Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Swearing inventively and creatively, I powered up my gaming gear. Maybe if I killed things online, I’d blow off some steam. Yes. That would help.
I was deep into a battle when Deacon burst through the door to my locked office. One big, booted foot landed heavily on the floor where he’d kicked it open.
I jerked off my headphones. “What the fuck, man? Knock next time!”
“Did. You didn’t fuckin’ hear. Get your shit and come with me.”
“What shit do I need to get?”
Deacon stalked in and grabbed me by my shirt. “Now, you fucker!”
I stumbled after him, swearing at him the whole way. Once outside, Deacon shoved me into the back seat of that fucking Bronco. The second Deacon climbed in the front seat, Clutch stomped on the gas and we took the fuck off.
“What the fuck? Why are we taking off outta here like our hair’s on fire?”
Deacon didn’t turn away or answer me. Clutch filled me in.
“There was a raid on Danica’s home.”
“What? A raid? What the fuck does that mean?” I got a sick feeling in my stomach. That band continually squeezing around my chest, tightening even more.
“It means,” Deacon continued, “the police got a call from someone claiming to be Apple, saying she and Lemon were being held hostage in the house by Danica. Apparently, Apple told the dispatcher Dani had stabbed Lemon and had a gun, threatening to kill the girls, then herself. She stressed that her sister had snapped or something. That this wasn’t in her character. But Lemon needed medical attention or she’d die and Apple was afraid Danica would kill both of them.”
I thought I was going to puke. “Why the fuck did you bring me here, Deacon?” My voice was barely above a whisper. This couldn’t be happening. “I’ll make it worse.” If I’d pushed Danica to this, I’d never forgive myself. Sting wouldn’t have to cull me from the Tzars. If this was my fault, I’d take myself out.
“Because, you dumb shit, Apple called me. It wasn’t her who made the fuckin’ phone call.”
“You better start makin’ sense, motherfucker,” I snarled. My head was spinning. Was this my fault? Had Danica snapped because I’d pushed her too far? But that didn’t make sense. Danica would harm herself before she harmed those girls. And if she harmed herself, the girls would definitely be harmed. So there was no way to work this out in my head.
Then something occurred to me.
“Wait a minute. Are you saying they got swatted?”
“What’s that?” Clutch asked glancing at me in the rearview mirror.
“Someone calls the police claiming to be someone else. Convinces them there is imminent danger if they don’t intervene. Then the police go in like a SWAT team, expecting heavy, dangerous resistance. It’s a prank, but anyone calling in something like this is expecting someone to get hurt.” Or killed, but I couldn’t say that. Not now. It just… stuck in my throat.
“Then, it’s looking like that’s exactly what happened,” Clutch muttered.
“Apple said the cops burst in with assault rifles. Lemon, of course, attacked the second they burst through the door. It’s a thousand wonders she didn’t get shot instead of backhanded like she did.”
“Is she OK?”
Clutch shrugged. “Fixin’ to find out.”
“Where’s Stitches? If they’re hurt, he needs to be here.” My heart was pounding. Why would anyone swat Danica or the girls? This made no fucking sense.
“He’s on the way. Was at the hospital in the middle of a shift.”
Deacon had yet to speak, but I could feel the anger and fear rolling off the man. He was really gone on Apple. I could see sweat trickling down his temple and the pulse at his neck beat like mad.
My chest felt like someone was sitting on it. My pulse raced. Sweat beaded my brow and upper lip.
“What about Dani? Was she hurt?”
Neither man spoke.
My world dropped. I couldn’t breathe. I was totally going to puke. Thankfully we pulled up outside Danica’s house and I shoved open the door to the vehicle and stumbled out.
Police cars were all over the place. Lights flashed. Cops milled about, some in tactical gear. Ambulances with red flashing lights mingled with the blue from the cops turning the place into something out of an urban warzone. I thought I saw Raven giving some dumbass hell, but all that was on the peripheral. I had to find Danica. Right fucking now.
“Danica!” I bellowed her name as I charged toward the house. A cop stepped in front of me, but I shoved him away. Two more took his place and the fight was on.
I’m not sure what happened after that. I know I got hit more than once. Then I got tazed. At one point, someone waved an ammonia capsule under my nose, and I started fighting again. Then Stitches smacked me across the face.