for the girl, but she’s better off without a man like him raising her.”
Cold. Do two wrongs make a right? I wonder what will happen to Kane’s kid. I suppose Jessica can figure it out.
Cooper carefully pulls a gun out of the holster under his jacket. “This was Ted’s. It’s taken me a long while to get this far, but—”
“Tick tock, tick tock,” Hellfire snaps. “You paid us to get you here, not listen to your fucking TED talk. You’re down to seven minutes. I suggest you use them.”
We walk him to the door of the room where we’re holding Kane. Savage opens it, and through the doorway, I see Kane tied to a chair, his arms behind him, with a wad of cloth shoved in his mouth. Behind him are massive glass windows overlooking the roof terrace and the inky water of the coast. He tries to speak, but it just comes out a mumble.
“What was that? Are you worried we’ll steal all your business once you’re out of the picture?” I grin at the glare he gives me. “Don’t worry, we’ll take good care of your customers.”
I’m just fucking with him. We might pick up a little business if Kane’s out of the picture, but we aren’t interested in playing in his league. We source gear mostly for other bike clubs, preppers, enthusiasts, even some mob families that aren’t too fancy to associate with us. He’s known for offering some of the most advanced shit on the market. High tech, expensive weaponry that appeals more to the international crowd. Doesn’t surprise me that he clashed with the military.