Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 33157 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 166(@200wpm)___ 133(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33157 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 166(@200wpm)___ 133(@250wpm)___ 111(@300wpm)
“So you took out one house in Mexico?”
“Three,” Deacon said. “The first one when we rescued Morgue’s old lady. Then I came back for two more.” He shook his head. “But that’s just the tip of the fuckin’ iceberg. I’m under no illusions we’re gonna shut down this highway completely. It’s too widespread with too many independent buyers. I’m just trying to get the ones we know about or find as we go. Sting doesn’t want this shit in his territory and I’m sure you don’t either.
“Anyway, I was compromised. I contacted Sting and told him the situation. He wasn’t happy but ordered me home rather than transferring me to another chapter. We had no intention of leaving any of those fuckers alive anyway, so, even though there was danger as long as they were alive, we knew they wouldn’t be alive long. Unfortunately, things got hot fast. They got out of hand and…” He held out his hands to his sides. “Here we are.”
“What’s your next move?” Rocket’s question was more of a demand.
“Just waiting for Wylde to find the two people I’m looking for. Supposed to be in this area. If I can find them, I can shake loose more of this network.”
“He got Byte and Crush lookin’ too?”
“Yeah. I think so. At least, they knew what we were working on with Illivitch. Can’t imagine Wylde not keeping them in the loop if that’s what you and Sting agreed to.”
Rocket gave Deacon a crisp nod. “Good. I suggest you get some rest. Sounds like you’re gonna be busy for a while. Who’re they looking for?”
“Guy named Martin Calhoun.”
Lemon straightened. “Olivia’s stepdad?”
Deacon’s head whipped in my direction, his gaze fixing on me. “You know this guy?”
“He forced Olivia to agree to spy on us.” Lemon looked bored but I knew she was anything but. “He was going to give Olivia to his wealthy clients as a sex toy. Little ‘some some‘ for them to enjoy. You know. For a price. Guy’s a billionaire. Super wealthy.” She glanced at Rocket. “Didn’t I hear something about him selling and trading young women and men in a trafficking ring?” I had to suppress a shiver. The thought was repulsive, and I hoped the bastard rotted in hell whenever they found him.
“Christ.” Deacon dug his thumb and finger into his eyes. “I didn’t realize how hard this mess had touched you guys.”
“If you’re after that son of a bitch, we’re goin’ with you.” Rocket’s tone brooked no argument, but Deacon was shaking his head, a stubborn, determined look on his face.
“I work alone, Rocket. It’s the way I’m built.”
“You worked OK with Falcon.”
“Falcon didn’t work with me. He stood by, let me do my shit, then followed me out.”
“This is still our territory.”
“We ain’t found him yet, Rocket. He might not be in your territory when we do.”
“Crush and Byte have been driving them this way for the past couple of weeks.”
“And your guys didn’t think to say anything to Wylde?” Irritation colored Deacon’s voice as he pulled out his phone, shooting off a text. Probably to Wylde.
“Can’t answer to that. Obviously my tech guys didn’t share it with me either until they briefed me just before this meeting.” Rocket shook his head, obviously not happy to have been kept in the dark, but not complaining more.
“Probably,” Lemon drawled, “because it didn’t matter if you both knew until the fucker was found. Now, can we move on?”
Rocket shot her an irritated look. “You know, sometimes, I wish you were less of a smartass, Lemon.”
She raised an eyebrow at her man. “Better a smartass than a dumbass.”
“Christ,” Brick chuckled. “Keep going, Rocket. Me and the brothers’ll grab some popcorn and beer. Be one helluva time.”
“You’re an asshole, Brick.”
Brick just grinned.
“Go get some rest, Deacon. We’ll work together on this. If you prefer to work with Falcon, since it seems you two already have an understanding, I can arrange for him to be the one with you. That way someone has your back to call in reinforcements if you run into something you can’t handle. I’ll also have someone there to look after Grim Road’s interests.”
Deacon shook his head, but I could tell he saw merit in the idea. “I don’t know. If I have a target on my back, do you really want to risk being collateral damage?”
I sucked in a breath, unable to suppress the surge of fear. For Deacon. Which pissed me all the way off, but I was too busy trying to process the first to worry about the second. “No one’s gonna be collateral damage, and no one’s gonna get to you, Deacon.” I stomped over to him. “You will take as many people as Rocket says you need, and you won’t fucking argue about it.”
He tilted his head at me, narrowing his gaze. “You don’t tell me how to do a job, Apple.” His voice was hard and the look in his eye held a warning I knew better than to go against. Deacon had never spoken to me in that tone of voice before. He’d also never treated me with anything but kindness and tenderness. Right up until the day he’d broken my heart. Remembering that day fueled my anger, stoking it to a fever pitch.