Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 115186 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 576(@200wpm)___ 461(@250wpm)___ 384(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115186 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 576(@200wpm)___ 461(@250wpm)___ 384(@300wpm)
“Good to see you back to bein’ loyal.”
“Never wasn’t. The Knights might not be blood but they sure as fuck are family.” The last thing Magnum said as he walked out the door was, “Even you, asshole.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
It took two more days before he was freed from the hospital hell where he’d been imprisoned.
Two more damn days before he could try to make amends with Maddie. Even using his replacement phone, she wouldn’t respond to his calls or texts. Since she wouldn’t, he planned on facing her in person.
Now that he knew her former boss used a commonly used last name to conceal his ties to the Russos, he was worried about her.
Since he was still stuck in casts, and would be for a few weeks yet, he couldn’t ride his sled over to her apartment. Instead, he was having a prospect drive him around in a cage and basically be his bitch.
Booger waited down in the lot while Romeo slowly hauled his injured ass up the steps to her apartment using only a single crutch due to his broken arm. Luckily, his broken arm and leg were on the opposite sides of his body, otherwise Booger might be pushing him around in a wheelchair. And carrying him up the stairs like a new bride since there wasn’t an elevator.
Propping the crutch under his arm, he leaned back against Maddie’s door since he was so damn out of breath after maneuvering the flight of steps to the second floor.
At least he didn’t tumble the fuck back down. That would’ve sucked and most likely landed him back in the hospital again.
Once he didn’t feel like he was about to die, he knocked on the door behind him and put his weight on his good leg so when she opened the door, he wouldn’t fall backwards and end up on his ass at her feet.
He was a goddamn mess.
With a groan, he turned around and knocked again. This time a little louder and yelled out a, “Maddie! Open the fucking door!” Fuck bothering her neighbors.
Again, he heard nothing. Not her voice. No footsteps. Not even a “fuck off.”
Did she find another job already and was currently at work?
He was such a dumbass. He should’ve made sure her cage was down in the lot before taking on the fucking chore of climbing a flight of steps.
Yeah, he was a goddamn mess.
The turn of a lock raised his hopes until he realized it wasn’t the door in front of him, but the one behind.
A blond man, maybe in his thirties, stepped out into the hallway. “If you’re looking for the girl who lived here, she moved out.”
She did what? Maybe she got a better job with a better salary and decided to upgrade her apartment.
Maybe he was also lying to himself. “When?”
The man shrugged. “About a week ago, maybe? Sorry, I forgot to mark it on my calendar.”
Smart ass. “Did she take all her shit?”
The man shrugged again. “A bunch of guys, all wearing vests with the name of some gang on the back, were going in and out. I did notice they brought a boxed truck and a couple of vans.”
For fuck’s sake. Now the “apartment for rent” sign posted out in front of the building made sense.
“I had no idea she was affiliated with criminals, otherwise I would’ve complained to the landlord. While they were here, I figured it was safer for me to stay inside and keep my door locked.”
Jesus Christ. “Sounds like you stayed inside instead of doin’ the neighborly thing and helpin’ like the pussy you are.”
The man’s gaped mouth snapped shut. “And you’re trespassing since your friend no longer lives here. It’s best you leave before I call the cops.”
“Get out of my fuckin’ face,” Romeo growled. He about had enough of this asshole.
Maddie’s former neighbor snorted out a laugh and eyed Romeo up and down. “Who’s going to make me? You? It looks like someone already kicked your ass. Two times over.”
“Know those criminals who made you piss your pants? I got a vest like that, too. So do more than thirty of my brothers. Now… You were sayin’?”
“I was saying, ‘Hello, 911?’”
“Ain’t illegal to visit a friend, motherfucker. So, go ahead, call the fuckin’ pigs and see where that gets you.” He adjusted the crutch under his arm more securely and hobbled across the narrow hallway. “Just remember, I know where you fuckin’ live.”
The closer he got, the wider the neighbor’s eyes got. “Is that a threat?”
“Damn right it is.” Really, there was no point in him wasting any more time here, so Romeo carefully pivoted on his good leg and hobbled toward the steps.
“I figured you’re all talk,” was heard right before the slam of the apartment door. Along with the turn of a lock.
“Not worth it,” Romeo muttered under his breath and did his best not to break the rest of his bones while heading back down the stairs.