Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 80902 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80902 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
“Is that a fucking armored car?” Chef, old-timer and bar-minder, fires his shotgun through one of the windows. Jewel is kneeling next to him, handing him shells as he needs them.
Eagle-eye himself fires a big old hand cannon, and having only one working eye doesn't seem to hamper him none, given the screams that follow each time he pulls the trigger.
This is a fucking warzone.
But Shel and I keep going, staying low and running for the back door, where the homes and utility buildings are. We burst outside, only to jump right back in as something whines through the air, only inches from my face.
It slams into the storage shed on the other side of the shooting range and blows up in a fireball. The heat washes over us like we just stepped into a fucking sauna. Was that a fucking RPG?
“Jesus Christ! They're fucking everywhere.” We can barely hear each other over the constant gunfire and explosions. I peek out through the door, leading with my gun, then fire two shots. I don't think I get the guy, but now he's more worried about cover than shooting back, at least for a few moments.
“Sledge, we have to get there.” Shel looks ready to charge out, with or without me. Fuck, never get between a mother and her baby. “You said the club was safe.”
“I said there was nowhere safer. Fuck. We can argue later. First we have to get to the shelter, and Mia's gonna be fine, okay? Okay? All the old ladies here know the drill.”
She swallows hard, then nods. “What do we do?”
“See the stack of tires? On three, we roll out to them. I'll go first in case I have to draw fire, but be really fucking close behind.”
She nods, scared shitless. Fuck, I'm not eager to do this either, but we can't just fucking stay here.
“Okay. Let's fucking do this. On three.” I nod, wait a second, and then count down, “Three!”
We roll out, covering as much space as we can quickly. A bullet pings off something nearby, but we make it behind the tires with no extra holes in our bodies. I pop up, aim, find a guy I don't recognize, and put two shots in him. His fault for being caught out in the open. Did he think he got us?
“Shit,” Shel hisses, but she's with me. She's a tough girl.
“Okay, see that car? When I say go, I'll cover you while you run to hide behind it. Stay behind the engine, okay?” Fuck, I shouldn't even have her out here, but where the hell would I send her that's safer than with me?
“O—okay.”
“Go!”
She runs, keeping low, while I scan with my gun out. We're clear, for now. A moment later, I follow, and then we're both behind Alpha's old junker. He’s been meaning to get rid of it for a while, but now I’m glad he hasn’t gotten around to it.
From here we have a better view. Fuck, Emily's house is missing part of the roof and it's burning. That's real bad, but nothing we can do anything about right now. What's worse, in front of the shelter, there’s a vehicle parked, kinda like a low slung SUV and armored to hell. That’s not one of ours. And while the shelter is a concrete and metal bunker, but that doesn't do much good when the fucking front door is blown open.
Motherfucker.
“Shel, keep your head cool, okay. We're gonna handle this.”
“She's my everything, Sledge.” Her voice is right on the edge of full on panic. Fuck, I don't blame her, but she has to keep it together.
“I know. I'm gonna fix this.” Or die trying.
A head pops up behind the armored vehicle, looking in our direction. The sun glints in metal.
Shit. “Down!” His gun and mine go off at the same time, but I'm the only one who hits. The guy's scream is cut short and then he falls out of sight. “Stay here.” Then I charge, leapfrogging from cover to cover as I get close.
Something's going on up there.
“And if any of you fuckers move, I'm gonna paint the wall with your blood. I don't wanna ice women and kids, but I'm not gonna back down.”
A high pitched voice screams, and it's awfully familiar.
“Mia!” sounds from behind me.
Yeah, I fucking thought so. “Stay back, Shel!”
Then I move.
Just as I come around the corner, I find two Sons guarding the door. One sees and fires. I throw myself back behind the corner, then return it, taking one of them down. He lets out a quiet grunt and drops to the ground. I know the second one’s waiting for me, though.
I yell to whoever’s gone inside, “Drop your fucking weapons. You'll never make it outta here alive. We're already cleaning you out up front.” At least I hope that's fucking true.