Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 76881 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76881 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
“Jesus Christ,” Poe says as he looks at it. “Is she gonna make it?”
“She's fine, but needs some TLC for sure. I was right about the van, though. It’s fucked. Between the crash and the shootout, it’s not going anywhere. Oil tank’s busted open I think, if the pool underneath it is any indication.” He shrugs.
Savage brushes his hands off on his jeans. “I’ll report it to Hellfire when we get back and he can decide if it’s worth coming back for. Nothing we can do about it right now. Let’s get the stiffs out of sight before we get rubberneckers. We gotta cover our tracks best we can and get outta here ASAP. Poe, keep Paige away from the worst of it. Me and Crank'll handle it.”
“Sure thing.”
I hate that keeping me from freaking out is an item on their to-do list when they've obviously got important things to handle, but at the same time, that’s kinda what I hired them for and it’s not like I’m going to be any help. If I never have to see another corpse in my life, that's fine. My throat tightens at the reminder, and I take a small sip of water before I lose my dignity all over Poe's motorcycle boots.
Deep breaths. Deep breaths.
Poe guides me over to a cement barrier at the end of a parking spot next to the building. “Sit here, and try not to think too much about it. I know that’s kind of bullshit, but you’re tough. You’ll be alright. There’s no shame in how you reacted. Fuck, I was no better my first time.”
“Really?” I find that hard to believe.
He nods. “I was thirteen. Had an older cousin in a gang and one night when I was out with him and his friends, we got jumped by a couple guys. I thought I was so fucking cool hanging out with them, but when the first person pulled a knife, I froze up. Was totally useless.”
“Did you puke?”
“All over my cousin. He still calls me Chuck sometimes.” His grin is infectious.
“I'm not ashamed of throwing up.” I take another sip and force it down. “I think what bothers me is that I did this to myself, and now I’ve brought you guys into it. All of those men would still be alive if I hadn’t gone in that night. Was it worth it? Even if my uncle is involved in something shady, is uncovering that worth all the bodies? Is it worth the blood on your hands?”
Poe sits next to me and holds his hand out for the water. I give it to him and he tilts his head back and takes a sip. I watch the way his lips cradle the rim and his throat moves as he swallows. “Paige, I know you might not understand, and in a perfect world I hope you never do, but some blood stains and some blood cleanses. This? Blood spilled to protect someone from people who made their own choices? I will never lose sleep over. If keeping you alive leaves a mark, I’ll wear it with fucking pride.”
Oh my God.
My poor heart doesn’t know what to do with that. I need a subject change fast or I’m going to end up a traumatized puddle of emotional goo. “Distract me. Tell me about your bike club.”
He laughs softly. “Our fucking bike club. Sure. What do you want to know?”
“Is Savage your boss? He seems to order you and Crank around a lot.”
Poe raises a hand and tips it back and forth noncommittally. “Sort of. MCs are full of people who can’t stand structure, but fucking need it at the same time. We have a chain of command, like in the military, but based on strength, respect and loyalty. Nobody gets anywhere without all three. At the top is the president, ours is Hellfire. He's a fucking hardass. Moved up when our old president, General, got sniped by some fuckers from another club.”
“That's terrible.”
“I can’t lie, it hadn’t been long since I’d been sworn in, and it got fucking dark for a while, even for us. Almost tore the club apart, but Hellfire held us together and we’re stronger than fucking ever.” There's a violent edge to his tone that makes me think there’s a lot he isn’t saying.
“So Savage is… higher rank than you?” I guess.
He nods. “He's an officer. One of two right now, him and Ghost. There's usually a vice president, but Hellfire hasn't made his choice yet since he stepped up. Usually that would lead to a pissing contest, but both Ghost and Savage are more invested in the club than they are in measuring their dicks. I'm on Savage's squad, so obviously he's my choice.” He smiles, almost sheepishly.
“You guys seem close.”
“We're brothers. Not because we happened to be born to the same people, but because we fucking pull each other’s asses out of the fire when it counts. Like today. All the Outlaw Sons are my brothers, but Crank and Savage? We went through the trenches together and came out stronger. I'd trust them with my life, anytime, anywhere. And I'd do fucking anything to protect theirs.”