Total pages in book: 139
Estimated words: 132892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 664(@200wpm)___ 532(@250wpm)___ 443(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 664(@200wpm)___ 532(@250wpm)___ 443(@300wpm)
“Please go,” I whispered, and he smiled softly, taking another step in my direction. Now we were maybe four feet apart. His eyes held mine prisoner and he cocked his head, holding up both hands in surrender.
“Give me the belt. I’ll let you keep the gun.”
My hands shook more, and I reached back blindly, feeling for the belt. I wanted him gone. I needed to think about things. This was all so crazy, and while I wasn’t totally certain how or why I’d found myself holding a gun on him in my living room, the situation needed to end.
Holy cats, how had my life come to this?
Wrapping my hand around the belt, I held it out to him and whispered, “You need to leave.”
He reached toward it, holding my eyes the whole time. Then my hand was flying to the side as he knocked the weapon out of my grip. Suddenly I was down on the floor, both arms pinned high over my head as his large, heavy body covered mine. He kicked my legs open, settling between them, trapping me completely.
How had that happened?
Everything was horrible, and it just kept getting worse. I bucked against him again, and then to my disgust I felt tears building in my eyes. I hated crying. There were too many feelings rushing through me all at once and I couldn’t control them all, and now he was on top of me again. I could feel his cock hardening against me. Everything was happening too fast. I wiggled, trying to escape, and he gave a low groan. My heart was about to explode from shock and he was turned on like some kind of sick animal.
How was this my reality?
“Just do it,” I said, sniffling.
He stilled. “Do what?”
“Rape me or whatever. Just get it over with.”
Gage was off me in an instant, backing away. “Jesus Christ, who do you think I am?”
I sat up slowly, wiping my eyes with the heels of my hands. Then I looked at him and shook my head.
“I have no fucking idea,” I whispered, and it was the absolute truth. I didn’t know him and I never had. “Please leave. I just want you to leave.”
Gage stared me down, then nodded, his face shaken.
“I’ll leave for now,” he said. “But it’s not over. We’re not over.”
“It’s over for tonight.”
He nodded, grabbing his belt and the gun that had skidded across the floor. I flinched as he stepped toward the sideboard, but all he did was pick up his knife. Then he walked toward the front door, turning once to look back at me.”
“This isn’t how I planned this, Tinker,” he said softly. “I’m sorry. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
GAGE
Moron.
I was a fucking moron. Pic had warned me not to talk to her, and the bastard had been right. Again. Why that asshole always had to be right I didn’t know, but it was damned annoying.
When she’d looked up at me and said to go ahead and rape her, something had died inside me. Don’t think I’d ever hated myself quite so much in my entire life as I had in that instant.
One thing did have me puzzled, though. Why the hell—out of all the lies I’d told her—had it been the kid thing that freaked her out? I got that lying sucked and everyone hates feeling like a sucker, but I’d expected her to fixate on me fucking Talia, not that.
Guess I’d just add it to the list of shit I needed to deal with next time I saw her.
List was getting damned long.
My Reaper brothers had gathered at the same cheap-ass hotel I’d stayed in when I first got to town. I counted twenty-six bikes in the lot, and it looked like they’d called in the cavalry because several had Devil’s Jacks markings. Fucking shame it’d come to this, but I didn’t see how we’d had much choice. With Marsh and his boys still in jail, we’d never get a better chance to make our move.
Pic stood waiting for me out in the parking lot, along with Horse, Ruger, Bam Bam, and several others. I parked my bike, and he walked over to meet me, catching my hand before pulling me in for a tight hug.
“Glad to have you back, brother,” he said. “Everything go okay with your girl?”
And now for the fun part—I hated admitting when he was right.
“No.”
“You wanna talk about it?”
“Never wanted to talk about anything less,” I said shortly, and he laughed.
“Believe it or not, I understand. Everyone’s waiting. It’s a little crowded inside, but we’re ready for you to brief us on the situation.”
I followed him into one of the end units, the others filing in behind us. More and more came, filling the room wall to wall.
“Glad to have you back, bro,” Bam Bam said, slapping my back. Others followed, and I was surprised that even the Devil’s Jacks took a minute to welcome me. Hadn’t realized until that moment just how much I’d missed being around my people. My family.