Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 105709 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 352(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105709 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 352(@300wpm)
Shit. Could this have anything to do with why she called me? No, I haven’t even told her about Richard.
Eddy flashes a smile at Millie. “Ah, I forgot. You are the smart one.”
“What the fuck do you want?” I snap, wishing Millie wasn’t here right now.
Eddy breathes in. “So as I’m sure Millie knows, my family all died in a house fire not long after I graduated. Tragic, truly…” how the fuck could I not have known all of this. “And no matter how hard I have tried, I can’t seem to—”he stops, and I already know what he’s going to say.
Everything closes in around me.
He laughs, and it leaves a trail of ice down my spine. “So, I think you’re going to follow my instructions very carefully, because yes,” his eyes fly between the both of us. “The answer is I do.”
Millie whimpers beside me, her nails biting into my arm.
I gasp. “You bastard.”
He laughs. “I am, but you, Melissa, are the typical whore.” He dips into his suit jacket, handing me a piece of paper. “You have two weeks to say your goodbyes.” His eyes turn wide, and I see it as clear as day.
“Why!” Millie’s voice raises a little. “If you do, then why do you want to punish Melissa further?”
His eyes fly between the two of us. “Simple, and much more petty than you think.”
Even as I reread every simple word he’s scribbled down on the piece of paper. The final contract between not just him and me, but myself, I know in my gut that I would do it.
“Hey.” He places his hand on my shoulder, sniffing. “I might even let you have the final week.” His eyes twinkle, and my skin boils. He leans back in his chair. “You breathe a word of this to anyone and you know what I'll do, Melissa. Exactly what I did to you. Get out.”
I slam the door after we crawl out and watch as the lights die out in the distance.
Millie collapses against a lamppost, gasping. “I’ve been watching him, Melissa. All of them who were involved, at least those who are still alive. Why did you call him Richard?”
I swallow, ignoring her question. It can wait.
My spit tastes like acid as I pull out my phone and dial Yana.
Twenty
Hella
Istride through the clubhouse entrance as Ripper emerges, a half-lit cigarette dangling from his lips.
“We good to roll out?” I ask, settling into one of the leather chairs across from his desk while he wraps up whatever conversation has his jaw clenched tight.
“Yeah.” His hands run over his face, dark circles under his eyes. “Beast is just figuring shit out.”
I chuckle. “So you're the one who's decided to run the Vixens, eh?”
A few months back, Beast shook hands with the Russians. We'd babysit his daughter and her Satan's Vixens MC crew when the time came, in exchange for a favour. When it comes to these, it’s best to have as many as you need on the streets. Met his little psychos once. Once was enough. Now the Russians are cashing in their chips, which means Beast and Ripper get to drag Queen A and her girls back here to our clubhouse so daddy can figure out his next chess move with whatever he’s playing now.
Ashley, Queen A on the road, keeps her recruitment standards real simple. Walk in looking like a ten, or don't walk in at all. The patch-in process starts and ends with a mirror check. Shallow bitch.
“Brother, I don't envy you at all,” I laugh through the sail of smoke leaving my mouth.
He flips me off before walking toward his bike. I carry on through the clubhouse, boots echoing against the concrete floor as I head for the Chapel. The door creaks when it swings open onto Beast, perched on his throne with his phone pressed to his ear.
His free hand shoots up, stopping me, as if the mere sound of my voice will piss off whoever is on the other line.
I slip inside anyway and drop into the chair beside him.
“Yeah, alright.” He pauses, watching me closely. “What... now? Ripper's tied up.” His gaze shifts to me. “I might have someone. Let me call you back.” He ends the call, pockets his phone, and fixes his stare on me.
“What?” I ask, settling back in my chair.
“You wanna rehash your old tricks?”
My eyes slant. “What do you mean?”
He leans forward, his mouth opening just as the door flies open. Yana bursts through, chest heaving. Beast and I both shoot to our feet. Her eyes are wild, darting between us like a cornered animal.
Yana, who barely comes to the compound, is standing here with the door hanging crooked on its hinges and her workout clothes damp.
“Beast…” her mouth opens, but then she hesitates when she spots me. Silence. She shakes herself off, clearly second-guessing her abrupt entrance on my account. “Um, we have a problem.”