Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 76203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76203 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 381(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 254(@300wpm)
That seemed to shock him enough to silence whatever he was going to spit at me.
“Why?” he asked.
“Why what?”
“Why would you pay for me to train to be a cop when you were a criminal?” he asked.
“Because it was your dream. And because you were my brother and what you wanted mattered to me. Regardless of how you felt about me and my choices.”
It was like I’d knocked the wind out of him with that.
His mouth opened and closed a few times before he seemed to give up on saying anything.
“You can think whatever the fuck you want about me. I don’t care. But you stay the fuck away from Everleigh from here on out. Do you hear me?” I vowed, staring at his eyes for a moment, then turning and walking away.
I was about to go back inside, even though I knew I was no calmer than before, when my phone started to ring in my pocket.
Simon.
“Yeah?” I answered, sounding as tired as I suddenly felt.
“So, it’s done,” he said.
“How the fuck—“
“I’ve got my ways,” he said. “Sounds like they have the right people in custody now, right?”
“Right,” I agreed.
“I suspect your lovely brother will be dropping the charges against Everleigh and Gav by the end of the day.”
“I hope so,” I agreed.
“Is she alright?” he asked, seeming to sense something in my tone.
“Gray shot her full of drugs to make it look like an OD.”
“Hm,” he said.
“‘Hm’?” I repeated. “That’s all you have to say about that?”
“No. I could also say that he’s smarter than I would have given him credit for. It would have made her look guilty as fuck, and there would be nothing to trace back to him then. His brother would have gone away for a few decades, and he and his girlfriend would have gone on doing what they were doing.”
“You’re seriously not going to ask about Everleigh?” I asked. “After I just told you she was drugged.”
“I didn’t figure you’d be taking my call if there was something seriously going on with her,” he said, brushing it off. “I’ll send you my final bill by the end of the week,” he said. “It’s been nice working with you.”
With that, he ended the call.
“What a dick,” I said to myself, exhaling hard.
“Who?” Colter asked, making me turn to find several of the guys had shown up. Solidarity in hard times, we were good at that.
“Simon,” I said.
“Don’t imagine you get to be one of the organized crime world’s best defense attorneys by being a nice guy,” Colter reasoned. “How is Ev?”
“Price thinks she’s going to be alright. He wants to observe her for a while, though. And give her fluids.”
“Good. She’s in good hands, right?” he asked. Not a local, so he didn’t really know just how skilled Dr. Price had to be to cater to an entire town of ailments without any sort of backup.
“The best,” I said.
“What can I do?” he asked.
Suddenly, my legs felt really fucking tired.
I lowered down to sit on the top step of the Victorian house that acted as Dr. Price’s office. And home.
“I don’t know,” I admitted.
“She’s coming back to the clubhouse tonight, right?” he asked.
“Right,” I agreed. There was no question about that. I wanted her close. I was going to sit awake all night watching her, just to be safe.
“How about some sort of care package?” he suggested. “A ‘feel better’ basket or something like that. Used to throw them together for my wife all the time,” he said, but a dark look crossed his face after the admission.
Colter hadn’t been around long enough for me to claim I really knew the guy. But it had to fucking eat at his soul to know how much he’d tried in his relationship, only to have it ending with the ultimate betrayal from the two people closest to him.
“She likes that Squishmallow thing she has,” I said. “I bet she’d like a new one. Pink.”
“Alright. What else?”
“She likes… comfort shit,” I said. “Blankets and face masks and bubble bath bombs…”
“Got it. Snacks?” he asked, and I rambled off ideas. “Anything else?” he asked after jotting down notes in his phone.
“Not unless you can find a Pekingese puppy in the next few hours,” I said, shaking my head. “Thanks for this,” I said. “She’s really going to appreciate it.”
“I’m sure she’s worth all this and more,” he said, turning, and walking away.
Slash and the others came up next, wanting a breakdown of what happened from me.
“I’ll head back and make sure Raff doesn’t plan on any partying tonight. Give Everleigh a peaceful night to recover,” Slash said.
“I appreciate that,” I said, exhaling hard.
“And we’ll order in tonight,” Sway said. “Know cooking is your love language, but I think she’s gonna want you at her side tonight, not down in the kitchen.”