Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 76807 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76807 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
I didn’t even double-check their info against the app. I threw myself into the backseat, pushed my lock, and told them the address.
I wasn’t sure I even pulled in a breath until we were on the move. Even then, I tensed at the stop signs and red lights, worrying someone might charge the car.
But then the clubhouse gates were in sight.
The driver pulled in.
I thanked them, upped their tip, then flew out, the door slamming harder than necessary, but I didn’t give it a second thought as I ran toward the door, throwing it open.
And stepping right into the church meeting.
The room was full of stupidly handsome men wearing leather cuts.
All of their gazes turned to me in unison.
But they all fell away as Brooks came into focus.
“What happened?” he was asking as he moved toward me.
I couldn’t unstick my own feet, just stood there waiting for him to come to me.
“They… they were at my apartment,” I said, not recognizing my own voice, all tinny and tight.
“What? Who?” Brooks asked, grabbing my forearm like he was worried I might fall. It was only then I realized how hard I was shaking.
“I… I got home. And my place was tossed. And as I was… as I was looking around, they came back.”
“Okay. Alright, come sit down,” Brooks said, giving a look to the man in front of the crowd who must have been his boss. Er, president.
Then he was leading me into the kitchen, pulling out a chair, and pressing me into it.
“You’re okay,” Brooks reminded me, giving my hand a squeeze.
“Here,” another voice said, making me glance up to see Sully, in all of his crazy Hawaiian shirt glory, handing me a glass of something. “Looks like she needs a drink,” he explained.
“T… thanks,” I said, taking it, seeing how dangerously close the deep red liquid was to spilling over the rim with how hard my hand was shaking.
“Got the fruity shit in it,” Sully said, offering me a smile, then heading back out of the room, giving us privacy.
“Take a sip, baby,” Brooks demanded, pulling a chair in front of me, and sitting down. “Little more,” he demanded, tipping the glass back up when I started to lower it. “Okay. Deep breaths.”
I followed his instructions, knowing I needed to get it together, give him the details while they were fresh.
“Ready?” he asked.
“Yeah. I opened my door and the whole apartment was tossed. They cut my couch. They emptied my fridge and freezer.”
A growling sound escaped Brooks, but he was softly tracing little circles on my bare thigh, trying to keep me calm.
“I was up in the loft when I heard feet on the staircase. Maybe they saw my car and came back,” I suggested.
“Maybe,” he agreed. “What happened then?” he asked, eyes scanning over me, looking for injuries.
“I… I had no way out. Except…”
“Except?”
The nausea welled up again, making me put the glass down, regretting both sips.
“I had a fire ladder,” I told him.
“Oh, baby,” he said, voice soft.
“I did it,” I said, nodding a little frantically. “I didn’t think I could, but I did it.”
“Of course you did. You’re a lot stronger than you think.”
“I don’t think I was strong. I think I was just trying to survive. I got down and ran. Then I hid in Chaz’s as I waited for a ride share. Then…” I said, waving at the room.
“Okay, alright,” he said, rubbing his hands up down my arms. “It’s okay. You’re safe now,” he assured me.
“I didn’t see them.”
“That’s alright.”
“But we don’t know who—“
“I’ll figure it out.”
I blinked back a silly flood of tears in my eyes.
“They took my laptop.”
“Did you have it protected?”
“Yeah. And I wasn’t signed into anything on it. I don’t use it much.”
“Good. Then there’s nothing to worry about there. Did they take anything else?”
“Not that jumped out at me. They broke a lot of things.”
“Just shit. Doesn’t matter. You’re all that matters.”
My heart squeezed, but I tried to play it off. “Says the guy who has things to wear to work tomorrow.”
“We’ll figure all that shit out.”
“I took my rings,” I said, flashing my hand where both bands were on my ring finger, the only one they fit. “My mom’s and grandma’s,” I explained. “I don’t care about anything else. But I wanted these.”
“Good idea,” he said, rubbing the pad of his thumb over both of them.
“I left my purse, though. And, oh…”
“What?” he asked, tensing.
“The file. With all the paperwork about Clay’s estate? I didn’t think to look for that.”
“I will,” he told me.
“You’re going over there?” I asked.
“Yes.”
“When?”
“As soon as I can. I just—“
“Go now,” another voice said, making me turn to see the president standing there looking at us. “She’s safe here with us. Take Perish and Nave and go.”
Brooks looked back at me, conflicted.
“I’ll be okay,” I assured him, nodding with a confidence I didn’t feel.