Total pages in book: 35
Estimated words: 33462 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 167(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33462 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 167(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
“Not for me,” I said honestly. “Since this involves you, I can at least say you won’t need to worry about getting more notes or broken windows again. Turns out Austin was behind it, and I’m gonna make sure he knows to stay the fuck away from you from now on.”
“Wow, I never would’ve guessed.” Her nose scrunched. “Do you think that’s why we had so many things break around here even though Marcy bought all new equipment? Because he wanted to see me?”
“It’s a safe bet, sunshine,” I confirmed with a nod.
“Ugh, what a jerk,” she muttered. “I know it’s just Austin, but…be careful anyway.”
“Always, sunshine.”
I gave her a deep, soul-stealing kiss before focusing on what came next.
My shoulders were tight with tension when I walked into the interrogation hold where Austin was cuffed to a small metal chair.
It hadn’t taken long to find him because the asshole had been lingering near the bakery, out of sight, but with a clear view of the building.
“Shoulda moved the fuck on the first time you realized Sadie was under Iron Rogue protection,” I grunted. “When it was clear she was mine, you shoulda forgotten she even existed.”
“Fucking Rogues,” he spat. “I could have had her if you bastards hadn’t been around constantly.”
My knuckles cracked when I clenched my hands into fists and sauntered closer until I was right in front of him. “Bullshit. She was always gonna be mine. You were just too cocky and stupid to see it.”
“What-the fuck-ever,” he snarked. He was trying to be brave, but I could see the fear in his eyes.
A sinister smile crawled across my face. “Should check that attitude, asshole. Or the lesson you’re about to get will be much worse.”
“Hunter.”
I exhaled harshly and spun around, frustrated as hell. The prez wouldn’t have come here himself if he wasn’t gonna tell me something that would piss me the fuck off.
“It can’t go this way. He’s a fucking local. He disappears, we’ll have the law on our ass, and it won’t matter how many we own. They won’t have a choice.”
“Fuck!” I shouted, punching my fist down into the metal table set out to hold any supplies we brought in for interrogation purposes.
“Had a talk with his dad. Seems the kid has already been fucking up in other ways, and this was the last straw.”
Austin snorted. “Like he can do anything to me. I’m an adult.”
“You’re a twisted fuck,” Fox spat at him, then looked at me again. “Geoff’s got shit on him that will force his cooperation when he sends him away.”
“And if he fixates on another woman?” I seethed.
“We’ll have eyes on him all the time. Anywhere he goes. Geoff knows that if the little shit screws up again, we’ll be handling it our way.”
I hated the plan. It filled me with murderous rage. But I’d pledged to follow Fox’s orders. And truthfully, he was the prez for a reason.
He would never get in the way of a brother’s lust for revenge or punishment to anyone who deserved it unless he had to. In this case, I knew he was right. No matter how much I wanted to shout and rage that he was wrong.
I closed my eyes and dropped my head back, breathing deeply. After a few minutes, my heart rate slowed and I nodded at Fox, letting him know I had my shit under control.
Then he grinned. “Doesn’t mean he’ll leave here without learning somethin’.”
I should’ve known he’d have my back in any way he could.
Turning around, I prowled over to stand in front of Austin, and the evil smirk reappeared on my face.
“Always been a damn good instructor,” I grunted right before my boot slammed down on his balls.
13
SADIE
I was trying so hard to stay calm, but my nerves were fraying by the second. I sat curled on the worn leather couch in the clubhouse common room, pretending to sip the coffee I didn’t really want. I was a nervous wreck, which was why Marcy told me to head out only five minutes after Wesley left the bakery for whatever his club business was.
“They’ll be back soon,” Ellery said gently from the chair across from me. She bounced Porter on her knee, giving me a warm, reassuring smile. “And you know that guy is no match for Hunter.”
“Not sure much of anyone is,” Marnie added from the other end of the couch.
I let out a shaky laugh. “Yeah. I know you’re right. It’s just hard to sit here and wait.”
Dahlia, the prez’s wife, nodded. “Girl, I get it. The waiting is the worst part when shit is going down, big or small.”
I gave them a watery smile, grateful they weren’t trying to tell me to calm down. Just be with me.
“I didn’t think I’d be like this,” I admitted quietly. “It’s only been a few days, and I already—” I broke off, unsure how to finish that sentence without sounding completely unhinged.