Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 76082 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76082 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
Taking a couple of steps to the right so I don't have the candy aisle blocking my shot, I nod in their direction. "We heard you asking for the Screaming Eagles. Well, we're here now. What the fuck do you want?"
"Nothing. We weren't doing nothing," says the taller one, eyeing the way my hand hovers over the hilt of the gun sticking out of my belt. If he's evaluating his chances, he'd better be fucking faster than the Devil himself.
Because I am.
"Didn't fucking sound like nothing." Badass smacks his fist into his palm, looking like he's eager for a face to take its place. "I distinctly heard our name in your dirty fucking mouths. You obviously know this is our territory."
"Just getting gas, man," says the other one, the ugliest motherfucker I've seen in a long time. "Passing through. We'll be out of here as soon as we pay."
Animal nods towards the counter. "Good to hear, and I’m sure you’ll add a nice tip considering you scared the shit out of that poor kid. It’s the least you could do."
"What? Wait a minute. We're just—"
Badass takes a step closer just as I actually rest my hand on my pistol grip, and that shuts the asshole right up.
"Yeah, fine. We'll pay. Fuck, we'll get the hell outta here."
"That's what I fucking thought." Animal's humorless grin resembles a predator baring its teeth.
"Take your buddy here with you, and I don’t want to hear you so much as fucking sneeze until you’re off our turf. You're Unwanted. Get it?" Badass and Animal laugh at that one. "We better not see you making life difficult for our friend here again."
They don't respond, but throw cash on the counter and shuffle past us awkwardly to haul their buddy up from the floor. His face is in bad shape, but the bleeding seems to have slowed. Enough for him to ride outta here, at least. They glare as they mount their bikes, but ride away without causing any more trouble. Good fucking riddance.
"Hey, Gabriel? You okay?" Badass puts his hands on the counter to lean over it and look behind. "Those fuckers hurt you?"
The kid that stands up is about nineteen, kinda gangly, with dark hair and thick eyebrows. King, our club vice president, likes us to keep an eye on him when we're on patrol. Don't know what their history is exactly, but he's got a soft spot for the kid. We might not take protection money like the mob, but these are our streets and we watch out for our own. Those Unwanteds fucked up extra special.
"I'm good," says Gabriel in a shaky voice. "Just give me a sec… Fuck."
Animal rights a potato chip stand that got knocked over, then pulls off a couple of bags and tosses them onto the counter. "What did they want?"
"Said this turf would be theirs soon, and they didn’t need to pay because it was in my best interest to get on their good side." He comes around the counter to clean up some of the other shit they knocked over. “I told them you guys wouldn’t let them get away with it, but that just pissed them off good.”
I laugh at that. "I appreciate the loyalty, but don’t get yourself killed, man. They come back again, give'em what they want, and then you call us as soon as they're gone. We'll teach them what's fucking what. That's not your job."
The look Gabriel sends my way is deeply insulted. "I'm not a fucking pussy. I know I'm not a member, but I’m not giving them shit. King’s good to my family, and the Eagles keep this place safe… ish."
Badass grips his shoulder so hard he winces. "We know you’re not, but you’re more use to us alive to pass on what you see. Besides, you've got a little sister to take care of, and that's the most important fucking job in the world. Fucking trust me."
Gabriel doesn't know Badass and Animal's story, so he doesn't know what runs through Badass’s mind every time he sees the scars on his little brother’s face, but I do. Badass isn't kidding when he calls it the most important job in the world. To him, it's the fucking truth.
But the seriousness in his voice carries clearly. Gabriel nods. "Yeah, okay. I will. For you guys."
"How's Sophia doing?" Animal tries to lighten the tone. "She's what? A sophomore?"
"Yeah. She's fucking smart, too. Straight A's. Like she's not even trying." Gabriel smiles proudly. "I fucking dropped out, but I'm gonna make sure she becomes something, you know."
Badass pats him on the shoulder. "Nice. You're doing the right fucking thing, and that includes staying safe. They're a small piece of shit club, but they can put a bullet in you all the same. Let us take the fucking lumps. We know how to deal with those fuckers, and we've got the whole damn club backing us. Got it?"