Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 78534 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78534 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Not that every MC draws their line in the same place. Some are nothing but law abiding, white-collar weekend warriors, and others wouldn’t hesitate to put a bullet in that little girl’s skull if it got them a paycheck.
General’s cut, with his blood still staining the leather, hangs on the wall as a reminder that we paid a steep price to keep from going down that road.
“Man, if I didn’t know Ghost as well as I do, I’d think he was a goddamn monster sometimes,” Riot says softly.
I nod. “No shit. Glad he’s on our side.” Ghost learned early that you can’t throw away options just because they’re distasteful. He’s a better leader for it, but if he hadn’t managed to hang onto his own humanity, he’d be fucking scary.
Poe stands up from his spot towards the back. "Yeah, alright. So we all agree this hostage situation isn’t a long term solution, but it’s what we got. Kane has access to shit we could only dream of. For all we know he can take out the whole damn compound from fucking space. The only thing keeping him from doing that is his daughter. We probably have a couple days tops before he’s recovered enough to hit back.”
The members go back and forth, debating as Hellfire listens from the altar, sipping his beer and letting us throw our thoughts around. It would be easy to think he’s too easy going to be president, but that would be a mistake. We’d follow him into hell because he respects our opinions and suggestions, and at the end of the day, every single man here trusts him to make the final call.
Finally, he shut us all up by coming down the steps and walking down the center of the church. “We keep the girls close and put the ball in Kane’s court. I’ll make contact when we’re done here. We need to keep all options open. Stay close to home, and don’t go out alone. Anyone with a civilian family, if they can be traced back to the club, think about getting them behind the walls or sending them on a little vacation. We don’t know what the fuck Kane will do, but we know he don’t play nice.”
"Jesus Christ, I hope we take this guy out by the time everything is over," Riot grumbles.
Hellfire grins. “And since Ghost and his team have already been dealing with the hostages, they can keep doing so.”
Ghost snaps to attention. "What the fuck? You’re putting us on babysitting duty? What about Bonnie?"
"She’ll help, and she’s a damn good shot, but they need more protection than even a tough old bitch like her can give. The girls already know you a little, and I trust you to keep them safe. Clear?"
I nod. "Crystal."
9
JESSICA
Anne and I follow Bonnie out of the church and over to the house next door. I bet it used to be where the priests lived, but now there’s a staircase built onto the side that leads up to the second floor that she leads us up.
Bonnie’s hair is long and full, a wavy mane pinned back in the center of her head. She’s not particularly tall. A little bit shorter than me even, and I’m only five-five. But there’s something about her that feels larger than life. Anne can’t take her eyes off her.
She shoves open the door, which leads straight into a small kitchen full of mess and clutter. The walls are painted a warm coral color, and there isn’t a spot that doesn’t have some sort of knickknack or decoration. The walls are covered in posters and photographs. Most aren’t framed, but there’s one larger one of Bonnie with a biker that has to be about her age. He has long, gray-black hair and a thick handlebar mustache, and in the photo he has his arm slung over her shoulder and his fingers running through her hair.
“Bathroom’s through there and to the right.” She points into the next room. “Don’t even think about running. It’s a long ways down and you won’t make it over the wall before someone spots you.”
Anne looks up at me with pleading eyes. She’s hardly said a word since we were taken, and it worries me.
“Thanks, we’ll be right back.” I walk Anne to the bathroom and wait outside. “Go on. I’ll wait here, promise.”
The toilet flushes after a few minutes, and I hear the water run for a good long time before Anne comes out. Her eyes are red rimmed and her face is wet. “I want to go home,” she whispers, breaking my heart.
I wrap my arms around her and hold her close. “I know.”
“Either of you hurt? Need sewing up?” Bonnie calls from the kitchen.
Anne’s jaw drops and she actually lets out a small laugh. “Who are these people?”