Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 34282 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34282 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
I stood there, embracing both my charges. Roman pulled up in a Bronco Sport that was smaller than the one we’d used at the warehouse and a different color. I was glad to see he’d brought something for the girls to ride in, but I’d be damned if he was going to be the one to take them back.
When he got out of the vehicle, I jerked my head in the direction of my bike. Roman nodded before taking charge of it. Normally, I’d never trust someone other than perhaps Brick with my bike, but there were more important things to consider. I wasn’t leaving Iris and Jerrica with anyone. I was their protector. I’d be the one to see them back to the compound safely.
Iris and Jerrica clung together in the back seat. I noticed Iris had put her seat belt on and had pulled Jerrica’s around her hips. The younger girl clung to Iris as best she could, her slender shoulders shaking as she cried silently. Several times during the ride, I met Iris’s gaze in the rear-view mirror. Yeah, she was anxious. She kept rubbing her sister’s back over and over, murmuring softly to her. Anyone could see they loved and needed each other.
The Bronco was flanked by the three bikes. The truck was farther back. Wrath was on standby in case we had any law trouble, but the farther away we could keep the girls from anything about to happen with these fuckers the better.
We rolled into the compound and didn’t slow down. The prospects had the gate open and shut it the second we were inside. Rycks and Samson directed us to a garage at the back of the property. Iris still held Jerrica securely but looked around as we went deeper into the property.
The Black Reign road captain, Mechanic, promptly pulled every vehicle -- bike or cage -- into a garage, and several men descended on them with water and cleaning solution and lots of rags. By the time the man was finished with them, there wouldn’t be a trace of anything that could point to us, the girls, or our cargo. They’d be clean as a virgin’s honey pot.
“Nice work.” Rycks held out his hand, and I took it. “You’re welcome to be in on the interrogation if you want. This was your operation. We’ll handle the cleanup. You go as far as you want. After that, El Diablo will finish with anything left of them.”
“I got what I came for.” I nodded in the direction of Iris and Jerrica. “How are the others?”
“Skittish. Though, the one called Daisy is demanding to talk with Atlas. She said she’s not leaving Iris no matter how much she likes it here.”
“If they want to come with us, I’m good with it. Though, I’m gonna need some legal way to keep them. I won’t have social services or some shit hunting them down and trying to put them back into a group home. They don’t need the stress, and I don’t want Iron Tzars under that much scrutiny.”
“You willing to be their guardians? Because Shotgun and Wrath can make a legal adoption happen.”
“I’ll talk with Iris. If she’s good with it, I am. Ain’t got another patched member at Iron Tzars who’s married, though I can still see if a couple of them are willing to be guardians. Two of the older guys have kids around the same age, other than Clover. She’s a little young.”
“Talk to Iris. I can have them set something up ready to be executed after you get back to Evansville, but it would be better if we had it straightened out before you leave. No chance of accidents that way.”
“Understood.” I needed to get Iris and Jerrica back to their room so Iris could get the younger girl to sleep. Then she and I had some things to discuss. Not the least of which was her not trusting me and running off on her own. I fully intended to punish her for that.
“Lyric has the ol’ ladies together. They’ve got the other girls with our daughters and a few puppies.” Rycks grinned. “Nothing puts a female at ease like a puppy.”
“I’ll have Iris take Jerrica to them after Fury and Noelle check her out. The other girls get checked over?”
“Yeah. Surprisingly, other than some bruises and being a bit on the malnourished side, they’re in pretty good health. Noelle said there was no evidence of sexual assault, and all three of them deny it.”
“Thank God for small favors.” I sighed. “I can’t wait to get my hands on those motherfuckers.”
“We’re taking them to an interrogation room.” He nodded in the direction of a wooded swamp area off in the distance. “Basement room. It’s damp and not very comfortable, but it’s also damned near impossible to find unless you know what you’re looking for. Chief and Loki are waiting for them.”