Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 59950 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 300(@200wpm)___ 240(@250wpm)___ 200(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59950 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 300(@200wpm)___ 240(@250wpm)___ 200(@300wpm)
“To what do I owe the pleasure?” I mutter as four officers approach me.
“We have a warrant to search your property for Serenity.”
I wave a hand. “By all fuckin’ means, go for it. She ain’t here. I’ve been lookin’ for her too.”
An officer with greying hair steps forward. “Interesting you should say that when your club was the reason she escaped our custody again today.”
“I wasn’t there, so I wouldn’t know.”
He narrows his eyes at me, but I don’t flinch.
“We will find her, and when we do, she’ll go right back to prison.”
“If you find her, let me know, because if you were doin’ your job properly, you’d know that another person escaped with her, and that person has beef with my club.”
The officer’s lips form a straight line, as he ponders what I’m saying. “We are looking for the other fugitive.”
“Well, that fugitive,” I grind out. “Has my woman. He’s using her to get to me. So go and search my club, and when you’re done, do your fuckin’ job properly and find him so I can get her back before she’s dead.”
The officers all look at one another, as if they’re not sure whether or not to believe my story. I can only fucking hope that once they don’t find her here that they’ll believe it and start hunting for Hound too. I plan on getting him first, and when I do, that fucker is going down.
Hound and I have issues that go far beyond this.
Issues I haven’t told Serenity about.
“We are beginning the search now.”
I wave a hand. “Do what you have to.”
The second they are inside and Muff is overseeing the search, I get out of there. I can’t risk having anyone follow me. I have planted a seed, now I can only wait and see if that seed grows enough for them to believe that Serenity didn’t escape on her own.
Found out that Xander survived, and he too told them that Hound ambushed him and Serenity when he was taking her to the medical center, forcing them to lead him out. Whether they believed it or not, I don’t know, but so far, all the stories are lining up, and that can only work in my favor.
Driving to Janine’s place, I pull up out front and get out of the truck, slamming the door. I told her I’m coming, because I wasn’t leaving without laying eyes on my baby girl. I fucking miss her, and I know Serenity does, too. It’s killing her slowly.
“Hey, Jacks.” Janine smiles, opening the door before I can even get to it.
“Janine,” I murmur. “Thanks for lettin’ me come so late.”
“Not a problem at all. I was about to put them to bed.”
Stepping inside, I see Max and Ava in the living area. My heart immediately softens when I lay eyes on my daughter, and I walk over, reaching down and pulling her up into my arms. She smells of fresh baby soap and lavender, and fuck, my heart aches.
“Missed you, baby girl,” I murmur, pressing my face into her chubby cheeks.
She babbles something and pulls at the chain around my neck. I hang onto her for as long as she’ll let me before she fusses. I release her enough for her to pull back and look at me, her fingers going to my beard as she offers me a huge, beautiful fucking smile.
She’s precious.
“Mommy will be home soon, I promise.”
“Is everything going okay?” Janine asks, lifting Max into her arms.
“It’s not goin’ how I’d hope, but I’ll get it sorted.”
She frowns. “That sucks. Is Serenity okay?”
“She’s good. We’re all good.”
Nodding, Janine doesn’t pry any further.
“Better get goin’,” I say, pulling Ava close once more before putting her back onto the ground with her toys. “Appreciate this.”
“It’s no problem at all. She is a such a good girl. I hope you can all get back soon.”
I smile, weak, but there, and then I turn and leave.
Need to get back.
Need to face the reality of the situation Serenity created, and hope like hell we can fix it.
“I DIDN’T THINK YOU were going to come back.”
Serenity’s soft voice comes from the darkness as I attempt to quietly kick off my boots. I didn’t want to get into this with her tonight, but I’m left with no option now, it would seem.
“Don’t want to get into it, Serenity,” I murmur into the darkness, pulling off my shirt.
“I know,” she answers, “but I need to talk to you about it, Jackson. I don’t want to sleep on a fight.”
“Need to sleep, we can talk tomorrow.”
I shove the covers back and slide into the bed. Her warmth immediately consumes me, and I know it’s killing her that I’m not curling myself around her and tucking her into me, but fuck, my mind is consuming me. It was fucking hard without her when she was in prison, and now we’ve gone two steps back with everything because she always makes decisions against what I tell her.