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)
"Oh my gosh," I croak. "What happened?"
"Hound happened."
His own father did that to him?
That's a bitter feeling I can relate to.
"Are you okay?"
His eyes meet mine, and he looks shocked. "You're actually asking if I'm okay when you're the one in here, being kept away from everyone you love?"
Sheepishly, I glance at him. "Yes."
He laughs, but it isn't out of humor—it's out of desperation and confusion.
"I'll help you."
I gasp at the words, an overwhelming sensation washing over me as I stare up at him. He's going to help me?
"What changed?" I whisper, fighting back emotion.
"I can't live with that monster any longer. I want him gone, and I want my freedom. If your club can agree to help me, I'll make sure they get what they want and have you returned safely."
"I promise you."
"Do you have a plan?" he asks. "Because he's getting angry and desperate, and if your club doesn't come to the party soon, he'll do something we can't come back from."
Like kill me.
"I don't really, but let's figure it out."
He presses his lips together. "I can get you out. He left me in charge of watching you because he thinks he has enough over me that I won't make a mistake. It wouldn't be hard for me to get you out of here."
I think on it, but I don't love the idea. It's not that I don't want to get out of here, it's that if he does get caught, he's going to die helping me, and I can't have that. No, in this, we need the club. They need to come to us and make Hound disappear.
He can't ever know Walker was helping.
"No, that's too risky for you. I have a different idea," I think out loud.
"Tell me," he urges, "We're running out of time."
"You're going to go to Jackson, tell him everything, and then he will have a plan to bring Hound down. I know he has one."
"He'll kill me on the spot," Walker shakes his head.
"Do you have a phone?" I ask.
He nods.
"Let me call him."
"I can't risk that; if Hound has any kind of tracking on my device, he'll know I made a call."
Dammit, he's right.
If Hound finds out he called Jackson, he'll get killed.
"Let me make a video," I say, my eyes widening. "A video explaining everything. You just have to show him. Jackson isn't a monster; he won't kill you on the spot. I know he won't."
Walker nods, reaching into his back pocket to pull out his phone. He switches it on, then points it in my direction. When he nods, I take a deep breath and speak. "Hey Jacks, it's me. I'm okay, I promise. I need you to help Walker. He knows where I am and he can help get me out, but you need to promise to help him. Please, Jackson, this is the only way. Please help him. I love you."
Walker clicks the phone off, then exhales. "Sit tight, I'll be back as soon as I can."
"Be careful," I tell him. "If Hound follows you..."
"I'll be careful," he assures me. "I'll bring food and water before I go."
I nod, and he turns toward the door.
"Hey, Walker?" I call.
He turns.
"Thank you."
He nods, and even though one of his eyes is sealed shut, I can see a glimmer of hope on his face.
He needs this as much as I do.
23 – Jackson
“There’s some beat-up guy here for you,” Muff says, approaching me at the desk where I’m still frantically searching for Serenity.
We can’t find her, but Hound has made it clear he has demands, and we’re not getting her back until we give in. He’s careful, making sure we can’t get close enough to catch him. He wants us to step down, to hand over this territory and leave town.
He’s delusional.
But we’re running out of time.
“What?” I snap, glaring at Muff.
“There’s a guy out front asking for you, he’s all beat-up, said it’s urgent...”
“Damn it.”
I throw my phone down and head out of the clubhouse to the front gates, where a man in his late twenties is standing, his face swollen and bruised, a phone in his hand, and an expression I can’t quite read. He looks almost scared.
“What do you want?” I bark, my mood sour.
“Are you Jackson?”
I nod sharply.
He exhales, slowly turning his phone toward me. “Please don’t kill me.”
I’m about to ask what he’s talking about when I hear her voice coming from the phone. Her sweet voice. My hand lashes out, and I take the phone, staring at the video of her. I can barely see her in the dim room, maybe a basement, and she looks exhausted.
I focus on her words.
“Hey Jacks, it’s me. I’m okay, I promise. I need you to help Walker. He knows where I am and can help get me out, but you have to promise to help him. Please, Jackson, this is the only way. I love you.”