Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 67757 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 339(@200wpm)___ 271(@250wpm)___ 226(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67757 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 339(@200wpm)___ 271(@250wpm)___ 226(@300wpm)
“I’m sorry I can’t tell you more right now, but you all need to leave the mansion. I’ll have rooms reserved for you at the Regency until further notice.”
Frannie is suddenly wide awake. “You can’t do that, Aria,” she says. “It’s too much.”
“It’s not,” I insist. “You will all be safer there than at some budget place. The Regency has armed security. Please, Frannie, don’t argue with me. Just pack quickly and get everyone out of the house. Can you do that?”
There’s a long pause on the other end of the call, and I know Frannie wants to push, but she doesn’t.
“Yeah, I can do that, but just tell me you’re all right, Aria?”
Stupidly, I nod as though she can see me. “I’m fine. Lucky is here, and he promises I’ll be safe. Right now, I’m choosing to believe I will be. I’ll explain everything…later.”
Frannie lets loose a reluctant sigh. “Well, all right then. I’ll get everyone packed and out of here. Can I call you?”
“My phone is still at the house, but you can call me on this number if you need to.” I glance at McKenna for confirmation. “Be careful, Frannie, and don’t open the door for anyone you don’t know, okay?”
“Sounds serious, but yes, Aria, I’ll be careful. You do the same, and I’ll talk to you soon.”
I end the call, feeling the weight of the past few days settle on my shoulders. Flashes of what could have happened tonight play behind my eyes, and I curl up on the bed with my back to McKenna and cry until my tears run dry.
I pray I can fall asleep fast and forget this whole day.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Lucky
“I managed to squeeze off a few shots, and at least one of them hit that fucker.”
I shake my head as I look around at the serious expressions on my brothers’ faces and let out a long sigh. “I woke up when I heard him rooting around downstairs. Maybe he was looking for something…it’s possible, but he definitely came for Aria.”
The question I haven’t figured out yet is why Birmingham feels threatened by Aria. Is she hiding something? Playing me?
“We should call Stiles.”
Shades’ words shock the fuck out of me, and judging by the sounds around the room, I’m not the only one who feels that way.
“What? Stiles is so uptight, she’ll definitely be gagging to take down a dirty fed.”
“Fuck that, no way.” Dix shakes his head adamantly in his disagreement. “If she shows up and finds Valentina here, she’ll definitely arrest her or at least detain her for something. We can’t risk that.”
Preacher nods. “I agree with Dix, to a degree.” He sighs. “Look, we might be reading Agent Stiles all wrong based on our own bias. Maybe we should feel her out. See if she’s as straight-laced and focused on justice as she seems. Who knows, maybe she can see the bigger picture.”
I want to argue with all of them, but we need to be clear-headed in this. We might be out of our depths with all the shit that’s been going on with the MC lately, and maybe Agent Stiles can help us by helping herself.
“I think it’s worth a shot,” I finally say with a frustrated sigh. “And she probably already knows Valentina is here.”
Ace nods. “I’ll give her a call in the morning.” His gaze slides around the room, a dark scowl on his face. “We need to talk about LTC. Why the fuck does it feel like we’re not making any progress?”
Wild Man sighs first, and the loudest, and all eyes swing to him. “Gia and I are still working with the gamer I told you about.”
Shades snorts a laugh. “If only getting rid of the LTC was as easy as leveling up or spawning after a kill shot.”
Wild Man rolls his eyes. “Spoken like a fucker who is completely out of touch. Look, this guy is basically a digital terrorist for hire, and if we’re serious about taking down Arturo and his entire network, he is who we need.” His gaze is fierce, and I can tell he’s serious about this guy.
“Okay, so what’s the problem?” Wild Man stares at me for a long time, his stare unreadable. “Is there some reason we haven’t pulled the trigger? That’s all I’m asking, brother.”
“The plan is all set. We just need MC approval.” Wild Man looks to Ace, who nods, giving him the go-ahead.
“Tell them, and then we’ll vote,” Ace mutters in his low, even-toned voice.
Wild Man nods, and as excitement grows in his blue eyes, he outlines the entire plan for our brothers. It’s even bigger and more detailed than the brief outline he’d given me previously.
“Okay, so this dude, KrypTonic, specializes in remote access and detonation, at least according to Gia. This works out perfectly for us. The majority of LTC business is coke, and guns come in a close second.”