Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 122097 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 610(@200wpm)___ 488(@250wpm)___ 407(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 122097 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 610(@200wpm)___ 488(@250wpm)___ 407(@300wpm)
Then he lowers his faceplate, grabs my hand again, and leads me over to the helicopter.
His team follows us, and the next thing I know, we’re in the air, heading off the mountain.
Lowyn’s cheek is red. Hell, it’s practically got the shape of a handprint on it. But I don’t ask her any questions because if she tells me he hit her, I will go back up that mountain tonight and take care of things, with or without official permission from Charlie Beaufort.
I know Amon, Nash, and Ryan see it too, but they don’t even raise their faceplates in the helicopter. They sit and behave like we’re on duty. And I guess we are. Because this was a sanctioned operation, not some half-ass rescue scheme.
We land at a base about an hour away from Disciple by car, but only ten minutes by ’copter.
When we get out, the men and I salute General Forbe, then he offers me his hand and I shake it. “Nice seeing you again, Collin. Don’t be a stranger.”
“Yes sir, General. Thank you for your help today.”
“It was my pleasure.” Then he walks off with his underlings and finally, Amon, Nash, and Ryan put their faceplates up. We look at each other, then I nod in the direction of our armored truck, which is parked along the side of a small building.
Lowyn doesn’t say anything, just keeps hold of my hand.
We open up the back and start stripping out of our armor. Ryan hops inside and takes our weapons, then each piece of armor as we strip it off, hanging it all up in its proper place. Then, when we are done and only dressed in base-layer fatigues, Amon and Nash take the front and start up the truck. I get in the back with Ryan, lending a hand to Lowyn, pulling her in with me. We sit across from each other.
Then Ryan closes the doors and we’re on our way home.
Lowyn is the first one to speak. “I didn’t marry him. I mean—”
“Peaches,” I say, looking her in the eyes as I cut her off, “I don’t need an explanation. So I hope you don’t feel like you need to give one.” I do my best not to look at that cheek of hers. But it’s kinda hard and I have a feeling I’ll be dreaming about murdering that asshole Ike Monroe until the day I die.
I decide to change the direction of these thoughts by pulling out my phone and pressing Jim Bob’s contact.
Ester answers, of course. “City Hall, how can I help you?”
“This is Collin. Put Jim Bob on.”
She hesitates. Like maybe she’s thinkin’ about denying my request. But she must think better of it. “One moment, Collin.” And she puts me on hold.
Ryan’s lookin’ at me like he wants to ask questions, but he knows better to ask questions when I’m in a mood like this. So he shrugs and shuts up, looking at the little window between us and Amon and Nash in the front seat.
It takes Jim Bob three minutes to get on the phone. “Collin. I… I just heard.”
“Good. Good for you, Jim Bob. This is a courtesy call. I’m just letting you know that me and my men have done our part as far as our security contract goes. We look forward to that million dollars apiece on New Year’s Day. Oh, and I know you don’t have their last names, so take this down. It’s Ryan Desoto and Nash Skinner. Don’t fuck it up on the checks.”
“Uh…” Jim Bob kinda stammers here. Because, of course, Ryan and Nash are not on that contract that promised us a million dollars each. At least they weren’t. But they sure as fuck are now. “Well…” I can hear Jim Bob swallow.
“I told you”—I look Lowyn straight in the eyes for this. There is no point in hiding it anymore. We will have no secrets from this day forward—“that you burned a bridge with me.”
“Son—”
“I’m not your son, Jim Bob. And you need to shut up and listen. We’re out, but we will get paid. Whatever beef you had with the men up that mountain is over now, thanks to us. Lowyn’s out too. She will give you nothing.” I’m still watching Lowyn as I say this, my eyebrows raised. Like… if she wants to object, now is the time.
She holds up a finger.
“Hold for a moment, please.” I put Jim Bob on hold. “What is it, Low?”
“Well, I made a promise to Sassy Lorraine that I would ask Jim Bob if she could sing in the Revival. Can you make him do that for me? I really like her.”
I smile and take Jim Bob off hold. “One more thing. Low’s friend is a singer. And she would like to sing in the Revival. You’re gonna make that happen.”