Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 76365 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76365 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 305(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
I wasn’t able to stop my leg in time; River, frozen from the alarm, went crumpling down to the mat.
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
It had been so long since I’d heard that alarm that I almost forgot what it meant. The crowd did, too, because a long, tense moment played out before panic broke out.
“Cops!” someone yelled. “Assholes are on the loose!”
It was mayhem everywhere, and in the chaos to get out, people were thrown against the cage and trampled over each other. If we were caught here, it was game over for a lot of us. No one wanted a rap sheet for having fun or trying to survive. I glanced down at River, who rubbed the side of his head with a frown. We stared at each other for a moment before I held out my hand and helped him to his feet.
We shared a knowing nod before we both melted into the crowd and booked it the fuck out of there.
The crowd slammed into me as we flowed like fish on the run from sharks. I scanned the people for familiar faces but didn’t see anyone. Where the fuck was Lotto? Frankie, Ari? Had they made it out? They better have. We didn’t need any legal trouble on top of everything going on.
Eventually, the crowd dispersed enough that I was able to break free and make for a side hallway. I’d passed through here plenty of times to get to the fights but had never run out of it. After a few twists and turns, I threw open the back door and emerged at the fenced-off garbage disposal area. I scaled the fence easily and dropped onto the pavement, hurrying for where we’d left the car. Hopefully, the rest of the group was there. I didn’t want to walk home from this shitty abandoned factory without my phone, shoes, or a fucking shirt.
I didn’t even make it more than one block before a black Mercedes pulled up in front of me.
The rear tinted window rolled down and Troy Godwin smiled at me from the backseat.
I fucking knew it. That prick.
“Great fight tonight, Bones,” he complimented. “How’s your cheek?”
“What are you doing here?” I flexed my hands by my sides. Adrenaline still flowed through my veins as hot as lava. My fight with River wasn’t finished. Maybe Troy could take his damn place.
“Enjoying the show.”
“The one you set up?” I cocked an eyebrow. It was a hunch, but based on Troy’s grin, a correct one.
“Did you enjoy my schedule change?” He leaned out the window. In his hand, he held wads of cash, mostly hundreds with a few fifties thrown in there. “I certainly did. You and River put on quite a show.”
“And the show didn’t finish. Don’t know how you won a thing.”
“That’s where you’re mistaken.” He laughed and threw a few hundreds at my feet. Humiliation burned at my sore cheeks. Did he think I was some kind of dog begging for scraps? I didn’t need his fucking money. “I bet that neither of you would win.”
I blinked a few times in surprise. “You knew the cops would come?”
“Take a look around, Bones.” Troy gestured to the empty lot around him. “Do you see any cops around?”
I hadn’t exactly been paying attention. I was too busy running for it. Now that he mentioned it, the night was tranquil. No sirens, no screams. No blaring alarm or warning from inside. Which meant there weren’t any cops here in the first place.
“You set this whole thing up?” I demanded. When he nodded, I clenched my hands so tightly, the skull tattoos on them stretched like skeleton balloons. “What the fuck? Why?”
“I needed to check if my investments would be used correctly.”
I took a deep breath. Investments. He was talking about Smiley’s. There was nothing more I wanted than to deck this guy across the face and make him go crying back to mommy. But I needed to focus. Troy still hadn’t gotten back to Ari or Frankie about an offer, and if I blew it for them, I’d never forgive myself.
“And? Did you pick wisely?”
“I did.” Troy tossed the wads of cash he held into the backseat like it was chump change. “You and River will be perfect.”
Goddamnit. With the Perks’ constant bullshit and the visit to Smiley’s, I had a feeling this was coming. With Lotto’s insistence that I take a break and watch my back, I think he knew, too. But hearing it out loud made my stomach turn. River and I were about to become Troy’s favorite playthings if he got his way, and assholes like him always did. Especially when he cornered people in need and fuck me if Smiley’s wasn’t in need.
“Is that your proposal?” I demanded. “A fight between me and River?”
Troy glanced at the watch on his wrist and settled back into his seat. “Tomorrow, my office, ten AM. You, Ari, Frankie, and Lotto. Wear your best. We’re going to have a lot to discuss.”