Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 37638 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 188(@200wpm)___ 151(@250wpm)___ 125(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37638 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 188(@200wpm)___ 151(@250wpm)___ 125(@300wpm)
“You don’t feel safe at Iron Tzars? With me?”
“If I say no, will you take me back to Black Reign?”
“No. You’re coming back with me regardless. You belong there. With your sister.”
“Winter doesn’t need me anymore, and I need to go back to my life.”
Finally, I turned to her. She stared straight ahead, light from the moon bathing her face in an eerie, silver light. “You know that’s not true. Winter will always need you. She’s worried sick about you.”
“No. I’m going back to Black Reign. With or without your help.”
I clenched my jaw in frustration. We’d see about that. I started the truck, shoved it in gear, then headed off the property a different way than I’d entered. This was one of many safe areas the club owned from Indiana to Florida and in the eastern part of Texas. Most were places where we could torture a man then dump the body where no one would find it.
The next two hours were spent in silence. Serelda didn’t talk or complain or even shift in her seat much. But she was used to disappearing in plain sight. I’d seen her do it more than once. She could be so quiet and so still people forgot she was there. God knew I had. At least, the one time it mattered. I’d fucked up, and Serelda had paid the price. To be fair, I never knew she saw me as more than a protector. Now I knew she never would. And it was all my fault.
“We need to stop for the night. I’ll get us some supper, then dress your wound so you can shower.” Serelda didn’t acknowledge me. Just kept staring out her window into the night.
I pulled into a roadside motel with parking along the back. It was on the state road, not the interstate, so I thought there was a good chance I could hide the truck. I shot off a quick text to Wylde, who assured me he’d secured a room. He’d been the one to suggest this place because it was relatively new and had digital check-in. No one had to see us, and he’d put the room on a clean debit card. The hotel would get their money, but if anyone pulled the records, the bank account belonged to a ghost.
Once I parked, I grabbed my bag as well as Serelda’s backpack. She was out of the truck by the time I got around to her side, but I snagged her hand. I told myself it was to prevent her from running off at the first opportunity. And it was, I suppose. But I didn’t want her running because she was afraid of me. Or angry with me.
Our room was on the first floor. I’d parked the truck close by, but in the back of the lot because of the trailer. I had to let go of her hand to use my phone to unlock the door. When I released her, I half expected her to bolt, but she didn’t. Instead, she stood meekly at my side. I stuffed my phone in my pants before taking her hand again. Dropping our things at my feet, I shut and locked the door, all while retaining my hold on Serelda’s hand. I had no idea why I clung to her, only that her skin felt good against mine.
Fuck. I was so fucking fucked.
Serelda tried to pull her hand out of mine, but I gripped it harder, not looking at her as I looked around the room and tugged her into the bathroom to make sure the whole area was clear.
“You think someone’s found us already?” Her voice was so soft I had to strain to hear her, but she rarely spoke loudly. She was the quiet one. The one always behind her sister.
“No. But it never hurts to be careful.”
Once I finished -- and yeah, I took way more time than necessary to search the tiny room -- I finally let her twist her hand free. She scrubbed it down her pants as if she wanted to scrub herself free of me. That made me angry. Lord knew I had no reason to be mad at her, but it was a blatant rejection of me. And Serelda didn’t have that luxury.
“What’s that for?” I pointed to her hand. “Think I’m dirty?”
She gave me a fierce look before ducking her head and turning away. “Never know where that hand’s been,” she muttered.
Right. The last time Serelda had seen me I was gripping the ass of one of the club whores, who was giving me a lap dance. I hadn’t fucked the bitch. I’d been so drunk I’m not sure I could have fucked her. It was the only reason I’d been in that position in the first Goddamned place. The damage had been done, though. I’d spotted Serelda the second she’d spotted me. Our gazes locked, and the hurt on her face had been like a kick to the balls. She’d left the room immediately. I’d tried to follow her but had ended up falling into the lap of one of my brothers. Literally. Someone had helped me to my room -- and by helped, I mean carried my drunk ass -- and I’d passed out for the rest of the night. It hadn’t been long after that Winter had discovered her sister missing. I’m not sure I’d ever felt more like a failure than I had then. I’d known Serelda was fragile, but I’d felt more for her than the simple need to protect her, and I didn’t think there was any way Serelda would be up for that.