Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 76082 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76082 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
“Like fuck it is,” snaps Animal. “They were pulling shit on our turf and they got what they deserved.”
Crusher doesn’t look happy, but he nods.
What kind of trouble did that girl get herself into? She looks back and forth between the three of us with big, terrified eyes. The auctioneer said something about owing money, so maybe I read her wrong and she’s a good girl with a dirty little habit. I feel like an asshole for thinking it, but I can’t let myself go soft just because something about her makes me want to play the hero.
"We’re here on business." I cross my arms over my chest, daring Crusher to tell me otherwise.
His eyes narrow. “Business, huh? You crying birdies say you don’t want your hands dirty, but now here you are. Down in the muck with the rest of us. How the fuck are you going to sleep at night?”
"Is this how you want to play it?" Quickshot’s expression turns blank and his voice flat. “I could put a bullet between your eyes and sleep like a fucking baby. Hand the bitch over.”
Animal stiffens by my side, but the three of us have been through thick and thin together. We know Quickshot’s playing the role he needs to in order to get us all out of here. If we show any sign of weakness, our chances of walking out alive go down significantly.
Crusher's oily laugh makes me want to punch his face in. "Easy, easy. Cash on fucking delivery. I get that you're hot for this whore, but I gotta make a living, you read me?" He squeezes the girl's tit, and her whimper of pain is one more black mark on the tally against letting this bastard live to see old age. Maybe not here and now, but one day he won’t have the upper hand, and I’ll show him exactly how I made my name in the fighting pit.
"I got ten grand on me, cash. We came to feel out some business, not… this." Quickshot leans against one of the tables and waves a hand at the girl. "Got a proposal for you."
"I'm not the marrying kind, and you ain't my fucking type." Crusher laughs at his own joke.
"Fuck off." I give him the finger. "You can talk to us, or we can go back to our prez and let him know you weren’t interested. You got the authority to make that decision?"
"Cain listens to me,” Crusher says, but his jaw twitches nervously. He returns his attention to Quickshot. "A proposal doesn't equal the fifteen thou you're missing, but I like cash so talk fast. What’re you thinking?"
"Like you said, your club's growing. Of course we’re gonna fucking notice. You're operating in South Side by our fucking grace. We’re here to see if any of your business is worth getting in on. Gotta be honest, I was ready to leave before we came back here."
Crusher snorts. “I didn’t think the Eagles were interested in this line of business.” He runs a finger down the girl’s cheek. She turns her head away and Animal fucking growls. We gotta get out of here before he fucks things up.
“Here’s what we’re gonna do.” Quickshot pulls the wad of cash out of his jacket. “Here’s ten grand in down payment. Then we’re going to set up a real meeting to discuss the future. Cain would fucking love to sit down with Eagle-eye as an equal. You could be the man who set it up.”
Crusher’s beady little eyes narrow as he thinks it through. “You’d better make sure you remember to mention that.” Then he shoves the girl our way.
She stumbles, but Animal’s there to grab her. She twists in his grip and he whispers something in her ear. She remains calm, even if her eyes are still wide with fear.
“Of course.” Quickshot pushes off the table. “We’re the biggest fucking club in the region. Cain would give a lot for that kind of reach, and right now, that’s your doing. You fuckers are gonna be rich. We just want a little cut off the top, is all.”
"Fuck." Crusher’s practically salivating. For all the big talk about hating us, clubs like theirs dream of the legitimacy they’d get by being known as our allies. "But you still owe us fifteen grand. When we come, I wanna see you still got the girl. She still has a debt, and if you don’t produce, it’s return to sender, you get me? No one rips off the Unwanted, not even you."
Animal finally grins. He's got an arm slung possessively around the girl’s waist. "Don’t you fucking worry. We just spent twenty-five grand on this piece of ass. You really think we’re going to pat her on the head and send her home? She’s property of the Eagles now."