Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 132332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 529(@250wpm)___ 441(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 529(@250wpm)___ 441(@300wpm)
Jigsaw’s big frame fills up the tiny doorway. He lifts his chin at the girl and rubs his gloved hands together. “What’s this? Consolation prize for our toy box?”
“No,” Grinder grumbles. He slaps Jiggy’s chest. “Stop staring at her like you want to hang her over a barbecue pit.”
Jiggy sniffs the air Hannibal Lector-style. “But she looks like she’d be tasty with a ribeye and a rich, imperial stout.”
The girl whimpers and hugs herself tighter.
Chuckling, Z pushes Jigsaw away from the room. “Cut it out.”
Rock stands at the foot of the bed, hands on his hips, and stares at the girl. “What are we doing with her?” he asks me.
If this really is the daughter of South of Satan MC’s president, I get why he’s not eager to take responsibility for her.
I’m not exactly thrilled about it myself.
I kick the side of the bed to get her attention. “You really try to take care of my brother?”
Face all red, blotchy, and bruised, she turns and lifts her chin with defiance and sticks out her tongue.
“Careful.” Z casually flicks open a knife. “We can put that tongue to use, sweetheart.”
She glares at him.
“We don’t have time for this shit,” I grumble.
“Yes. I tried to help Carter,” she croaks.
“Do you want to stay here?” Rock asks.
She slowly shakes her head.
“You gonna behave?” I ask her.
She throws a hard scowl at me.
“Yeah, I got a little sister.” I let out a dark laugh. “Those pissy faces don’t work on me.”
She scoots off the bed and reaches for a black, hooded sweatshirt on the floor. I slide my gaze over her. Thin and flat as a board—malnourished, almost. If she’s pregnant, she must be in the early stages.
Not my problem.
“We’re meeting up with Merlin,” Rock says to her.
She freezes.
Rock sighs. “No one’s gonna hurt you.”
We follow her out of the trailer at a respectable distance. She doesn’t try to grab anything. Doesn’t even blink at the body she has to step over to reach freedom.
“Who is he?” Grinder asks, toeing the dead guy.
“My uncle,” she says over her shoulder.
“So much for family loyalty,” I mutter to Rock.
“Can you blame her?”
Outside, the weight of the night seems to press down on me. Fatigue tugs at my eyelids and I’d love nothing more than to crawl into bed and sleep for days.
Too bad we still have a long night ahead.
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
Teller
Rock and I stand outside and stare at the trailer.
“Should we take the body?” I ask.
“Fuck,” he mutters.
Wrath flicks the lighter in his hands. “I have an idea.”
“June,” Rock calls out, ignoring Mr. Firestarter.
She steps away from her huddle with Carter.
“Anyone else here?” Rock sweeps his hand in a circle. “Maybe hiding? Or tied up like you were?”
June flicks her gaze around the camp.
“Any women or children?” Grinder clarifies.
“Or animals,” Z adds.
She shakes her head. “Women aren’t allowed up here.”
“That explains a lot,” Murphy grumbles.
“Why were you here, then?” Wrath asks.
She cocks her head, like it’s a stupid question. Quick, sharp laughter explodes past my lips. This chick throwing attitude at Wrath warms my soul.
Wrath snarls, looking awfully similar to a mastiff guarding a junkyard.
“We searched all the buildings,” I say to Rock. “Didn’t find anyone else.”
He grunts a noise of agreement.
“They were hiding her from Merlin,” Carter says.
“Why? Thought they wanted him to marry you tomorrow?” Wrath asks June.
“Ewww,” Carter whines. “She’s younger than me, for fuck’s sake.”
June shudders.
Rock stares at the sky, like he’s searching for patience among the stars. “You got somewhere we can take you? Family? A mother?” he asks.
“My father killed her a long time ago.” June’s raspy voice carries years of sadness.
Well, fuck.
Rock stares me in the eye, a look that says he still doesn’t trust her brewing in his gray depths.
I don’t trust her either, but I shrug. “We’ll figure it out. Let’s get the fuck away from here.”
“Now might be a good time to visit your undertaker,” Murphy suggests, nodding at the body.
“I’ll go with you,” Jiggy volunteers.
“Let’s get your truck,” Rock says to me, jerking his thumb at the dead guy. “I’m not dragging his carcass out of here.”
I take in the uneven fields. “I don’t want to blow a tire.”
“For fuck’s sake,” Wrath bellows. “Time to put your monster truck to work instead of treating it like a show pony.”
“Fine, all right.”
Impatient to leave, Wrath shoves his rifle into Grinder’s hands and encourages Carter to get on his back for a piggyback ride.
“Uh.” Carter wraps his hands around Wrath’s neck and stares at the ground. “I don’t know about this.”
“You’re fine.” Wrath takes off, sprinting across the field with Carter bouncing and bobbing on his back.
I stop and place my hands on my knees, laughing until I wheeze.
“You all right?” Rock rests his hand on my back. “Is your side worse?”
“No.” I fling my hand out toward Wrath. “It’s the mountain man carrying Carter like he’s King fucking Kong that’s killing me.”