Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 78024 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78024 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
“How do you mean?” Hellfire asks.
I snort. “They taped my mouth and put a bag over my head? That’s messed up, isn’t it?”
Hellfire glances my way, unamused. “You mean it was fucked up for a kidnapping, I’m assuming.”
Sinner nods. “Nobody with any experience would plan it like that. Even if I hadn’t been there, so many things could’ve gotten fucked.”
“There’s one other thing I should probably tell you.” I reach out to take my phone back, and find the first message I got. “I already reported this. It was after I had an interview and talked about Axel, the day after Inferno I think. Everyone said it was probably just bad timing. We all get messed up messages sometimes, saying we’re going to go to Hell or whatever.”
“Why didn’t you say anything when I saw you?” Priest looks more than a little pissed off.
“Because I’d already reported it!”
“To your fucking mother?” he snaps.
“Yeah! She’s my manager. She’s the one that talks to the production people and handles all that stuff. I know you never liked her, and yeah, she’s not in the running for world’s greatest mom, but she’d never do anything to risk my career.”
Colt looks at Hellfire. “Protection duty?”
Hellfire shrugs. “Up to you boys. It’s not a bad idea.”
“I’ll handle it,” Priest says. “Something’s clearly going on and she’s not safe. It’s personal and we don’t have to get the club involved.”
“Club’s already involved because you are,” Hellfire points out.
Sinner nods. “I’m in. Don’t bother arguing. Even if I didn’t already want to do it for Quinn, they’re not gonna forget that I shot one of their boys today.”
“All for one, one for all, and all that shit,” Colt adds with a laugh.
I look between the three of them. “You guys can’t just babysit me. How am I supposed to explain that?” The fact that they’re even offering is too much. I’m usually the one looking after Mom. I’m not used to other people focusing on me.
Priest shakes his head. “It’s not babysitting. We’d be your bodyguards until the danger’s over.”
Oh God. There’s no way Mom would accept a bunch of bikers following me around all the time. Not unless…
“Only if it’s for real. You guys do stuff like this for other people, right? You said that before. I want a contract and everything. Then if anyone asks, it’s official.”
Hellfire points at me with a smile. “I think I like this one. Let’s get this in writing. Family and friends discount, obviously. Let’s say two weeks minimum. We can renegotiate if the threat level changes.”
The final sum isn’t as bad as I thought it could be, but it’s still way more than I have. “I’ll need to wait until the streaming residuals start being paid out. If that’s okay.”
I already knew I had to have a talk with Mom about my finances, and this is just another reason. Hellfire doesn’t waste time once we’ve agreed on the details, emailing me a document for digital signature, and also making a print copy. It’s all surprisingly organized and professional, but I should probably stop being so shocked. They do this regularly.
Priest reaches out to take my hand. His touch is warm as he captures mine in both of his.
Hellfire nods after looking it over. “Alright, you’ve got a deal. One of my boys will be with you at all times until we figure out what the fuck is going on.” He looks around at Colt, Priest and Sinner. “I’m sure they’ll keep you safe, but I’ll give you my personal number so you can contact me directly if something changes. Okay?”
“All the time? Even at home?”
“Especially at home,” Colt cuts in. “They know where you live and your fucking doorman is a pushover.”
There’s a knock at Hellfire’s door.
“Come!”
A bear of a man pokes his head in. “Cops are at the gate.”
12
Chapter 12 - Priest
“Not surprised,” Sinner grumbles. “We weren’t exactly subtle.”
“They don’t seem eager to start anything. Dragon and Shiv are keeping ‘em busy for now. How cooperative are we feeling?” Crank asks. He loosens his shoulders as he walks.
Hellfire rubs his temples. “On principle? Not very, but today I think we’re in the clear.” Sinner opens his mouth but Hellfire cuts him off. “Don’t you say a fucking word about the guy you shot.”
Sinner mimes zipping his lips and throwing away the key.
Quinn follows right behind me, quickstepping to keep up. “Am I going to have to go with them?” She sounds worried.
I stop and turn, catching her by the arm. “No. Not if we can help it, and they know better than to think they have any fucking say about what happens inside our walls.” I gesture to the side, where she can wait out of sight of the gate, but still be close enough to get to quickly. “Wait over there until we know everything’s good.”