Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 27058 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 135(@200wpm)___ 108(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27058 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 135(@200wpm)___ 108(@250wpm)___ 90(@300wpm)
An idea occurred to me, and I grunted in disgust, “Try Laura Thomas.” The sick bastard probably thought he was being clever.
“R-room-um 12.”
Storm stepped inside and slammed a fat roll of cash onto the counter. “We were never here. And if word gets out that we were, you’ll pay that back with your fingers, toes, and teeth. Is that clear?”
The kid nodded vigorously and tentatively reached out to grab the money. Once he had it in his grasp, he shoved it in his pocket and ran out the back door, shouting, “I quit!”
I rolled my eyes and followed Viper outside. We relayed the room information to the boys, then a few set up a perimeter while the rest of us quietly approached Kenny’s room.
“I don’t want to spook him with Corinne in there,” I murmured. “Who the fuck knows what he’d do if he felt threatened and was still alone with her?”
Ice stood in the shadows by the front window, looking through the crack in the curtains. Then he melted into the darkness before appearing at my side a second later. “He’s in the bathroom.”
The disgust in his voice made me cringe. My guess was Kenny was either shooting up or beating off. I really hoped it was the former since my baby girl was in the room with him. Not that I wanted her around drugs, but at least if he was high, he’d be an easier mark.
“Corinne?”
“She’s still asleep in her carrier. He set her on the table in front of the window.” He glanced back at the pane thoughtfully, then looked at me and muttered, “It’s unlocked.”
“Does it open far enough?” I asked, picking up on his plan.
He nodded and reached into his back pocket, pulling out a multi-tool, then disappeared and reappeared in his former spot.
Slowly, testing for any sound if the metal was rusted or something like that, Ice began to ease the window open. Which wasn’t easy from the outside, but he was surprisingly adept at breaking and entering for a loaded, former pro hockey player.
Kneeling in front of the door, I used a lock pick on the knob until I heard the click of the lock disengaging.
I stood back up and turned to see how far Ice had gotten. He was using his knife to slice through the screen, which made it easier for him to push the window open even more.
Viper stood behind him and suddenly put his hand on Ice’s shoulder. Then he looked at me and cocked his head toward the room.
Shit. Kenny must have come out of the bathroom.
Ice placed his hands on the windowsill and leaned forward, testing the width with his broad shoulders. Then he eased the curtain to the center, as far as he dared before giving Viper a chin lift.
Viper held up his hand, showing three fingers. He lowered one, then two, and when he tucked the third into his fist, I kicked the door in just as Ice reached through the open window and grabbed Corinne, quickly pulling her out.
“What the fuck?” Kenny shouted as his hand reached behind his back.
“Try it and the first thing I shoot will be your dick. Small target, I know, but I never miss.”
Kenny froze and contemplated his circumstances for a second before lifting his hands into the air.
Viper stalked over and yanked the gun from Kenny’s pants, then removed the clip and emptied the chamber before tossing it on the bed.
I briefly tilted my gun toward the door. “Move,” I snarled.
“Where are you taking me?” Kenny whined. He sniffed and glared at me with watery eyes.
“To our guesthouse,” I grunted as he walked past me.
The motherfucker froze and looked at me over his shoulder, his face awash with fear.
“Heard about it, huh?”
“Call the police,” he begged. “I’ll confess everything. Just turn me over—”
I laughed harshly, without any real humor. “You really think you’re gonna get off that easy? You scared the shit outta my woman and KIDNAPPED our little girl!” I was bellowing at the top of my lungs by the time I finished, and Maverick poked his head inside the room.
“Save it for the guesthouse, brother. Let’s get the fuck outta here.”
I considered putting a bullet in Kenny’s leg, just to give myself something before I exploded, but then we’d have to carry his ass to the car, and Race would complain for days if any blood got on the carpet of his trunk.
“Move it,” I growled, poking him in the spine with the barrel of my gun.
When we stepped outside, I spotted Ice off to the side, swinging Corinne’s baby carrier from side to side.
“She started to fuss but went back to sleep when I rocked her.”
I lifted my chin in thanks, because I couldn't get any sound out of my clogged throat. Picking up the baby seat, I gazed down at my sleeping princess, and my knees nearly buckled at the rush of relief that swept through my body.