Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 35194 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 176(@200wpm)___ 141(@250wpm)___ 117(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35194 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 176(@200wpm)___ 141(@250wpm)___ 117(@300wpm)
And my dad. Unfortunately, I had no idea if he knew I existed. If he did, there was every possibility he wouldn’t accept me or even want me in his life. Which was fine. I just needed his protection long enough to make sure Borris Illivitch gave up looking for me.
Turned out, I made better time than I thought I would. Even in the dark. I literally stumbled into a big guy with a full beard. He scowled down at me even as his hands went to my shoulders to steady me. I expected his fingers to bite into my flesh, but he was surprisingly gentle.
“Who the fuck goes there at four-thirty in the fuckin’ mornin’?”
“I…” I jumped and nearly squealed. I hadn’t even heard the guy approach! He loomed over me. I couldn’t see him that well, but I knew he was much larger than me. Reflexively, I shone the light on him. Huge mistake. He reached out and batted the light away from his face before grabbing the thing from me in a swift jerk that took my breath. If he was anything like the way my mom described my dad, then I had no hope of fighting him off if he chose to attack. Not for the first time, I questioned my sanity. Was this really the only option I had? I mean, besides letting my stepfather sell me to his loan shark. Taking a deep breath, I straightened, squaring my shoulders as I found my backbone. “I’m here to see Dominic.”
The man stared me down for several seconds, but I refused to look away. I met his gaze boldly, leaving no mistake I intended to get what I wanted. Some of the last words my mother spoke to me were to approach these men with confidence and strength. Any show of weakness on my part and they’d simply refuse me entrance.
Finally, he snorted a laugh. “I think you’re in the wrong place, little girl. Best you be moving on.”
“I’m here to see Dominic and I’m not leaving until I do. Tell him Tina sent me.” I held up the compass. My mother said it might be the one thing that would get me in, though she confessed she didn’t know how Dominic would take the token. “Tell him I have something for him.” The guy reached for the compass, but I jerked it back. “I’ll give it to him myself.”
“Little spitfire, eh?” There was no denying the amusement in his voice. “All right then. Wait here.” He turned and left me, disappearing back into the woods.
I was so fucking tired. If this guy was right and it was four-thirty in the morning, I’d been hiking through the woods and swamp for the better part of seven hours. Not only was I exhausted, my body had gone about as far as it could.
I think I dozed off where I was standing, because the next thing I knew the guy was back with a scowl on his face. “Ringo said Dom’s busy. Said to give me whatever you had and he’d give it to Dom at a decent fuckin’ hour.”
I closed my eyes, inhaling for patience. “Look. I’ve literally been hiking in unfamiliar territory the entre fucking night. I’m tired. I’m hungry. I’m thirsty. And more than a little cranky. Either get Dominic for me or let me in and I’ll find him myself.”
I took a step forward, intending to march past the man. I had no idea where to go from there because I couldn’t see any sign of structures or even other people. He snagged my arm in a punishing grip, halting my progress.
“Where the fuck you think you’re goin’, huh?”
“I told you, dumbass. I’m here to see Dom.” Fatigue was making me grouchy as shit and I knew I needed to dial it down, but my mouth wasn’t picking up what my brain was putting down. “Are you deaf or just fuckin’ stupid?”
The seconds the words left my mouth, I knew I’d made a huge mistake. Anger flashed in the guy’s eyes and his hand darted to my throat, squeezing my neck nearly as hard as he’d gripped my arm.
“You don’t get to talk to me that way, bitch. You’re in our territory and you’ll do what the fuck I tell you. Now get your fuckin’ ass outta here before I have to help you out.”
This wasn’t happening. I might not be able to take this guy in a fight, but I wasn’t about to stand here and let him strangle me. I found his pinky finger with my hands. It took everything I had left to get leverage under the digit and pry it loose from my neck.
Once I managed to dig my way underneath, I pulled with all my might, bending his finger back. Just as I’d read it would, the move loosened his grip. I thought he might use his other hand to strangle me or even hit. Instead, he shoved me backward. Hard. I stumbled and fell on my ass as he pulled a gun and cocked it, aiming it at me.