Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 77505 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77505 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
“Well fed and sleeping on one of the beds. Took a while to convince them they could get up. But once they did, they passed out hard. Probably the most peaceful they’ve been all their lives.”
“Good. They deserve it. What time are you guys coming back?”
“I’m planning on first light. You guys have to check out before, what, ten? Figure we can meet outside with the dogs, take them for a walk together, feel things out. We can eat breakfast in the park before we get on the road so we can settle in at the house. Crow and Judge will meet us there. And then you, Diana, Megan, and Emma can talk them all into rehab.”
—
That was exactly how things went.
As soon as the sun started creeping through the trees, we all did a sweep of the house, making sure we didn’t miss any blood, knives, bullets, or anything that belonged to the men who no longer existed.
With that, we rolled the extra bikes into the back of the moving truck and all made our way back to the hotel.
Morgaine and Vienna were at breakfast with the other girls. But Dylan was outside with Sugar, waiting for me.
The second I climbed out of the SUV, she flew at me, jumping up, and wrapping her legs around me. My hands went to her ass, holding her against me.
“That’s a hell of a welcome back,” I said, my voice wheezing.
“Oh! Your ribs,” she said, trying to drop down, but I wasn’t letting her go yet.
“Trust me, after all the digging, hauling, and cleaning, holding you is the least of my complaints when it comes to my ribs.”
“How are they?”
“Not great.”
“And your arm?” she asked, reaching for my sleeve and yanking it up.
She’d done the best she could with the first aid kit I’d brought. The gash from the bullet was held together with butterfly sutures. It was going to heal kind of gnarly, but that was alright. A small price to pay for her freedom. And the freedom of all the other girls.
“I don’t even want to ask about your hands,” she said.
“I wore gloves for all the nasty parts,” I told her. That was all of it, really. No grit in the wounds. Or bleach eating away at healing skin. “How’re you feeling?”
“Sore,” she admitted. “I have some nasty bruises to show you later. But put me down so we can get the introductions over with.”
Sugar was already staring at the window of the car, where Mack had his big block head out, sniffing the air.
Sway lent a hand, taking Molly as I walked Mack, and Dylan came with us, leading a curious and excited Sugar around until we were all relatively sure the dogs weren’t going to fight, then slowly getting closer. Until they were all wiggling and trying to drop down on their front legs to play.
Satisfied they were all worn out and introduced, we made our way back to the hotel, got some food for ourselves and the dogs, then we all loaded up into the various cars, trucks, and onto the bikes.
Thankfully, the trip to L.A. was only about an hour, and the dogs could once again get out to stretch their legs and spend more time together.
“Do you think Mack and Molly will be okay here while we go and—” she started, only to trail off when a new car pulled into the driveway along with all the others, minus the guys who’d headed back to Shady Valley.
My hand went automatically for my gun as the girls all stiffened up. Until I saw who was climbing out of the driver’s seat. “It’s Crow,” I said, relaxing. Another car pulled up next, and out exited Judge.
Then the passenger and backseat doors open and eight women were suddenly making their way toward the house as well.
“Oh, my God,” Dylan said, eyes round as the other club girls squealed and rushed outside to hug their sisters. “I thought we were going to have to track them down.”
“Guess getting rid of Roach’s last few guys was easy work,” I said. “They found them for us. Go on. Go say hi.”
Dylan sucked in a steadying breath and moved outside.
Her steps were slow and uncertain, like some part of her expected some (or all) of the girls to turn on her, pointing fingers, and blaming her for what happened to them.
But as I watched, all I saw were hugs and happy, relieved tears.
“Rook called,” Saint said, moving in at my side to watch the women out the window.
“Did he find something on the electronics?”
“No. I asked if he could focus on the treatment thing for us instead, since he had a long road of nothing to do. Plus, he’s used to dealing with medical places from when his mom was still really struggling.”