Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
“It possible she’s still here?”
I shrugged. “Don’t know.”
“Was it you three who got the students and teachers out?”
“We cleared the hall and sent them in the direction we’d come from. Or out the windows. But we did our best.”
“We’re glad someone got here in time to help. We were caught blind, deaf, and flat-footed.” The guy looked equal parts angry and anguished. “This happened at the worst possible time.”
“Looks like it’s all clear,” one of the other officers said over the radio. “Got three male adults with injuries, one severe. Other than that, lots of scared people.”
“Make one more check. I want every single closet and cubby double-checked before we release the lockdown. Looking for a female in her twenties. Blonde. Slender.” He looked back at me. “I’ve got to go meet with the principal for the walk-through. I’ll make sure everyone on each team knows to be on the lookout for this woman.” He stuck out his hand to me. “Thanks for keeping the kids safe.”
I took his hand, my opinion of the guy going up several notches. Didn’t mean I still didn’t want to at least maim him for shooting Danica.
“Glad we were able to help. I’m sending you another file. The one that shows the trail between Leo and Jordan. And how she pushed him into this on the same day and time your communications were taken offline for an update.”
“Wait.” His eyes narrowed. “Leo… Winston?”
“Yeah. He’s the former mayor’s nephew or some shit.”
“And Jordan?”
I shrugged. “Besides a sociopath? I have no idea. I think she liked to play with people. Leo was a convenient target for her to use to get back at Danica.”
“Trust me when I tell you we will find her. I have no desire to be the cause of someone’s death, and I very well could have been because of that bitch.”
“All I can say is that you better find her before I do.”
He raised his hands. “I don’t want to hear it, man. I do and she turns up dead, I still have a duty to investigate you.”
“I kill her, there won’t be anything for you to find.” I smiled to take the sting out of my words, but it probably looked as evil as I felt at the moment.
“Come on, Wylde,” Blaze took my upper arm and tugged me toward the exit. “Let’s get the fuck outta here and back to the clubhouse.”
Chapter Eleven
Danica
“I’m going to be gray headed before this is all over.”
They arrived back at the clubhouse to the whole of the Iron Tzars manning the fence around the compound. Armed men looking outside, watching everyone who approached gave the place a feel of being in the middle of a war zone. I wasn’t so sure that wasn’t an apt description given when we’d just been through.
There were only five of the club members who’d gone to the school while everyone else, including myself, had locked down the compound tighter than a snare. Once the others passed through the gate, Roman met them just outside the club house. I had to watch from a window because the bastard wouldn’t let anyone out until he’d confirmed with Sting all was clear on their end.
“They got her,” Roman said without preamble. “They’ve arrested Jordan. Not only did what you send the police help, Wylde, but it led them to the proof she was behind the cell outage. I didn’t understand it all, but she’s got more skill than we gave her credit for as a hacker. The resource officers and the ROTC teacher who were hit are in the hospital. One of them is fine, minor injuries, but two of them are in surgery now. Both are expected to be fine. This is from Stitches, so no one else is in the know yet.” Roman continued. “Leo is at the hospital too. He has severe head trauma, but he’s alive.”
“Of course, he is,” Lemon muttered. “I’ve got to start lifting weights to build more muscle. If I could’ve hit him harder, the fucker’d be dead. Though brain damage might be just as good.”
“Lemon,” I scolded. “Don’t say things like that.” I pulled her into my arms for a fierce hug. Surprisingly, she not only let me, but she hugged me back just as tightly.
“Don’t worry, honey. There’s a possibility he’s going to have permanent brain damage. Anything legal they try to throw at you will be dealt with by Raven, though he doesn’t anticipate anything,” said Roman.
“Tell me you don’t want him dead too and I’ll take it back.” The girl was going to be the death of me.
“Can’t say that, but I can say that I don’t want it to be you who kills him.” I pulled back to look at her. “I’m so glad you’re safe, Lemon. When neither Apple nor I could get a hold of you…” A strangled sob escaped before I could stop it. Lemon might show some normal emotions like fear or grief in private, but she absolutely wouldn’t out in the open where everyone could see. It was just the way she was wired. Always the protector. The tough one.