Total pages in book: 41
Estimated words: 37111 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 186(@200wpm)___ 148(@250wpm)___ 124(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37111 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 186(@200wpm)___ 148(@250wpm)___ 124(@300wpm)
When I got upstairs, I found Sword sitting outside my door looking as miserable as anyone could look. Didn’t mean I was gonna be civil to the motherfucker.
“What the fuck are you doing here, Sword?” I stomped toward the older man, looking as intimidating as I could. Given Sword was the enforcer of Bones and backup Sergeant at Arms should Bohannon be out of commission, I knew he wouldn’t intimidate easily. Sure enough, the big fucker just scowled at me.
“Last time I checked I was an officer in this club, and you’re just a wet behind the ears fucking prospect.”
“I’ve been a member for years! What the fuck?”
“Know that can change if you fuck my daughter.”
I’d never wanted to throat-punch someone more than I did Sword in that moment. “Why? I mean, pleasurin’ such a beautiful woman can’t possibly compare to nearly stranglin’ the life out of her.” I jabbed a finger at him. “You lost the right to forbid me anything regarding Chloe the moment you laid hands on her, you son of a bitch. You were nothing but hostile toward her. And if she agrees to be mine, I’m going to kick your ass on principle. Might any-fuckin’-way.” Sword scowled at me, his face growing thunderous. Yeah. I was being disrespectful, but he’d done worse to a woman who’d sought him out specifically for help. A woman who we were certain was his flesh-and-blood daughter. “You don’t like my attitude? Take it to Church. Let every motherfucker in this place vote on which one of us was in the wrong. They agree it’s me? I’ll take Chloe and leave. You may not be interested in protectin’ her, but I sure as fuck am.”
“You don’t get to lecture me, boy. If my daughter decides you’re the man for her, we’ll mix it up outside. Until then, watch your fuckin’ mouth or I will have a go at you. You won’t like the outcome.”
“Why are you outside my fuckin’ room?”
He shrugged. “Chloe ran into me on her way downstairs. Backtracked to her room almost as soon as she saw me. Which was when I realized you really had put her in your room.” He glanced off. “She’s afraid of me, and by extension, the club. She’s a runner. Just wanted to make sure she didn’t leave. You know. With the storm comin’ and all.”
“Uh-huh. And why do you suppose she’s afraid of you, huh?” He just glared at me. “Well, I’m here now. I’ll watch over her until we can get this all sorted out.” I squatted down so I was at eye level with him. “And if you say one more fuckin’ word to her I don’t much like, I’ll figure out a way to kill you. Cain, Torpedo, and Bohannon will just have to get over it.”
I opened the door to my room and stepped inside, intending to close the door behind me. Instead, Sword’s foot blocked me. I wanted to punch a motherfucker.
“I wanna talk to her.” He stuck his chin up, demanding I comply.
“I’ll relay the fuckin’ message, Sword. Now get the fuck out.”
Before I could get the door shut, a cool breeze hit my face that shouldn’t be there. I frowned, forgetting about locking Sword out. I turned and marched across the room… where the window was wide fucking open, the sheers blowing in the cool autumn air.
I looked out the window. Sure enough, the escape ladder I had installed on the side of the building next to my window was lowered. There was no sign of Chloe, but there was no doubt she’d run.
“Motherfuck!” I pulled out my phone, sending a text off to Goose. I thought for a moment and included Cliff, too. I knew he was standing guard at the gate.
“She ran. Didn’t she.” Sword wasn’t asking a question.
I turned to face the other man. “When I find her, if I can coax her back, I’m giving you a beatin’ like you ain’t ever even conceived of.”
“Fine,” he said. “But I’m going with you to find her.”
I gave Sword a crisp nod, knowing my brother would be the best asset I could have. Besides, no matter their differences, no matter how horribly Sword had treated Chloe, I knew he regretted it. I’d never keep him out of a hunt this important. Even if I actually had the authority.
We headed out the window the way Chloe had gone. Once me and Goose found her trail, we’d find her. I wasn’t worried she’d disappear on me as much as I was worried about the approaching storm. The temperature had already fallen with the darkness. The wind was picking up, and there was a decided bite to it. Any rain would be bone-chilling and could quite possibly be ice. If it got as bad as Data thought it might, the wind as well as lightning would pummel the area. Finding Chloe before it hit in full force was imperative. Her very life could depend on it.