Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 59950 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 300(@200wpm)___ 240(@250wpm)___ 200(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59950 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 300(@200wpm)___ 240(@250wpm)___ 200(@300wpm)
She narrows her eyes, glancing around. “Is this a set up?”
I shake my head. “No, I promise you it’s not. I genuinely want to help you because I’m in trouble myself. I can prove it, if you want.”
“How do you even know who I am?”
I’m running out of time, so I go over everything as quickly as I can. I tell her who I am, how I got set up, that I’m part of the club, and that they can protect her. I also tell her how we found her and why.
She stares at me for a moment, her face somewhat vacant as if she doesn’t entirely believe me.
I don’t blame her.
“I know it sounds crazy, but it’s the only way I am going to clear my name. My partner is in the truck down the road, he is the president of the club. If you would like to speak to him, we can make it happen.”
“Why me, out of everyone in that house?”
“You were the first one we picked,” I tell her truthfully.
She still looks skeptical. I have no doubt she’s probably wondering if I’ve completely lost it, but I need to prove to her that this isn’t some woman just approaching her on the street for fun. I need to her to see just how serious this is.
“Look, I know this is crazy, and I know you’re probably thinking you should run, but I promise you I’m telling the truth. Here, this is Jackson’s number, he is the president. It has the address of the club written on the back. If you want our help, we’ll give it to you.”
A car is coming down the road, and I know it’s her friend.
I have to get out of here.
“Think about it,” I say, then I turn and rush off.
Reaching the truck, I jump inside, and Jackson takes off.
We can’t risk being in one place for too long.
“Do you think you convinced her?” Jackson asks, glancing at her in the rearview mirror.
“I hope so,” I say, swallowing.
God, I hope so.
“THERE IS A GIRL HERE for you,” Addison tells me when I answer Jackson’s phone the next morning.
She is at the club, keeping an eye on things there with the guys. Jackson and I have to stay hidden. I hate it, more than anything, but there isn’t a great deal I can do. I feel so isolated from the rest of the world, but we have to do whatever we can to prevent me being locked up again, even if it sucks.
“Is she blond?” I ask, praying it’s Tayla, the girl I approached on the street yesterday.
“Yep. Her name is Tayla.”
“That’s the girl we want to help, tell her we will be there soon.”
I hang up the phone and turn to Jackson. “She’s at the club. Can we get in without being seen?”
“Yeah, but we have to make it short, we can’t stay anywhere for too long.”
We take Ava and go outside, getting into his truck, before making the drive to the club. I am keeping everything crossed that Tayla is there to accept my offer and that she hasn’t somehow gone over our heads and organized for the cops to show up.
It’s a huge risk, but it’s the only option we have.
I stay low as Jackson parks near the bushland behind the club, and we go the rest of the way on foot, entering through the locked back fence. It’s the only way we can get in without being seen. Once we are safely inside, we go to the office where Tayla is waiting with Addison and Cade.
It takes everything for me not to get ahead of myself and start rambling. I keep calm and offer Tayla a warm smile. Her eyes move to Jackson, and then she looks back to me, and I can see she’s nervous purely by the way she has her arms wrapped around herself and is rubbing her hands up and down, almost as if she’s wondering what she’s doing here.
“You said you could help me,” she asks me, her voice small. “How?”
“You tell me what you want,” Jackson tells her, “and I’ll make it happen. Whatever that is. Nothing is out of reach here.”
Tayla looks concerned for a moment, then whispers low, “I just want my life back. He has taken everything from me. I can’t do anything, I can’t be with anyone, I can’t fall in love or move away because he makes my life hell. I just want it back.”
“Then I’ll get it back,” Jackson assures her. “I promise you that.”
“And all you want from me is information about that guy staying in the house?”
“Yes,” I answer for Jackson. “That’s it.”
“Okay,” she agrees, swallowing. “I’ll do it.”
I could scream with joy, but I keep it together.
“Tell me everything you can about this man who bothers you,” Jackson nods at Cade, who leaves the room. He returns a moment later with Fynn. “My guy here will keep an eye on you, protect you until we can deal with him. He’s good, he won’t hurt you.”