Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 84871 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84871 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 424(@200wpm)___ 339(@250wpm)___ 283(@300wpm)
He pulls his hand out of mine and fumbles in his jeans pocket. When he retrieves a pack of cigarettes, I gape at him. He then rolls the window down and tosses it out.
“Dempsey!”
His deep chuckle warms my soul. “I needed to hear those words. Now that I’ve heard them, I don’t need those anymore.”
“You littered.”
“You gonna arrest me, Officer Do-Good?”
My core clenches at the taunt. “Don’t do it again.”
He makes a silly show of crossing his heart. “Promise.”
“I’m being serious. And you shouldn’t have to take the heat from your parents. Last night was supposed to be wonderful for you.”
“I got to kiss you,” he reasons. “Pretty goddamn wonderful if you ask me.”
I’m not done discussing this, but we’ve arrived at the apartment complex. After I park, we climb out and I lead the way into her building.
“You don’t have to come with me,” I tell him as we turn down my sister’s hallway. “I can do this alone.”
“Not a chance, babe. You never have to be alone again as long as I have anything to do with it.”
I’m about to confront my sister and Dempsey still somehow manages to make my heart skip a beat. I don’t deserve his dedication.
When we reach her door, I pound on it hard, using my police knock that scares the shit out of people. Seconds later, the door cracks open, revealing an eye.
A blackened eye.
“Rhiannon.”
“Who is it?” Lenny demands within the apartment.
Fear gleams in Rhiannon’s one eye. She starts to close the door, buy I’m too quick, shoving my foot against it.
“Open it,” I tell her, voice low and commanding.
She closes her eyes and steps back. I open the door and take in the apartment. A lamp is turned over and a broken beer bottle lies scattered all over the coffee table and floor beneath it.
“Who the fuck?” Lenny snaps as he rises from the sofa. “Oh, it’s your cunt cop sister. Did you call her, Rhi? So help me—”
“You’ll what?” I snap, striding toward him. “Hit her again?”
“She had that coming, pig.”
“Sloane,” Rhiannon pleads. “Just go. You’ll only make it worse.”
Lenny snorts out a cruel laugh. “Yeah, piggie, pig, pig. You’ll make it worse.”
It’s then I notice the leather cut Lenny’s wearing. It bears a patch that has the Park Mountain Shadows MC logo on it. Unbelievable.
Rhiannon whimpers again. She’s terrified of this man and thinks it’ll get worse for her. Not if I can help it. I glance over at my sister and really see her for the first time in a long time. She’s too skinny, sadness swims in her blue eyes, and her usual fiery spirit has been snuffed out.
Fucking Lenny.
“Pack a bag, sis, we’re leaving.”
She blinks at me in surprise and then acts like she might actually listen. Dempsey, from behind me, is being eerily quiet, which I’m thankful for.
“You’re not taking her anywhere,” Lenny snarls, snatching up my sister by her elbow. “Now get the fuck out.”
Unable to watch him abuse her any longer, I forget all police training and pounce on him, shoving him hard enough, he releases her to focus on me. That’s right, asshole, I’m the threat here, not her.
“Pack,” I bark at her. “Now, Rhiannon.”
She scurries off toward the bedroom. I expect Lenny to chase after her, but he sticks to glowering down at me. I can smell alcohol on his breath and his pupils are dilated. He’s fucked up. I wish I could just arrest his ass right here and now.
“She won’t get far,” Lenny says, spittle landing on my face. “She never does.”
I jab a finger inches from his nose. “You’re a fucking loser weighing my sister down and drowning her. She hasn’t seen her kids in God only knows how long because of you. Time to let her go for good.”
Lenny sneers at me. “Or what?”
“Or I’ll make it my life’s mission to get you sent to prison,” I threaten. “An asshole like you doesn’t belong anywhere but behind bars.”
With shocking quickness, he snags a handful of my hair on the side of my head and jerks me to him. I don’t even have a chance to defend myself before something—no, someone—barrels between us.
Crack!
Dempsey’s fist slams into Lenny’s jaw. He immediately releases his hold on my hair, falling flat on his ass on the dingy carpet. When Lenny starts to get back up, Dempsey kicks him hard in the center of his chest and sends Lenny sprawling out onto his back.
Rhiannon appears in the doorway of her bedroom, a backpack slung over her shoulder. Her eyes land on Lenny and she gasps.
“Let’s go,” I tell her, pointing to the front door. “Now.”
She nods and then rushes past us. Lenny glares up at us with such hatred it makes my skin crawl.
“Leave them the fuck alone,” Dempsey warns, voice harsh and threatening, “or I’ll fucking make you.”