Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 72126 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 361(@200wpm)___ 289(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72126 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 361(@200wpm)___ 289(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
“I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure he doesn’t hurt Toby again.”
“That’s what I wanted to hear.” He extended his hand as he said, “I’m gonna need your phone and keys.”
I reached into my back pocket and pulled out my phone and keys. As soon as I handed them to Viper, he took the battery out of the phone and tossed everything into the trash. And just like that, our old lives were erased. I would have a new home. A new life. We would be cut off from everyone and everything I’d ever known, and not only that, but we would have new names.
We were no longer Casey and Toby Michaels.
We would now be Whitney and Toby Sanders. Just hearing those names made me feel like I was trying on someone else’s shoes. They didn’t fit, but it didn’t matter. We had to wear them anyway.
I barely had a chance to tell Frankie goodbye before they had us loaded into a truck and were heading to an unknown destination.
Toby held onto my hand like I was his lifeline, and maybe I was.
He was certainly mine.
Half an hour later, we were sitting in a room in the back of some strange building, waiting for the men who would be taking us to Little Rock. Even though Viper had assured us that we had nothing to worry about, we were both very apprehensive. I held him close and kissed him on the top of his head as I whispered, “I’m so sorry, sweetie.”
“You don’t gotta keep saying that.”
“I know, but I am.” Tears streamed down my face as I said, “It was my job to keep you safe, and I failed. I messed up everything.”
He didn’t respond.
He knew I was right. He knew I’d failed him.
And that hurt more than all my wounds combined.
I just prayed that one day he would be able to forgive me.
I was lost in a world of thoughts when Viper walked into the room with three bikers—each one more threatening than the last. Like Viper and his brothers, these men were massive and covered in leather and tattoos. They towered over me and Toby with an air of danger that made my blood run cold. My pulse was racing as I tried to shrink back into the shadows, hoping they wouldn’t notice me.
“I have some friends I’d like you to meet.”
Viper motioned his hand to the men standing next to him as he said, “This is Memphis, Goose, and Ghost. They’re members of Satan’s Fury, the MC out of Little Rock. They’re going to take you two back with them and watch over you.”
The man in the back—the one with the blonde hair so white it looked like cotton and crystal blue eyes was glaring at me. He was tall, muscular, and intimidating as any man I’d ever seen, and his fierce expression made me question whether I was doing the right thing by leaving with them. I looked back to Viper as I asked, “Are you sure we can’t just stay here with you?”
“You know that’ll never work, not for the long haul. Leaving is the best option.”
“Yeah, you’re right.”
“I know it’s hard, but you’re in good hands with these guys. They’ll keep you safe.”
“He’s right. You can trust us.” The youngest of the three men took a step towards me and gave me a soft smile. “We’ll do everything possible to keep you and your son safe.”
“Thank you.” I looked up at him and said, “I really appreciate your help.”
“Glad to do it.” With that, he turned to his brothers and said, “It’s late. Let’s get these two loaded up and back to the clubhouse.”
Minutes later, Toby and I were in the back of their SUV, and we were headed to Little Rock. I had no idea why these men had agreed to help me and my son. They were going above and beyond to fulfil a favor, but I wasn’t naive enough to think that it wouldn’t come at a price. It would. Not doubt about it.
I just prayed it would be a debt that I could afford to pay.
Ghost
“You good over there?”
“It’s nothing.” I ran my hand over my face. “Yeah, just tired.”
“You sure?” Goose pushed, his voice low and concerned. “’Cause it seems like you’ve got something on your mind.”
“I said it’s nothing.”
“If you say so.” He glanced over his shoulder and shook his head as he looked at Whitney and her son sleeping in the backseat. “You think they’re gonna be able to bounce back from this?”
“I don’t know, but for the kid’s sake, I hope they do.” My words were laced with disapproval as I muttered, “Gotta wonder what the hell she was thinking... She should’ve never put him in this position.”
“You say it like she knew this guy was gonna wale on them.”