Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 110550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 553(@200wpm)___ 442(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 553(@200wpm)___ 442(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
Our cause is fair and just. We seek to free Cinco City from the rule of tyrants and restore freedom to its people. We will not have that purpose mocked by you or anyone.
As punishment for your crimes against the Brotherhood, the Cardinal motorcycle gang has been disbanded. Do not be alarmed. We have not executed them since their only crime was being coerced into the service of your corrupt family.
We believe in the innate freedom of all people in this city to choose their path, so provided the Merchants recognize the Brotherhood as the true and only governing organization of Cinco City and the underground, as well as committing no further crimes against this organization, these women will be released and allowed to return to civilian life.
If you disobey this and any future orders from the Brotherhood, drastic measures will be taken.
You will show your acceptance of these terms by publicly denouncing the fake video and admitting the Merchants created it to scare and lie to the people.
Signed,
The Brotherhood
I was out the door before the final word was read. Skidding out onto the street, I flagged the first cab I saw and shouted, “Barbarella’s. Harlow. Now!”
We sped the whole way there—helped along by my promising to gut and let him bleed out in the trunk if he’d dared to stop for a traffic light. Still, it was ages until we squealed to a stop before my bar.
Their bikes lined up on both sides of the entrance, announcing who this place belonged to long before a fool tried to walk inside.
They’re all here. That letter was bullshit. Planted to scare me. They didn’t—
I ground to a halt, falling very, very still.
Barbarella’s was a wreck. Tables overturned. Beer glasses shattered pieces on the wood. Broken pool cues. Smashed photographs. But nowhere in sight was a single Cardinal.
Silence pressed on my eardrums—taunting me, laughing at me. I knew there was something off. I had the worst feeling that my girls were in danger, and what did I do? Moved into the Fairfield and left them alone.
“No,” I whispered. “Bugsy? Candace? Stella?”
No response traveled back.
“No!” Snatching a chair, I tossed it across the room. It was only the first object to get my wrath.
The cab driver stuck his head inside and quickly left, thinking better of asking for payment.
MACKENZIE
I checked off the items from my War Room shopping list, then headed up to the roof. Jace passed me coming down, glued to his phone.
“Jace, how are the suits for David coming?”
“Huh? What?” He blinked at me like I was a stranger. “Oh! The suits. They’re great. I cut the fabric yesterday. Should have something for you next week.”
I squinted at him. “Are you okay? You look pale.”
“Just what every man wants to hear.”
“I’m serious.” I stepped into his path, stopping his escape. “You’ve been off the last couple of days. Are you feeling well?”
Jace’s eyes flashed. “You don’t know me. How would you know when I’m off or on? I said I’m fine, Mackenzie.” He made a show of moving around me. “Now if you don’t mind, some of us have work to do.”
I let him go, though I watched him until he stepped off the stairs and disappeared around a corner. Jace was correct in saying I barely knew him, but what I did know was shifty-ass men and how much they loved deflecting. Whether Jace was still mad at me for calling him out, or there was something else going on with this guy, he was climbing higher and higher on my list.
“Morning, Dale.”
“Morning, Kenzie.” Dale, the coffee kiosk owner, started brewing my order on sight. He was round, bearded, and always smelled like coffee. “Can I get you a butterscotch muffin to go with this? On the house.”
“Are you trying to make me fall in love with you? Because my boyfriends will hunt us down when we run away together.”
He threw his head back, laughing a huge belly-shaking laugh. Dale was here back in the old days—pre-Damien’s betrayal. No matter what kind of day I was having, Dale always had a smile and a muffin for me. Which said a lot about what I was going through. The man saw that I needed it.
“A large espresso too, please,” I said. “So how have you been?”
We chatted about the little things while I nibbled on my muffin. He told me about his son’s recital. I told him Laurel could throw her peas twelve feet.
“Impressive, but can she fling mashed carrots on the dog’s head three mornings in a row? I think Rex was hanging around for it by the end.”
I laughed. “That’s a scary good plan. She dumps the carrots and Rex makes them disappear. Laurel is already outsmarting me. She does her hungry cry to get me to take her out of the crib, then she kicks back while her mom-sized carrier whisks her somewhere interesting.”