Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 74270 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74270 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
I stroke her hair. “Could be. Fuck, you know we don’t wanna give you away, and especially not to the fucking Devil’s Brigade. We’ve got no reason to trust them, and every reason to keep you here. The idea of you going away has me on edge.”
“If Prez has made a decision…” Mad Dog trails off, and it might be the first time I’ve ever heard him unhappy about having to put the club first.
Riptide comes over, and I let Melody go just enough for him to fit on her other side, holding her between us. “We’ll do what we have to do. You’re not getting rid of us that easily, baby.”
“Clutch has always been good to me. If going along with this means fewer people get hurt, then I’ll do it,” she says. Her voice is nervous but determined. “You wouldn’t kill Dad without finding out for sure, and I wouldn’t have to stay away forever. Right?”
We exchange glances.
“You’d be right to hate me for it, but I can’t promise anything. Lightning is owed his due, and Thunder, Shadow and Outlaw are gonna do it for him if he can’t.” I let my hand drift down to her neck and between her shoulders. “Eagle-eye is hard, but he’s not an idiot. He’ll play this carefully.”
Mad Dog jumps in. “Yeah. He’s taking the deal because it’s the best shot we have right now of getting the truth from your father. We already refused Rocco’s first offer. If we keep refusing, it’s going to look like we’re the ones in the wrong. Hate to say it, but Joker’s best chance to live through this is with us.”
“Damned if we do, damned if we don’t,” she murmurs through a sniffle.
I nod. “But we’ll do our best to make sure that it’s done as safely as possible. Your father is secure for now. They won’t risk hurting him before the exchange.”
“Okay.” She straightens, but still leans into my hand. “Then I’ll be a dutiful hostage and let you return me. And then, if it’s okay, I’ll come back as soon as I can. I feel dumb asking if you want that, but…”
“Baby, we’re gonna be right fucking here waiting on you. We’ll stay as close as possible without putting you in even more danger.” Mad Dog grins. “We just found you. You didn’t think we were gonna let go that fucking easily, did you?”
That actually gets a smile out of her, but it doesn’t last long. “If things go badly—”
“Mel,” I interrupt. “No matter what happens. I don’t care how fucking wrong things go, we will make sure you’re alright. I know there are some pretty heavy stakes right now, but we’ll be here on the other side of it. The only fucking way we’re backing off is if you tell us to. I need you to know that, ‘k?
“Yeah, okay.” She takes a deep breath and nods.
“Plan’s ready then.” Riptide counts off on his fingers. “We bring you and our new buddy Killjoy to the exchange. It goes well and you ride back with Clutch to prove to the Brigade that you’re safe. We bring in your dad, figure out what the fuck is going on and get in touch with you when we know what’s going to happen.”
“Simple.” She lets out a nervous little laugh. “How are you going to contact me? Do I get my phone back?”
“Right before the exchange,” I confirm. “We want a direct line of communication.”
Melody looks up at me with pretty hazel eyes. She looks scared, but ready. “This could be it, I guess. The last time before everything might go horribly, horribly wrong.”
“It won’t,” Mad Dog says firmly.
“Of course not, but, just in case, could we…” Melody nibbles her lower lip. “I don’t want to waste the time we have left.”
“C’mon. Let’s make sure you know what you have to come back to.” Taking her by the wrist, I pull her with me toward my bed. “Plenty of room on it.”
Melody ends up with me on one side, Riptide on the other, and Mad Dog on the end, rubbing her feet. Riptide strokes her hair while I caress her hip. I want to spend all the time in the world on her, and keep her like this forever, but she’s right, everything could change tomorrow. She lets out a soft sigh and snuggles deeper between us.
Riptide slips down so they’re face to face. “I wanna kiss you. Make sure you don’t forget me.”
“I won’t forget—” She’s cut off by his lips covering hers.
“Let’s make it memorable,” Mad Dog says with a laugh. “I want a turn, too.”
“Not a bad idea, to be honest.” I grin as I move to her other side. As soon as Riptide lets up, I turn her head to me, pulling her close.