Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 61746 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 309(@200wpm)___ 247(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61746 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 309(@200wpm)___ 247(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
I kept my eyebrows from lifting, maintaining a nonchalant face. I didn’t even realize a cop went to a rough place like that. He never tried to stop any of the fights that broke out there, but I supposed he was off his shift and stuck by that.
“Ready when you are,” I replied.
Marlo nodded and looked up toward Marcus.
“Shop is yours, Marcus. We’ll be back,” he called out.
Marcus gave a thumbs-up before turning back to his work.
I followed Marlo out of the shop and got in his SUV, my adrenaline starting to spike. Maybe we could finish things tonight by getting that cop to arrest Michael. Or at least look into the report. Any step forward was a win to me, and we really needed a win at this point. Michael could strike at any moment.
“You think this could work?” I asked him.
Marlo glanced over at me and shrugged, a sigh drifting from him.
“We have to try everything. We’re at that point,” he replied.
I nodded and curled my fingers into fists, preparing myself in case things went sideways. Lately, I was more on edge than usual. I had faced off with the law before, but this was different. I was trying to be a good guy, and I hoped I didn’t lose sight of that in the moment.
My old black Converse hit the ground as I got out of the SUV. The Ice House was already packed, and I followed Marlo’s lead as he went inside. I didn’t know what the cop looked like until Marlo pointed him out on the right side of the bar.
Stocky, average height, shaved head, sharp nose. I had seen him around here before, but I had no idea that he was a cop.
“Let’s go,” I said, wanting to get this done with.
Marlo headed over to the cop and tapped his shoulder.
“We need to have a chat with you outside real quick, Officer,” Marlo told him with a firm tone and a serious expression on his face.
The cop narrowed his eyes as he looked between us.
“I think I’ll stay right where I’m at,” he said as he turned himself on the barstool to face us. “What do you want?”
“Do you work with Michael Ladnier?” I demanded as I stepped forward, both me and Marlo looming over him.
The cop didn’t move an inch, merely staring us down.
“I know of the guy,” he said.
His snide tone spoke volumes to me, making me share a knowing look with Marlo.
“He’s being funded by Deviau. You know, the known criminal and owner of a huge drug running business,” I told him.
The cop didn’t even look fazed in the slightest.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.
“You’re lying!” Marlo gritted out. “You have a duty to this city and its citizens to protect them. Locking Michael up will help keep them safe. You know that he’s done and will do terrible things!”
“He’ll do great things for this city, and I like the thought of having an ally at the top,” the cop replied with a smirk before starting to turn around.
Marlo snapped and gripped the front of the cop’s collared shirt.
“You’re a disgrace to this city! If you don’t do this, I’ll make sure people know how corrupt all of you are!” he spat.
When the cop swung at Marlo, I slammed my palm against his chest to knock him back against the bar and make him fall off the barstool.
“Stop it! You two, get out!” the bar owner shouted from behind the bar, pointing toward the door.
“Son of a bitch,” I gritted out as I grabbed Marlo’s arm and led him out of the Ice House before we did any more damage. I sure as hell wanted to. “We’ll have to figure something else out. We have to be smarter.”
Marlo huffed as he got back into his SUV, his jaw tensing to its max. He shook his head, staring ahead through the windshield.
“I have another idea, but I’ve been putting it off because it’s too risky. We could lose…” he trailed off.
My eyes narrowed slightly. In the back of my mind, I believed I knew what he meant by that, but I needed to hear him say it.
“Lose what?” I asked him.
Marlo stared out of the windshield for a few more seconds, gathering up the courage he needed to turn to me and speak.
“Madison and Chloe.”
Chapter 27
Madison
My heart rate doubled as I stood outside of my house with Chloe standing next to me, our hands joined. It had been so long since we had been back home, and it was odd being here again. All I could think about was the worry and danger I experienced here and how I felt so much safer with the guys.
I glanced up and down the street, my body on edge. I was on the verge of danger right now, putting me and Chloe out in the open for anyone to see. For a certain someone to see. Today, either Michael stopped being a problem in our lives, or he would pin us down under his thumb for as long as we lived. I didn’t think I could succeed at escaping him all over again.