Total pages in book: 56
Estimated words: 53154 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 266(@200wpm)___ 213(@250wpm)___ 177(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 53154 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 266(@200wpm)___ 213(@250wpm)___ 177(@300wpm)
I nod, even though I’m still not sold on this idea. But Pop is the P. Not me. His word is final.
“And if she’s not a spy?” I ask Sledge.
“Then your dad gets a new toy that hasn’t been jaded by our world. Benny’s claiming the girl is as sweet and golden as anything he’s ever seen.”
“Virgin?” I ask, laughing hysterically.
Dad will destroy a girl that innocent.
“No, but not far from a virgin.” Sledge grins as he finishes the statement, seeming as amused as I am.
I shake my head, pitying the fool girl going through with this. She’ll be nothing more than a corpse if she’s working with Benny.
“I think you should stay here and let us check this out.” Sledge surprises me with his abrupt shift in conversation.
I just arch a brow at him. If he thinks I’m scared of a worm like Benny, he’s lost his mind.
“If I don’t show up, it’ll look like I’m afraid of him. Just have our guys ready to take them out from the rooftops if it looks like they’re luring us into a trap.”
“It won’t look weak,” he murmurs while putting his glasses back on. “Your father isn’t coming because he’s smart.”
“Pop has a bigger target on his back than I do. He killed Benny’s brother five years ago. If Benny wants a shot at me, he’s dumber than he looks. Pop would gut him and make sure he got to watch his own intestines being pulled from his body.”
Sledge smiles fondly of that imagery, then he starts up his engine, making it purr. “You’re the boss. We’ll do it your way.”
I nod and start my bike back up, ready to get this over with. Everyone follows my lead. Sledge stays close to my right, keeping his front wheel next to my back one. Hershel—Pop’s second longest loyalist—takes my left, getting even with Sledge.
We pace ourselves, crawling into the warehouse parking lot like we have all the time in the world. Between the abandoned containers and rusted, forgotten objects littering the otherwise vacant lot, our engines echo and resound, making it sound as though we’re hundreds instead of twenty.
Just as we round the corner of the old warehouse, we see the relaxed crew of the Hell Breathers. They’re all propped against their bikes or leisurely sitting on them, waiting for us as though it’s been hours instead of ten minutes.
Sledge and Hershel both ride up beside me, putting their bikes even with mine as they warily keep an eye on Benny and his men. Benny’s son isn’t here. Probably for the best. Boy doesn’t have the black heart for this business. Or the iron stomach.
But usually Benny brings him along, trying to groom him for his place in the business. It’s suspicious that he didn’t tag along this time, and I scan the scene warily.
After coasting to a stop, I kill my bike, letting quietness descend when my guys follow suit. Benny smirks, which immediately has me discreetly tensing, but my tension eases quickly because he’s too relaxed to have anything up his sleeve.
I prop up on my handlebars, looking around but not seeing this girl they’ve brought.
“Where’s this big peace offering?” I ask, feigning a yawn.
He looks toward one of his guys and gives him a nod, which then prompts the guy to head toward the warehouse doors.
“This means no more of your men showing up on my streets and causing a scene. You know that, right?”
It’s my turn to smirk.
“Pop tell you that?” I drawl, amused.
Benny narrows his eyes at me, doing his best to be intimidating. We’ve been ruining their “fear” factor lately, showing people what pussies they really are.
“He said he’d let you determine if she was worth the peace. Personally, I’d think you’d enjoy not looking over your shoulder every time you go to get something to eat.”
My smirk turns into an entertained grin. They usually stay at least three towns over, but in the past year and a half, they’ve encroached on our space in Halo.
“Haven’t been looking over my shoulder, Benny,” I lie, because we all look over our shoulders, but not just because of him.
His jaw grinds for a second as he cracks his neck to the side. “It’s rare a gem like this falls into our laps. Most of our girls are hardened like us. Nothing wrong with that, but this is a new flavor, and she’s his for the taking. Usually getting a girl like this requires force.”
I tense at that. That’s one thing I don’t allow in my crew. Pop doesn’t mind it, but it’s pretty fucking disgusting to me. If they’re giving it away, I’ll take it. I don’t have to force myself. Shitheads like Benny probably don’t have a choice.
“I’m not sure one girl is enough to ice the bad blood between us,” I say, shrugging while acting bored with all of this.