Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 94076 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94076 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
“You spare some of your boys to help me clean up this mess?” the sheriff asks, gesturing to the three dead assholes lying in pools of blood on the ground.
Beast nods. “We’ll stay behind to help. What about the girls?”
“Once the EMTs arrive, they’ll be processed. Given the care they need. The support they deserve. Returned home to their families or given a fresh start here.” He looks as affected by this as I feel. “I’ll say the driver fled the scene.”
“Will the feds get Olicheckoff for this?” I ask.
The sheriff’s grim expression deepens. “Probably not. He’s slimy enough to slip through the fingers of justice. He’ll let the smaller fish go down for it.”
Meaning we need to make him pay.
Zac arrives in the clubhouse van, and we load the bodies into the back. Once we’re back in St. Bon, we’ll make them disappear into Devil’s Mouth, a part of the cliffs where the rocks meet the ocean, and a high tide will wash away everything and everyone.
Just as Zac leaves in the van, the EMTs arrive to take care of the women.
We watch as they’re loaded into the ambulances, and I catch Elina’s haunted gaze. I nod and she nods back and then disappears into the ambulance.
I walk back to the bikes with Beast.
“What’s up with you?” he asks. “Your mean streak is on the loose tonight.”
“It always comes off the leash when dealing with pieces of shit who like to traffic humans.”
“I know, but tonight is different. You’re more brutal.”
I’m not in the mood to talk about it. “Are you complaining?”
Beast shakes his head. “Just when I think I’ve got you figured out, you throw in some extra-crazy shit to keep me guessing.”
We climb onto our bikes and ride off, Bear, Axe and Ryder following.
Dawn is breaking across the horizon when we return to the clubhouse, and when I make my way up the long driveway to the underground garage, I start to imagine what it would be like to slide into bed and feel the warmth of Ella beside me.
To feel her wrap her arms around me and press her luscious body against mine.
After nights like this, I need her.
My body aches for her.
And the thought of her warming someone else’s bed makes me want to spill their blood.
Bone tired, I fall into bed.
Ella will be back here in a few hours for her shift.
And all I can think about is finding her and telling her that I’ve changed my mind.
CHAPTER 40
Ella
The following morning, I arrive at the clubhouse early and get straight to work so by the time Mrs. V. appears in the kitchen, I’m already halfway through my chores. Coffee pot on. Egg mix ready for the breakfast scramble and hash. Dinner pies made and in the refrigerator. Potatoes peeled for dinner.
“Okay, who are you and where is my usual kitchenhand,” she says, walking past me to put her purse in the pantry.
“Huh?” I murmur, preoccupied with buttering toast.
“The one who burns water and doesn’t know her salt from her pepper.”
Oh, her.
Yeah, she evaporated in a cloud of humiliation.
“Just doing my job,” I say, adding more butter to the toast.
I figure if I keep focused, I won’t feel like a fucking fool for practically begging Lars to deflower me last night. My stomach twists at the memory as I recall it with vivid detail. Me grinding against him, telling him I want him to be my first. And the crushing rejection that followed.
My cheeks burn, and I practically degut the slice of toast I am buttering with violent strokes.
“What did it ever do to you?” Mrs. V. asks, watching the toast massacre.
“Huh?” I ask, and when she points to the mess I’ve made, I put the knife down. Dammit. “I’m sorry, I’ll make some more.”
Mrs. V. waves me off. “Let me do it. You clearly have something else on your mind. What is it?”
“Nothing,” I say, moving away from the counter so she can take over.
She holds up a piece of toast that dangles in pieces from her fingers. “Doesn’t look like nothing. What has that boy gone and done now?”
My eyes dart to her. “Who?”
She gives me a pointed look. “Don’t pretend you don’t know who I’m talking about. I might be old, but I’ve got eyes and ears, and I can see what’s going on between you and Lars.”
I begin to unpack the freshly delivered pastries box and place them on a big plate. Bear claws. Glazed. Double fudge. These will be gone by midmorning. “There is absolutely nothing going on between me and Lars.”
I want you to be my first.
Ugh, that’s going to haunt me until the end of time.
“Like I said, I have eyes and ears, and I know that boy hasn’t been able to keep his eyes off you since you started. And don’t think I don’t know that’s why he hired you. Stupid fool was obviously thinking with his little brain when he offered you the job. But at least this time he got it right. You’re a good worker and having you here might just work out.”