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)
His tone is light. It’s not a declaration of undying love, but there’s honesty in his words, and Ghost grunts in agreement as he gently pulls out, his hands stroking me through the little aftershock shivers.
“I guess staying wouldn’t be that bad,” I admit. “You guys are kinda spoiling me for all other men.”
Ghost gives me a light slap on the ass. “No talking about other men when I can still see our cum all over you.”
“Or ever,” Tex adds, eyes closed.
29
JESSICA
The city is eerily quiet at night. Even after we've gotten off the bikes and walked into the little plaza in front of the store, I swear I can still hear the faint echoes of the motorcycle engines bouncing off the buildings. But there's no one in sight, only us. Ghost, Riot and Tex surround me, on high alert in case Victor or his men are here to spring a trap on us.
We aren’t alone, though. Hellfire sent Skyhigh and Poe over earlier to get into position early and monitor the area. I keep my eyes focused on the ground, not wanting to look around and give them away. There are other members around, waiting nearby, but I still feel very exposed, walking right into the spot we were told to go. We're as safe as we can be.
But tell that to my anxiety.
Riot scans the area. "Nothing's gonna happen to you. We're gonna make sure of it."
I pull my jacket close. The January chill cuts straight through my clothes, but part of it is just being scared. What if there's a bomb? Or Victor’s men are hiding somewhere we don’t know about? He doesn’t seem to want to kill me, so hopefully there isn’t a rocket launcher about to fire from a nearby building, but he’s capable of it. Not knowing is the scariest part.
But if it isn’t a trap, then who would want to lure us out of the compound?
Despite it being night and empty in this part of the city, it’s not dark. Sparkie’s Megastore has huge display windows full of giant TVs showing endless commercials. There are bars in front of the windows and doors, but we can still see inside and read about their post-holiday clearance sale. Christmas lights and garland still decorate the streetlamps, but I’m not feeling much holiday cheer.
Ghost checks his watch, a plain black piece with physical dials and clock hands. No fancy computer chip for him. "One fifty-five," he says calmly.
This is the Ghost I first met. I’m not scared of him anymore, but I can tell that he’s fallen back into a place where he can do his job without worry or emotions. I wish I didn’t understand why he does it, but I do. I had to learn a similar lesson while working for Victor. There were a lot of times that I had to lock myself away and cry when it was safe.
I bet it’s not quite the same for Ghost. I can’t see him going back to his room and bawling his eyes out like I used to, but the same idea.
Five minutes seems like forever when you're waiting, but at exactly two, all the screens in the windows light up, turning completely white. They shine like daylight out the front of the store, illuminating the whole area like floodlights. I squeak in surprise, jumping backwards right into Tex. He puts one arm around me, and his other is hanging loose at his side, a gun at the ready in his hand. "What the fuck?"
The screens dim a little, and then big black letters appear on them, the same message on every TV facing out of the store.
Look at the front door, Jessica.
God, this is freaky.
Riot steps in front of me, shielding me from an unknown enemy and obviously frustrated there's no one there to stab or shoot. "What in the sci-fi hells is this bullshit?"
Ghost huffs, amused. "Don't like this.” He repositions slowly, never stopping his slow scan of the area. Tex does the same from my other side.
The TVs flash bright white again, then settle back on the same text. Well, the message is clear. "I think I have to do what they say."
"I’ve got your back," says Tex. "This still feels like a trap, but we haven’t found out how."
I'm terrified, but I need to know, and in my gut I don’t think it’s Victor’s style. That doesn’t mean he hasn’t put someone else in charge, but he likes to do things himself.
They stay in a tight triangle around me as I step towards the door.
"Anything feels off, anything at all, and you get the fuck out of the way. We don't want you hurt," Riot says.
I nod and take a step closer. There's a security camera just inside the door, and as I approach, it shifts slightly and focuses on me. Oh God, please don't be a trap. I stop, and do a little wave at the lens.