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)
I don’t feel like I was imagining this, I am so certain I saw someone.
Jackson paces up and down the silent road, shining his light into the woods. After a few tense minutes, he turns and starts back. He pauses in the middle of the road, bending down to pick something up. He examines it closely, then scans the surroundings once more.
Something feels off.
It’s a sense in my chest that is screaming for my body to listen, for my heart to act, for my brain to make me retreat. Maybe it’s because I was in such a dangerous situation less than a week ago, and I’m on high alert, but I’m still not convinced that I’m making this up.
Jackson returns to the house and extends his hand, a charm bracelet dangling from his finger. That’s odd. I take it, narrowing my eyes as I inspect it. It's not mine, and I haven't seen it on any woman at the club. I have no idea who it belongs to. I guess someone dropped it on their daily walk, I always see people strolling by.
"Found it on the road," he murmurs. "Could have been someone passing by, but look at the charms..."
I step inside, switch on the kitchen light, and examine the charms. The first one is a dagger with a snake coiled around it. Intriguing, but not alarming. The second is a heart with a crack through it. So, this person has a dark side, that’s not a crime. The third is a dog. Okay, well that means they love dogs. I don’t see what I’m missing here.
"Interesting combo," I murmur, looking at him, urging him to tell me why it matters.
He crosses his arms. "Yeah, it is. I've got a feeling it was left there intentionally."
I shake my head, confused. "Why would someone drop a bracelet? Obviously, it means something to them so I can’t imagine why they would leave it for someone else to find."
"To send a message."
I'm puzzled. "Jacks, you're not making sense."
"A dagger could mean revenge."
I shake my head. "Or maybe they just have a taste for dark things."
"A broken heart..."
Again, not making sense. "So, they've had a tough life..."
"Now consider the last charm," he insists.
"A dog?"
He shakes his head. "No, baby, a Hound."
My eyes widen as I take a closer look. The dog isn't just any dog; it's a hound. I jerk my head up. It finally makes sense, what he’s saying. "Oh my God. Someone left this as a threat."
"Yep," Jackson nods. "Hound didn't just have his son, he had someone else out there fighting for him, and we've stirred up a hornet's nest by taking him out."
"But who?" I whisper, a chill running down my spine.
"Got to be a woman."
I guess that is an obvious answer, considering it is a bracelet. Hound has been in prison for a long time, how in the hell could he have a woman on the outside. Did he just meet her, or has she been loyal since he got locked away? I try to search my brain, trying to remember if I ever saw him with a woman.
"You think she wants revenge?" I ask, my mind spinning.
Jackson turns, locking the door securely. "I'd bet on it."
Just when we thought we were done with danger.
Oh, how wrong we were.
28 – Serenity
“Seriously, what a twisted bitch,” Addison scoffs, glaring at the charm bracelet. “Is she some kind of mind game expert? Why not just confront us? This seems extreme.”
I nod in agreement. It does seem extreme for one person, but maybe that’s the point. Perhaps she wants us to feel scared and uneasy while planning her revenge. I’m not sure how she thinks she could take down an entire club, but I also don’t know who this woman is—she could have anyone backing her.
“Do you think she has another chapter supporting her?” Ciara asks, snatching the bracelet from Addison’s hand.
“No way,” Jackson shakes his head. “If they had support, Hound would have used it. He was on his own, trying to create a new club within our territory.”
“So why is she taking on an entire club by herself?” Addison questions. “That’s risky.”
“I don’t think she is,” I reply, closing my eyes as reality sinks in. “I think she’s targeting me.”
Everyone looks at me.
“An eye for an eye...” I say. “We took her man and upended her life, so she’s going to take Jackson’s woman and do the same.”
“Unbelievable,” Spike mutters. “Just when we thought we were done with the psychos. Fuck me, we must be a magnet for them.”
“Fantastic,” Addison murmurs. “A woman trying to get her twisted revenge by targeting Serenity.”
“I’m not afraid of someone who’s decided to exact revenge on me. I’ll face her,” I say, folding my arms. “I could use a good fight.”
Jackson gives me a stern look. “You won’t be facing anyone, anywhere. We’ll deal with her. Any idea who she is?”