Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 33444 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 167(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33444 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 167(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
“Will we be any safer in the air, though?” Clutch’s muttered question mirrored my own, but I wasn’t about to say so. I glanced over my shoulder where Dorothy was slumped in the seat with her harness holding her in place. I was glad she wasn’t awake for this, but I was still worried. Why I was anxious over her I had no idea. Probably because she was the first person in my life to not turn their back on me when they found out I’d killed. Stitches made light of it now, but even some of the men in Iron Tzars gave me the side-eye when they found out who I was.
“Here they come!” The second Brick called out the warning, I saw the Jeep jump the hill leading to the hangar. Me and Deacon took the two already on the way while Brick and Clutch focused on the third one.
Bullets pelted all three vehicles. A few hit the helicopter. One of the women screamed, but I heard Stitches behind me trying to talk her down. The helicopter moved, rolling from the hangar.
“Gonna be a bumpy ride,” Deke muttered over the comms. “Hang on.”
The rotors slid into place from where they’d been folded. Then the engine started humming and whining as Deke prepared to take off.
Gunfire exploded all around us. I took out two men in the first Jeep while Deacon got the tires of the second one. The vehicle swerved, fishtailing before finally flipping and rolling several times before coming to a stop on its top. One man was thrown, landing against a boulder. Blood painted the rock like modern art. I didn’t see what happened to anyone else, but the bullets stopped from that direction.
Deacon gave me a nod before we both shifted to the other side of the aircraft. When I turned, Brick was sliding the other door shut. “Did you get ’em all?” Deacon gave Brick an expectant look.
“No. I thought we’d invite ’em to come with us. Be a hell of a party,” Brick snapped. The big vice president wasn’t usually so snarky, but Deacon was on everyone’s shit list. He knew it, too, and didn’t rise to the bait. With a sigh, Deacon moved to the one woman Stitches hadn’t strapped into her seat and helped strap her in. When he took his seat, he shook his head slightly before turning his attention to his gun, checking it over in case he needed it again.
I glanced at Brick who just scowled. He and Sting were furious with Deacon. It had something to do with Scarlet’s sister, Apple. I was sure everyone knew what had happened, but I didn’t pay attention to shit like that. If Sting decided Deacon needed killing, I’d do it. It was my job. To kill. Because I might be put in the position to kill anyone, including my own brothers, I kept to myself. I didn’t get too close to people and never let anyone close to me. Sure, I was friendly on the surface, but that was as far as it went. If my brothers noticed, they didn’t say anything.
“I just wanted to help if it was needed, Brick.” Deacon looked like he was as defeated as he sounded. “I meant no disrespect.” Brick gave him a withering look and grunted before turning his attention back to the window.
I raised an eyebrow but said nothing as Deke prepared for takeoff. The aircraft shuddered in the fierce wind. One of the women was weeping, obviously terrified.
“Todas vamos a morir.”
“No one’s dyin’,” Clutch snapped more harshly than I thought strictly necessary. “No one!”
Stitches gave him an annoyed look. “Maybe you should absorb that thought your own damn self. No need to terrify the girl further.”
Clutch shut his eyes and shook his head slightly. Sweat dripped from his forehead, and he looked ill.
“You OK, bro? You weren’t hit, were you?” When I asked the question, Stitches glanced sharply at our road captain, no doubt looking the other man over quickly for injuries.
“No, I wasn’t hit,” he muttered. “Fuckin’ tin can. You can’t make a fuckin’ tin can fly.” Though he groused, I could see Clutch clearly had issues either with flying in general or helicopters in particular.
“Hey,” Deke said over the radio. “No disrespecting the bird. She’s good in a storm. She’ll get us home.”
Just as he spoke, the helicopter made a sharp bank to the right. “Ain’t as worried about the bird as I am about the pilot takin’ us into the fuckin’ storm.” Clutch was… not in a good way. I was pretty sure he was turning green.
Deke glanced behind him in Clutch’s direction. “Don’t you fuckin’ puke in my ride, man. You mess it up, you clean it up.”
“Fuckin’ prick.” Clutch muttered his response, bracing himself on the bulkhead. “I thought you said three minutes. Has it even been that yet?”