Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 66859 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 334(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66859 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 334(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
“You hearin’ me?”
I stare straight ahead.
He goes quiet for a minute and then comes over and sits beside me.
“You know,” I say, not looking at him, “I’ve seen a lot of things out there, on the streets, when I was with my husband, and none of it scared me. In fact, I’m rarely scared.”
“Are you scared now?”
“No,” I say, shaking my head. “Disappointed in myself for fucking up? Yes. Angry I have not a soul in this world willing to go into bat for me? Yes. But scared? No. I’m not scared.”
Beckett is quiet for a moment. “You’re somethin’ else, Pop tart. I’ll give you that.”
I smirk and look to him. “Thanks Captain.”
His mouth twitches. “Come on, let’s get this done.”
“If I hurry, will you take me to the store so I can actually wash my hair tonight? It’s that or you’re going to have to share your shampoo. I saw it by the way, nice choice. Very floral.”
I wish I could see his face.
I’d like to think he was smiling, but I know he’s scowling.
“Yeah, I’ll fuckin’ take you if you stop talkin’.”
“Ohhh, hard bargain.”
“Poppy ...”
I grin. “Yes, boss.”
We get to work and, as promised, I stay quiet.
We get a lot done, like a fucking lot, and Beckett is true to his word and takes me to the store.
A store two towns over.
Safety and all that.
I am so grateful to be able to get some essentials, there are so many things I haven’t gotten that I need. I fill my cart full of nice smelling shampoos, soaps, and washes. I get some essential cleaning items as well as heaps of fresh fruit, vegetables, and meat for my freezer. I’ve been living off crap, and my body is craving something with a little more substance. Perhaps I’ll make a nice soup that’ll warm me for a few nights.
When I’m done, Beckett stares at the cart and then looks to me. “How the fuck do you think you’re payin’ for all of this?”
I stare at him, blankly. “You are.”
“That wasn’t the deal. Said I’d take you to the store, never said I’d buy you anything.”
Well. Crap.
I only have about fifty dollars to my name right now, and that’s only going to get a quarter of what I need.
“I’ll pay you back,” I say, sheepishly.
He mutters something, and we go through the checkout. He pays for all of it and doesn’t say another word as we load it into the truck and make our way back to the warehouse.
During the drive, I ask him, “What sort of deal do you think I’m going to have to make?”
He shrugs. “Depends on what they want. My guess, it’ll be you doin’ some runs of drugs for them. Risky runs, the runs they don’t like their men doing.”
Jesus.
That sounds ... terrifying.
“I’m going to die, aren’t I?”
I don’t plan on my voice hitching, but it does and Beckett glances at me, his face actually showing some sort of compassion. “No,” he answers. “Won’t let that happen.”
“You don’t get a choice, Beckett. Riggs has made it very clear that I’ll do the deal, on my own, and the club won’t be involved.”
“Riggs don’t get the final say.”
That’s all Beckett tells me, but it’s enough to relieve some of the fear slowly building in my chest.
I’ve been in this world a long time, but this ...
This is too much, even for me.
“WE KNOW WHAT THEY WANT,” Riggs says, standing in front of me as I carefully watch the massive printer in action.
This is the final test to see if our money will come out how we would like it to.
If it doesn’t, it’s back to square one.
I don’t look at him as I ask, “What?”
“They want Mateo.”
I pause, my fingers outstretched to press a button on the machine. My heart seems to freeze, for a second, and I look up in confusion. “What?” I say, my voice a little shakier than I’d like.
“They want your husband, Poppy.”
I swallow the lump in my throat, and the feelings swirling around in my chest are confusing, even to me.
I can’t stand Mateo, but he also saved my life when I had no other choice. He got me out of some serious trouble, and because of that, I owe him my life. Handing him over to the cartel, that’s low, even for me.
“Why do they want Mateo?” I ask, straightening.
I side eye Beckett, who is watching Riggs intently. His eyes then move to mine, as if to gauge my reaction. His expression is focused and unwavering as he watches my expression.
“You know as well as anyone that Mateo is running a big operation, the kind of operation that steps on other people’s toes. He’s taking over, and they don’t like it. They want him gone, and that’s their deal. You hand them Mateo and you’re free.”