Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 114819 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 574(@200wpm)___ 459(@250wpm)___ 383(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114819 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 574(@200wpm)___ 459(@250wpm)___ 383(@300wpm)
“I don’t know how you make it all day without someone carrying you,” Abi complained and leaned in to kiss Dev’s shoulder. He’d had a breakthrough today with Abi. She was tough and hard on the outside, just like him, but she cared on the inside, just like him. He lifted a finger, tapping his cheek, guiding her there with the kiss. When she leaned in without leaving him hanging, his world steadied underneath his feet.
“Walk for me,” he said to Mae and put her on her feet. When Cash bent to pick her up, his heart broke open with love. This moment, with these people, gave him the strength he needed to get through the rest of the bullshit to come.
“Let’s go find some Skittles. What do you like, Abi?” Cash asked, nodding toward the door.
“I don’t care. Probably chocolate, but I’m thirsty.”
His gaze stayed riveted on the three as Abi put her hand in Cash’s again as they left the room. He stood, offering his mother the chair. She didn’t accept.
“They’re all dead. My old man, Mack, Ace, and Tank. No one survived,” Dev explained to his mom, just in case she didn’t know. She lifted her hand, stopping him from saying anything more. She seemed shaky, something urgent on her mind. Her shoulders squared as she turned on her heel. The quiet in the room lasted to the point of being awkward as she placed her oversized purse on the gurney, fishing around inside. The bag held clothes, shoes, and the kitchen sink, he guessed. She pulled out a set of keys and a jump drive.
“I know what’s happened, and I know why.” She didn’t make eye contact as she came forward, offering him the keys. Instinct made him resist. She reached for his wrist, forcing the keys into his palm.
Okay. This felt intense as he looked down at his hand. There were two keys. Both looked like standard door keys.
“These keys go to a storage facility. Red Bird Storage, unit 1117. It’s next to the lumberyard.” She reached out again, this time to grip his bicep. “This is important, Devin.”
“What’s in there?” Dev asked.
She didn’t answer that question but let go of a whole lot more. “I’ve known about all of this the whole time. Shanna works for the FBI and has for years. I know Cash is here in some capacity with the DEA. They believe he’s posing as your boyfriend. I suspect that’s not the complete truth. I know you love him. I see it in you so that means you know the truth of why he’s here.”
Dev’s brow furrowed harder at each of her reveals.
“Everything’s been coming to a head for a while now. I never wanted you to find out, and certainly not this way.” She took a deep centering breath and turned away from him, pacing five or so steps before pivoting around, squaring her shoulders again, pinning him with a determined stare.
“The Disciples of Havoc and all its businesses are a front for the Department of Justice. Your father has worked for the federal government for more than thirty years. Mack, Ace, and Tank too. Your father brought them on shortly after he was approached to start the club. Back in the late eighties, he was tagged by the DEA. He made a deal to keep himself out of prison. He was to grow a legit one-percenter motorcycle club as a front to hide an illegal drug and arms trade that’s run by the government.”
What? No… The palm of his hand went to his eye, mashing there. He dropped down in the seat as if his legs had been kicked out from underneath him. “What’re you sayin’? My old man worked for the fuckin’ government this whole time?”
The concept was so impossible to believe that his brain nearly rejected even hearing such a thing.
“Let me try to explain,” she said, extending a shaking hand that she fisted and brought down by her side. “The deal the government made with your father gave him the money and authority to grow a nationwide motorcycle club. In return, he and a small network of trusted government employees ran illegal drugs and arms across the country in the club’s name. It was designed to give the government street cred to build undercover relationships with foreign cartel heads. Am I making any sense?”
“That shit’s real?” Dev asked. “That really happens?”
“Yes. And I’m involved too. I did the books, technically as a federal employee.” She covered her eyes with her hands as if to hide her embarrassment. Then she glanced at the door to the room. “We don’t have a lot of time, but I think I’m who Cash is looking for.”
She extended the flash drive, walking quickly back to him.
“There’s too much to say right here. What you must remember is your father was a terrible human being. He always was. Born a very bad seed. His authority in the operation gave him a god complex. He felt like he rode above the law, and he did until the government finally grasped the real kind of money he was making off these trades. They began setting revenue goals.”