Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 34282 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34282 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
When he pulled away, he looked straight into my eyes. “It’ll be OK, Iris.”
I nodded. For the first time in three months, I felt like it might be OK. That was Sting. His charisma. I wasn’t sure when I chose to believe him. It wasn’t even a conscious decision on my part. But I believed him. I was all in, putting my hopes in the hands of a man I didn’t know.
God help him if he couldn’t deliver.
God help me.
Chapter Five
Sting
“Give me a rundown.”
I sped down the road with Iris’s arms around my middle. Inappropriate as it was, my cock responded to her proximity. Filing away thoughts of my little hellcat writhing under me in pleasure for after I got her sister back, I listened through my earwig while Wylde gave me an update. It was standard equipment on an operation like this, along with a tiny microphone clipped to my shirt.
“Jerrica is the only girl in this group. Not sure if the others were already sold, or if something else happened.” Wylde sounded like he’d been through the wringer. He was good at his job, but he was in a strange place with strange people working with him. To say he didn’t play well with others was the understatement of the century.
“Best guess?”
“They’re dead. Still prudent to question those motherfuckers, though. If the girls ain’t dead, I’d like to give Black Reign a place to start lookin’ for ‘em.”
“Keep digging, Wylde. Get all the information you can. I’ll see if Brick left anyone alive to question.”
“He did. Though none of them are in good shape.”
It was another half an hour before we made it to the rendezvous point. Brick had loaded up the bad guys and tied them inside the bed of the F-250 they’d brought along. Jerrica was in the back seat, huddled under a blanket. Iris opened the door, and Jerrica launched herself at Iris and sobbed uncontrollably.
“I’m here, baby. I’m right here.” Iris was crying right along with Jerrica.
The two of them clung together, and my heart swelled. I’d kept my promise to Iris. Iris had kept her promise to Jerrica. I was sure the girl would have a lot of therapy or something to go to, but she was with her sister, and they were both safe. We’d figure out the rest.
Iris looked up at me. “Thank you, Sting. Thank you so much!”
“I’m here to slay your demons, Iris. I’ll always be here.” I could tell my words confused her. She looked over Jerrica’s head and met my gaze, questions in her lovely eyes. There was no way I could not take her in my arms, even with her sister clinging to her. So I wrapped both of them up and let them lean on me.
Iris went willingly, one arm wrapped securely around Jerrica, the other around my neck. Jerrica stiffened and pulled away from me but retained her death grip on Iris.
“It’s ok, baby.” Iris smoothed Jerrica’s matted, dirty hair away from her face. “I found him at Black Reign. They sent him and his crew after you.”
“Told you, little badger. Promised I’d take you to your sister, and here she is.” Brick stepped close and put another blanket around Jerrica’s shoulders.
The girl looked back at Brick before addressing me. “You know Brick?”
“I do. I’m with your sister too.”
She didn’t acknowledge me but gave me a solemn look. “Brick saved me.”
“We all did, honey.” Brick’s voice was gruff. “You’ve got a bunch of badass protectors now. You and your sister.”
“Did you kill ‘em?” Jerrica didn’t look scared now. She looked… fierce.
“Not yet. I promised you we would, and we will. Just want to get some information from them first.”
“You promise? I want you to kill ‘em.”
Brick nodded once at Jerrica and knelt before her. He put one hand on her shoulder. “I promise, little badger. I’ll make ‘em suffer.”
“Good.” The child swiped her arm over her face, then put her chin up and turned back to Iris. “Can we go home now?”
“Yes, baby. We’re going home.”
“Wait!” Jerrica’s eyes got wide, and she shook her head. “Not that home. I don’t wanna ever go back there!”
“You’re coming with us, Jerrica. You and your sister.” I couldn’t keep quiet any longer. The quicker Iris realized she was mine, the better.
“Back to Black Reign. Hope has been so worried about you.” Iris continued to brush off streaks of dirt and strands of matted hair away from the child’s face. “Everyone has.”
“Back to Black Reign, then we’ll talk, Iris.” I spoke softly, not wanting to alarm Jerrica into thinking I’d put her in a bad situation. “You’ll both be protected.”
Iris gave me a wide-eyed look but didn’t say anything else. I hoped she didn’t think I intended to separate them, but now wasn’t the time to discuss it. I met her gaze with a steady one of my own and hoped she understood.