Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 74655 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 373(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74655 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 373(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
“Clear, Boss.”
We all separate, me going to squat down beside a large bush. I can’t hear the girls, which is good. Too dangerous for them and we can’t have anyone blowing this cover. This is the only chance we might have at getting our hands on someone we can send on the inside. Adrenaline courses through my veins and my hand clenches around my gun.
Fucking prick.
We’ll take him down, one way or a-fucking-nother.
The flashlight comes closer, and two voices can be heard. Male. Two is dealable. They’re speaking softly to one another, and it’s hard to make out the words. They obviously got a location from the phone but are trying to navigate up there. It won’t be easy, and that, once again, works in our favor. I hold my gun up, eyes focused, ears sharp.
I won’t fucking hesitate.
The light gets closer, and the voices get clearer. The sounds of boots crunching are close, really fucking close. They’re nearly on top of us.
“Fuck me,” a voice says. “They are fucking hiding her well. How long does this fucking path go on?”
“Who fucking cares?” the other voice growls. “We’re going to fucking take her and get that money. Couldn’t give a fuck what we have to do to get there.”
“And if there’s fucking loads of protection up here? What then? We get our heads fucking blown off?”
“There won’t be loads of protection. This place is protection enough. Whoever has her was fucking stupid enough to leave her phone on her.”
“Wrong.”
I recognize Malakai’s voice. It’s sharp, hard, and angry. “She most certainly does have protection, and you stupid fuckers are goin’ to wish you didn’t step foot on my land.”
Gun fire.
It echoes loud and angry across the quiet night. Fuck.
They’re shooting. Without question.
They’re armed.
I stand, flicking on my flashlight, and aiming my gun straight toward two big, very fucking angry men. One spins around, raising his gun and aiming. I move quickly, dropping down just as the gun fires. Pain burns through my bicep as the bullet hits my arm. I roar in pain—it’s like fucking fire and it fucking burns. I raise my gun, but the guys are quicker.
Malakai pops two shots into one man’s kneecaps, dropping him with an agonized roar. Maverick points his gun at the other one who has it raised. “Drop it, or I’ll blow your fuckin’ head off.”
The man looks around and then lowers his gun, muttering a fuck as his friends bellows in pain. I clutch my arm, panting in agony as blood fills my hand.
“Koda, you hit?” Malakai barks in my direction.
“Yeah. All good. Arm.”
“Secure these fuckers and let’s get the fuck out of here before anyone else shows up.”
Boston pulls out a rope that he must have packed on our rush out and jerks the man’s hands behind his back, tying them so tightly he hisses and mutters a few curses. Mason deals with the man on the ground, putting a boot into his kneecaps twice before tying him. The man roars louder, rolling around in the dirt.
“Get up, fucker, or I’ll leave you out here for the wild animals,” Mason hisses.
The man gets up, bellowing in pain, blood pouring from his legs. Mason and Boston roughly stand him between them and Maverick grabs the other man, shoving him a few times before yelling out to the girls. A flashlight comes on, and a minute later, they appear.
Charlie rushes over. “You’re shot.”
“I’m fine,” I growl, the pain making my body break out into a cold sweat.
“Let me help you.”
“I said I’m fuckin’ fine,” I bellow.
“God, you’re such an asshole. Malakai, give me the gun, I’m going to shoot him again.”
“Enough,” Malakai growls. “Koda, you good, brother?”
“Fine,” I grunt out.
“Let’s move.”
Charlie flashes her light at me. “I’m walking behind you in case you pass out. Argue with me, I’ll punch you right in the arm and give you something to cry about.”
Fucking hard bitch.
Fucking beautiful hard bitch.
“Watch it, Charlie,” I pant.
“Move, Dakoda.”
I move, because I need to get this fucking arm sorted. One agonizing step at a time, we shuffle down a path that usually takes half an hour. It takes us nearly two. By the time we’re at the bottom, I’m sweating and shaking. Charlie is close behind me. “You OK?” she asks, her voice genuine.
It’s gone beyond me to argue with her.
“Nah.”
“Malakai, how many trucks do we have?” she asks.
“Two. Enough to get us all in. We’re goin’ to leave the other trucks here. In case they’re bein’ tracked.”
“Good idea,” Maverick mutters. “I’m throwin’ these fuckers in the tray.”
“Maverick?” Charlie says, dropping the tailgate as he shoves the bound man toward it.
“Yeah?”
“Make sure you drive wild. Make them suffer for shooting Koda.”
I look at her, and her eyes meet mine.
Then she’s gone.
Fuck me.
Girl is fuckin’ growin’ on me.
God dammit.
~*~*~*~
THEN – KODA
“Here to see my brother,” I say to the pretty young blond at the desk.