Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 67975 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67975 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
“You jumped a fence?” I ask her, shocked.
“Yes, a very high fence.”
“Did they see you?”
“No,” she tells me. “I also made sure I was fully covered when I ran. Even if the cameras pick it up, they won’t know it was me. But I’m going to assume they probably heard the bikes and will put two and two together.”
She’s right.
They will.
Which is why we need to act fast.
“Is that all?” I ask her, my voice still far harder than I’d like, but I can’t take the anger from my system.
“I got photos,” she tells me. “A lot of them. I took them of everything I could see from the car. I don’t know if it’ll help, but it can’t hurt to see where all the cameras are, and also the house and paddocks.”
I nod, and then look at her, meeting her eyes. “Go and get into the shower, when you come out, I’ll clean you up.”
She swallows and then whispers, “I’m sorry, Alarick. I know I made a mistake. For whatever that’s worth.”
“Go and shower,” I order.
She does as she’s told and disappears into the shower. While she’s gone, I get the first-aid kit ready.
Samson and Cohen come into the room about five minutes in, and both of them stop when they see me storming around, furious. I’m wild, wild with an anger I’m struggling to control. I know she’s sorry, I know she didn’t mean it, but that doesn’t make it fucking easy.
“How is she?” Cohen asks.
“She’s fine, banged up, but she’ll be okay.”
“He see her?”
I shake my head. “No, but he’s goin’ to know it was one of us, without a doubt. He’s goin’ to retaliate, this is goin’ to get really ugly, really fast. He’s not goin’ to like the fact that we’re gettin’ closer and closer to him. I don’t like how this is goin’ down, it feels like I’m goin’ to lose a fuckin’ lot more before it’s over.”
“At least she came back safe,” Kendric offers. “Know you’re angry, Pres, but just remind yourself of how fuckin’ bad it would feel if she didn’t come back.”
I know he’s right.
But I’m finding it very hard to look past my anger.
I need a drink. Right fucking now.
“Get me a whiskey. No, scratch that. Get me the fuckin’ bottle.”
Kendric nods and walks out and Cohen comes over and stands in front of me. “We’re goin’ to sort this situation out. It’s messy and it’s fucked, but we’re goin’ to sort it out. You just gotta calm down and think with a clear mind. That’s not goin’ to happen tonight, so the best you can do is clean that girl up, put her to bed, drink until you black out, and start again tomorrow.”
“What was she thinkin’?” I rasp, looking at my long-time best friend.
“I don’t think she was fuckin’ thinkin’, but it doesn’t mean that she isn’t regrettin’ it. She is, boss. She knows she fucked up. She’s lost so fuckin’ much, you gotta remind yourself of that.”
“I know she has, but if she keeps doin’ this shit, it’ll be her I lose next.”
Cohen slaps my shoulder. “You need to talk to her, sort this shit out. Because if you don’t, and somethin’ happens, you two will forever live with the guilt of it. Fix it.”
“I will,” I mutter. “But right now, I’m havin’ a hard time even lookin’ at her.”
I look up and see Briella standing at the door, towel wrapped around her, hair dripping wet, staring at me like I’ve just slapped her.
“Cohen,” she says softly. “Please take me home.”
“Briella ...” I begin, but she puts a hand up.
“No, if you don’t want to look at me, I’ll make sure I’m not here.”
She turns and walks out, not letting me say another word. Kendric returns with the whiskey and hands me the bottle. I take it and drink down two big gulps, and then with a loud growl, I bark, “Fuck.”
Cohen gives me a look that says I need to tone it down, but I am fucking struggling with that.
“I’ll take her home. You sort your shit out, boss. She needs you to sort it out, and so do we.”
“Cohen?” I say, when he walks toward the door.
“Yeah?”
“Don’t let her out of your sight.”
“Wasn’t plannin’ on it.”
Then he’s gone.
Kendric reaches for the bottle and swallows the whiskey down.
It’s going to be a long fucking night.
I SHOULDN’T BE HERE; I know I shouldn’t be here.
But fuck it.
I can’t take a second longer dealing with things on my own.
I raise a hand and bang on the door, over and over.
I know he’s here.
It hasn’t been hard for me to figure out where he is. We don’t talk, haven’t talked in fucking years, but now I know he’s back and he’s been talking to Briella, I can’t stay away any longer.