Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 62710 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 314(@200wpm)___ 251(@250wpm)___ 209(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62710 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 314(@200wpm)___ 251(@250wpm)___ 209(@300wpm)
“I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t urgent,” I say, to Mex this time. “Please.”
Mex pushes off the bar, his eyes scanning over me. “I’ll go speak to him.”
I nod, stepping back and watching as every biker in the club has their eyes on me. They don’t trust me, and I can’t say I blame them. I wouldn’t trust me either. But standing in a room with them, their hard stares hitting me from all angles, is more than a little uncomfortable.
Needing an escape, I move to the quietest corner of the room and wait.
I wait and hope Western hears me out.
Either way, I’m not leaving until he does.
Pushing back any doubt, I bring my confidence forward.
It’s the only thing that’ll save me now.
6
Standing in front of Colt, Western, and Fury, I find it hard to gather my words. I need to say this right the first time, because if I don’t, I’m not going to convince them and then I’m in the kind of hot water I won’t be able to escape from. Taking a breath, not too deep because it hurts, I meet Colt’s eyes, unable to look into the eyes of the man who utterly tore my heart out only days ago.
“I know you don’t trust me, and I understand why, but I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think you needed to be part of what is going on outside of these club walls. I’m in danger, and that danger isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. I want your help. I want your protection. I’m begging for you to hear me out.”
“You got some nerve ...” Colt begins, but I cut him off.
“I have a police officer who wants me to get information about you in return for my protection. I also have Bill Whart, who brought me here tonight, telling me that I’m dead unless I bring him information. That’s two lots of people asking me to betray your club for my life. I could have done that, believe me, part of me wanted to, but I’m not. I’m here instead, because I think we can work together to benefit all of us.”
The three men glance at one another, and I know I’ve sparked their interest.
“What cop?” Colt growls.
“Ryan,” I answer, my voice unwavering. “He offered me protection for information.”
Colt’s eyes flash, and he looks to Western, who looks more than a little furious.
Clearly they know exactly who I’m talking about, and they’re not happy about that fact.
“Whart brought you here?” Fury asks, his eyes scanning over me, as if he’s automatically looking for injury.
“Yes. He told me if I didn’t get him information, he’d kill me. So, as you can imagine, I’m not in a great position. Which is why I’m here. I think we have the chance to take control over this situation. Both of them want information, and you now have a choice on what kind of information you give them. You can make up whatever you want, and lead them down whatever road you choose, through me. All I ask, is that you protect me until this is over. When it is, you’ll never see me again.”
Silence.
I hold my breath, scared that if they say no, I’ll have no way out. They know now that I’m being asked to betray them, which means if they don’t agree to help, there is little I can do moving forward. They’ll never let me through these gates again, because they’ll know what I’m here for. I hope I’ve made the right choice in deciding to come to them.
“You want the club’s protection after what you did?” Fury asks, his voice less harsh than the other two, but he’s still making it very clear he doesn’t trust me.
“Yes,” I say, “because regardless of what you believe, I never wanted to hurt anyone in this club. I asked for that story to be thrown out, and someone went behind my back, which is another thing I’m having to deal with. I can’t live like this. I can help you, I’ll do whatever you ask, but they need to believe I’m betraying you otherwise my life is no longer in my own hands.”
Even saying those words makes my stomach twist with fear.
I don’t want to die.
I don’t want to be hurt any further.
I just want this to go away.
The three men look at each other, and then back to me.
It’s Western who makes the call which surprises me, because I thought for certain he would be the one to fight back.
“Done.”
I flinch, mostly from shock.
I didn’t think it would be that easy.
I thought I’d have to plead my case a whole lot harder.
Whatever Bill and Ryan want from the club is enough for them to agree to help me. It must be good, and I’m more than a little intrigued to find out just what’s happening behind closed doors. I have no plans on betraying them, but I sure as hell am going to find out what is going on in this town. With the protection of the club, I can do that.