Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77904 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77904 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
One hour rolled into the next, but there was no sign of Bauco. Hell, there wasn’t a sign of anyone. It was just us and the fucking guards, and when I saw the faint glow of the sunrise, I started to worry that this whole plan was going to be a bust. Then, Wrath nudged me and whispered, “Here they come.”
Neither of us moved. We stayed hidden in the shadows, quietly watching as Bauco and his men emerged from the elevator and started towards their SUVs. When they got close, Bauco’s lead guy stopped and scanned the garage. He suspected something. I could see it in his eyes.
After a moment, he turned to the others and said, “There’s something up.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I got a feeling.”
“I don’t have time for you and your feelings,” Bauco complained.
“Just need a minute,” the guy pushed. “Trust me on this.”
A knot formed in the pit of my stomach when they all started looking around. I glanced over at Wrath and Savage, and they both looked equally concerned. Wrath’s eyes were trained on mine as he reached behind him and placed his hand on his Glock.
Time stood still as Savage and I reached for our own weapons.
Everything hung in the balance, and one wrong move could cost us everything. The low hum of traffic in the distance and the flickering fluorescent lights only added to the intensity of the moment. His men were getting closer when Bauco finally opened the back door of the SUV and growled, “Enough! You’re wasting time! Let’s move.”
His men exchanged a quick glance, then did as Bauco ordered and loaded up into their separate SUVs. We held our breath, waiting silently for that crucial moment when Bauco and his entourage tried to depart, and just as they started out of the garage, a deafening roar of the explosions shook the ground beneath our feet.
We were yards away, but I could still feel the searing heat rolling off the vehicles. It wasn’t long before the air was filled with the foul scent of burning rubber and fuel, making it hard to breathe. Savage glanced over to Wrath and me as he whispered, “We need to get the hell out of here.”
Wrath nodded, and Savage and I followed as he darted for the rear exit.
I could feel the burning heat as we skirted past the inferno. By the time we’d made it back to my truck, there was a significant crowd forming. The last thing we needed was to be seen, so we loaded up, and I got us the hell out of there.
“Where did you park?”
“Across the street at the Mapco.”
I weaved between the pedestrians and oncoming police, and eventually, I managed to make my way across the street. I pulled up to Wrath’s SUV, and I’d barely gotten parked when Cotton and Grant appeared at my door. I rolled down the window, and Cotton sounded relieved when he said, “You boys did good back there.”
“Did everything go okay on your end?”
“Looks that way.” Cotton glanced over at Grant, then back to us. “We should know for sure soon enough.”
“You need us to stick around for a bit?”
“No, it would be best if you headed back.”
It had been a long night, so none of us argued. Savage got in the truck with Wrath, and I followed them back to the clubhouse. We filled Prez in on everything that had gone down with Bauco and his men, then went to our rooms and crashed for a few hours.
When I finally woke up, it hit me that I hadn’t called Maggie.
She’d messaged me the night before, but I hadn’t been able to talk to her. I’d promised to call later, but with everything that went down, it slipped my mind. I had a feeling that hadn’t set well with her, but thankfully, she hadn’t acted on it. At least, I didn’t think she had.
I grabbed my phone and dialed her number.
It rang several times, but she didn’t answer. I figured she was busy with work, so I sent her a text.
Me:
Hey, babe.
Sorry about last night.
I had a lot going on.
Maggie:
No need to apologize.
You don’t owe me anything.
Oh, damn. She wasn’t just pissed. She was really pissed.
Me:
Can we talk later?
Maggie:
I’ve got a busy night with the kids.
Me:
Maggie.
Maggie:
I’m at work.
I’ll text you later.
Me:
You okay?
Maggie:
Been better.
Me:
Anything I can do?
Maggie:
Maybe try calling when you say you’re gonna call.
Me:
Understood.
Maggie:
Especially when you go and talk to my ex-husband.
Me:
Got it.
Maggie:
I was really worried.
Me:
I know.
I would’ve called if I could.
Maggie:
It’s fine.
Me:
No, it’s not, but it’s going to happen from time to time.
Maggie:
I know.
When can I see you?
Me:
When do you want to see me?
Maggie:
Soon.
Me:
You got it.
I tossed my phone onto the bed, then rushed to the bathroom for a quick shower. I grabbed some fresh clothes from my closet, and once I was dressed, I headed out to the parking lot. It’d just started snowing again, so I had no choice but to take the truck. Without telling the guys where I was going, I whipped out of the gate and drove over to the salon.