Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 121728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
When she took a step back to continue her search, a gasp escaped her when she bumped into something living and breathing. Raising the lug wrench, she spun on her heels to face the human blockade. No surprise it was another biker, but this one was big.
One dark bushy eyebrow rose as he raked his gaze down her from head to toe. When it lifted again, he paused on what she gripped tightly in her hand.
“Whatcha got there, honey?”
“Something… uh…” What could pass as a biker name? “Muffler needed. I had to grab it from my car.”
His Neanderthal-shaped brow wrinkled. “Who?”
Shit. Maybe she should have picked the name Gearshift or something similar. She had no idea how bikers came up with their nicknames.
It didn’t matter because she needed to keep moving. Especially when the biker took a step closer, causing Sloane to take a step back. For her own safety, she needed to keep a brave face. “Hey, have you seen Sadie around?”
“Don’t know any fuckin’ Sadie. Maybe she’s hangin’ with Muffler.” He snorted.
She suspected he probably knew no one by that name existed but instead, was playing along anyway.
“But wouldn’t mind gettin’ to know you, Red.”
She hated when anyone called her that. Her hair was strawberry blonde and not even close to be considered red.
“Sadie,” she repeated and pointed to her head. “She has the same hair color as mine.” As long as her sister hadn’t dyed it. Although, Sloane doubted Sadie would spend money on hair dye if it could go toward drugs, instead.
But then, chasing a high tended to twist one’s priorities.
“She’s the same height, too. Maybe you’ve noticed her hanging around?”
“‘Less a slit’s ridin’ my dick, don’t pay much attention to them ‘round here. Dime a fuckin’ dozen.”
Yikes, he seemed like a real gem.
“Could be upstairs earnin’ her keep.” He pounded a fist into his palm a few times, making his point very clear. “No cunt gets shit for free ‘round here. Includin’ you. Answers are gonna cost ya.” He sucked on his teeth and then grinned, showing all five of them.
“I’ll keep looking, then.”
“Don’t gotta go,” the Demon insisted. “Anythin’ else you need, I got.”
Sloane disagreed, especially when he grabbed her arm and tugged her closer.
While she was tempted to crack his arm with the lug wrench so he’d release her, it would be smarter to wait until she encountered a real threat. If she started swinging at bikers this early in her search, she’d make enemies quickly. She was determined to find Sadie, not end up in the hospital or even dead, and of no help to her sister.
With her heart jammed in her throat, she attempted to jerk her arm free. She failed. The overweight biker was stronger than she expected. “Muffler’s waiting on me.”
His eyes narrowed and he leaned closer, dropping his voice. “Never hearda him. Think you’re lyin’.”
“Do you really want to find out whether I’m lying or not?” she challenged, trying to keep her own voice steady.
His head jerked back and he considered her for longer than was comfortable. She could see the ten brain cells in his head working overtime. Relief washed through her when, with lips pinned together, he finally released her.
That was the key. Be confident and appear to be larger than life. Never back down or act afraid. Respond like hikers should when confronted or stalked by a wild bear or mountain lion. Any signs of fear or even attempting to outrun them could be deadly.
“You can’t find Muffler, come find me. Can give you what Muffler can’t.”
She would not be taking him up on that very generous offer. “I’ll keep that in mind,” she assured him and moved on before he tried to give her a sample of what he offered.
She peeked into a room on the left that might have been a formal dining room when the house was in its prime. Not surprisingly, a couple of bikers sat on another questionable-looking couch, passing a bong while laughing and carrying on. But, damn it, no Sadie.
Since she didn’t want the group to spot her, she continued on. The hallway spilled into a large kitchen at the back of the house. Of course, overflowing with another rowdy group. After quickly scanning the crowd before they noticed her presence, she was disappointed once again when her sister was nowhere to be found.
She was on the fence whether to be worried or relieved on not finding her.
Either way, she didn’t want to call out Sadie’s name and catch anyone’s attention. Someone might get suspicious about why Sloane was there and stop her from searching. Or even worse.
She’d check the whole house first, then go out back where the music was coming from. If she still hadn’t found Sadie by then, she’d ask around.
The stairs to the second floor appeared to be a bit more solid and safer than the porch steps, as long as you didn’t rely on a railing to keep you from tumbling to your death. Especially while high or drunk, most likely a common occurrence around here. While the lack of a railing was a blatant code violation, technically the whole house should be condemned, but she’d keep that tidbit to herself.