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)
"I will, I will." The danger seems to be sinking in now, and she’s fucking terrified. That's good. She needs to be. I don't want her doing anything fucking stupid.
We come out into a big round room in the middle of the mansion. Huge stairs come up from below leading to a set of double doors across from us. My thought is to go around the back railing where we're less likely to be seen, when I'm distracted by angry yelling from behind the doors.
"Jesus fuck, Crusher!" Is that Cain? "You and your damn fascination with whores is costing us this whole goddamn setup."
"They fucking owe us money. And what the fuck are you so pissed about? Carlo made good. His guys are out there right now, taking care of the goddamn Eagles. By the time this is done, you're going to have Eagle-eye's fucking head mounted on your fucking wall and we can take over their whole setup."
"That's all well and fucking good, except they're shooting the shit out of our clubhouse and killing brothers. We were supposed to hand them over to the Fabbris, not take the heat ourselves." There's a slam, like a fist into a wall.
The four of us look at each other. At least Cain and Crusher are in there, maybe the fucking Fabbri as well. We could cut the head off the snake if we play this right.
"Crusher, let me go!" yells a feminine voice. Fuck, we might've hit the fucking jackpot. "This isn’t what we agreed on."
"You shut the fuck up and do what you're told, slut!" Crusher's hard words are followed by a sharp crack and a scream. Did he just slap her?
"Sandra!"
It doesn't really fucking matter what he did, because Natalie charges the doors. Before any of us manage to stop her, she throws them open. "Let her go, you fucking monster!" she yells.
Fuck.
36
NATALIE
When I burst into the room, it's immediately obvious that I just made a really stupid mistake. Quickshot's going to kick my ass later.
If there is a later.
It's a ballroom turned storage area, in a terrible state of repair. Peeling paint, a couple of broken windows and on the far side, the remains of a fallen chandelier is gathering dust in a corner. There're a couple of chairs and tables on this end, some weight equipment on rubber mats to one of the sides, and otherwise, it's a maze of crates, bags and God knows what else.
Sandra is here. That's good. She's on her butt on the yellowed marble floor and clutching her cheek. A streak of blood is running from her nose.
So is Crusher, Cain, five, no, six more of the Unwanted, and that guy Giancarlo. And at least three of them have guns out, pointing at me and the rest are pulling theirs. That's less good.
"Sandra, are you okay?"
She nods. "Yeah, but… you shouldn't be here. I told you to go."
"And I don't care. I'm not leaving you."
Cain aims a huge revolver right at my head. "Well, this is all fucking heartwarming, but this isn't the time for a fucking family reunion. Get the fuck over there with your sister."
I scramble to her side. Where are the guys? They were right behind me, so I figured they’d have followed me in to do their crazy heroic thing by now, but there's nothing. Just silence. I refuse to believe that they've given up on me just for one stupid mistake.
I drop to my knees next to Sandra. "You're bleeding."
"I'm fine. Really. It's just—"
"It's just nothing. I'm going to get you out of here, and bring you home."
Crusher laughs. "I don't think so. I had one slut, sold her, then got another, and now I've got both of them. Fuck the hundred thousand. You girls are gonna fucking do what I say for the rest of your miserable lives. You've stirred up way too much fucking shit for us to let you go."
I whirl on him. "And if I refuse?"
He pats the gun in his belt. "There's ways of dealing with that too. I'd watch my fucking mouth if I was you."
Right.
Cain looks around the room. "You three, go out and check around. No fucking way she wandered in here on her own I don't want any damn surprises."
They get as far as the door before a massive arm grabs the first one and yanks him out of sight. There's a dull thump, followed by a pained grunt, and then the guy comes flying back into the room, landing in the arms of one of the others, bringing both of them to the floor.
Badass fills the doorway, his face twisted in a furious grimace, looking every bit like an avenging angel. "I'm making knuckle sandwiches. Anyone want some?"
"Jesus Christ, did you learn all your lines watching eighties movies?" Animal bursts past him, both of his guns up. He pulls a trigger and the explosion makes my ears ring. One of the Unwanted screams and slams into the wall, where he collapses, seeping blood. I look away, nauseous. "Keep your fucking hands where I can see them, or it's all of you fuckers going down."