Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 89925 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 450(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89925 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 450(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
“What room?” This time, Dante is on the bed, attempting to pull her out of the ball she’s curled herself into. I can’t move. My body is frozen, and I know if I touch anyone right now, I’ll kill. I’ll rip them apart, so I allow Dante to take charge.
“It’s a place like this,” she tells us. “He does things in there, with . . .” Her voice tapers off, but my imagination is running rampant with horror-filled images.
“With?”
“He takes girls, or boys, in there.”
Dante’s hands are on her arms, holding her steady because it looks like she’s about to pass out. His voice is composed, calm, but I can tell he is as angry as I am. “You’ve seen this?”
She nods.
The party is tonight. We need to get in there and find this room. There’s no longer a doubt about when we’ll take them down; it has to be tonight. Or we’ll all be killed. Amoretto is a dangerous man. He’s known to be connected to organizations that deal in guns, drugs, and children. He needed to die a long time ago, but I know Drake’s focus was on Caia. He needed to find her. Now that she’s here and helping us, we can finally put an end to this.
“Rayne,” I finally utter her name again. “We’re going there tonight. Can you explain where this room is? We’re going to help those that are hidden in his home.”
Her eyes land on mine. “He’ll kill you.”
“I have something to do. Dante, can you take her up to Caia and ask her to help my sister?”
“Yeah, man. Where are you going?”
“A place I know I’ll find help for tonight.” I push off the bed and head to the door. Without looking at my sister, I mutter, “I love you, Rayne.” And then I walk out, leaving her with one of my best friends.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
RIVER
The lights of Twisted & Shaken appear in my view ten minutes after I’ve left Rayne and Dante in the cell. I knew what I had to do. The luminous blue lights of the bar beckon me in the darkness. I found this place when I needed escape. When I needed to leave the Savage Mansion and take a breather from what I’d seen.
Stalking into the bar, I find the raven-haired woman I’m about to fuck into next week serving a beer to a burly biker. Her long dark locks are streaked with blues and purples. Her dark eyeliner is what you would call emo. A ripped black tank top hugs her curves but also teases the large tits I know are real because I asked her one night.
She’s been a distraction for years. Drake and I had an understanding — if we needed time, we could go out and find someone to use for the night. It’s how we’ve always lived. Guilt sits in my gut this time because I care about Caia, and I love Drake.
The woman smiles at me when she meets my eyes. “A double shot of whiskey,” I tell her, dropping a fifty on the bar. “Keep the change.” She sets the glass in front of me, her eyes shimmering with knowing. Every time I come in here, I’ve taken her in the back and fucked her.
“You’re feeling generous,” she remarks, lifting the bill from the counter. I shrug in response. Gulping down the amber liquid in one swallow, I feel the burn all the way down my throat and into my chest. “Something on your mind, River?”
“Another drink.”
She nods. Moving to grab the bottle, she fills the shot glass and meets my gaze with a curious arched brow.
“Nothing you need to worry yourself with. Perhaps you can take a break soon?” I ask, lifting the drink to my lips. I need to release this tension Rayne has brought about. I don’t know how I’m meant to get her to trust me. Love and rage are two very dangerous emotions. They’re deadly, and tonight everything will finally come to a head.
“I can always take a break for you, River,” she responds with a lift of her plump lips.
“Good. Give me five,” I tell her as I drain my drink and head into the men’s restroom to take a piss. Moments later, I’m back at the bar. “Let’s go, baby girl.” I don’t wait for her. Instead, I stalk to the back of the bar and into the office where we’ve fucked more times than I care to count. The door clicks, and I settle in the large leather chair that sits behind the desk.
“Are you going to tell me why you’re here?” she asks, but I shake my head in response. She knows I don’t ever tell her about where I come from or why I need her. We’ve been through this before. Countless times. The problem is, she’s the only person other than Drake I trust to just give me what I need.