Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 88080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88080 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 440(@200wpm)___ 352(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Roan’s expression is murderous. “I told them you have a job lined out at a restaurant in town. One your parole board wants you working at. But apparently they don’t give a shit.”
Terrence and Cal glower at Renaldo and Juno. The air is thick with tension. Over me. And my motherfucking girl is on the other side of that door. Worry over her clouds my every thought.
“What’re they gonna pay you over there, Jordy?” Renaldo asks. “Minimum wage? So you can wash fuckin’ dishes? Come on, man. You know where the real money is.”
Juno nods, grinning at me. “Same work as before, but we’re growing. The Ramirezes and the Martinezes are business partners now.”
I grit my teeth and grunt at him.
“Like Romeo and Juliet, man,” Renaldo says with a laugh. “Your side and mine haven’t exactly been friends, but we’re married now, bitch.”
My brow lifts and Juno snorts.
“We’re not fuckin’ homos,” Juno says, shaking his head. “It’s figurative. This shit we’re doing—the money we’re making—it’s fucking romantic.”
“They both died in the end,” I remind them, pleased with the fact I remember something from high school.
Renaldo’s gaze darkens. “Not this time.”
“They’ll lock my ass back up if I violate my parole,” I say through clenched teeth. “I can’t chop cars for you, man.”
“Naw,” Renaldo growls. “I need you keeping eyes on my brother. Make sure no one’s giving him any shit. He’s just a kid.”
I scrub my palm down my face. “I’m not exactly your brother’s biggest fan.”
“Kayden doesn’t get a choice in the matter,” Renaldo growls. “I need someone I can trust keeping tabs on him and making sure he doesn’t get his ass capped. You feel me, man?”
“Yeah, I feel you.” I meet his hard stare. “And if I say no?”
He cracks his neck and Juno scowls.
“You won’t,” Renaldo spits out. His eyes drift to the Hoodlums. “Because if it’s not you, it’s one of them. I’d rather it be you, but I’ll recruit any one of these guys. Even the blond one that pussed out and went inside.”
Yeah fucking right.
The rat wouldn’t last a second working for Renaldo.
“Jordy,” Roan rumbles in warning.
Ignoring him, I nod at Renaldo. “I’ll keep an eye on him when I can, but I’m not his goddamn babysitter. I have shit I have to do to keep my ass from getting locked up. If he needs a babysitter, then you need to stop giving his ass shit to do.”
Renaldo’s eyes flare with rage, but he nods. “Fair enough. You’re on call, though. He’s to text you when he’s doing any big deals. I want you there. Eyes the fuck on him. Understood?”
“It’s not like I have much of a choice,” I spit out. Because if it’s not me, it’s them, and I refuse to let my friends get pulled into Renaldo’s bullshit.
His grin is wolfish. “I always knew you were smart.”
“Are we through here, ’cause I want to get the hell out of here and shower?”
Renaldo pins me with a hard stare. “Yeah, kid, we’re through. For now.”
They head back for Renaldo’s suped up Tahoe, taking the tension with them. It isn’t until they start the engine and drive off that Roan lays into me.
“What the actual fuck, man?” he roars, shoving me.
I get in his face so our noses are touching. “You know what the fuck.”
Panic flashes in his amber eyes. “Please don’t alienate yourself again. Please.”
“Roan…” I close my eyes, resting my forehead on his. “I just…I’ll do anything if it means keeping them away from you and Roux.”
Roan grips my shoulders, squeezing before he pulls me to him for a fierce hug. “We do this together, brother.”
“We can’t.”
“We. Can. Just… Just give me time to work some things out.” He releases me and frowns at me. “I want updates on everything he makes you do. We’re brothers. Do not cut me off again to try and protect me. I can’t deal with this shit again. You fucking include me and we figure it out together.”
My chest aches at the prospect of letting him into this fucked up world I’m still attached to. “Roan, I don’t know—”
“That’s right,” he growls. “You don’t know.”
“We could kill them,” Terrence suggests like he’s recommending his favorite pie at the diner. No big deal. “Bury them here on the campgrounds. No one will ever find them.”
Tempting.
Hollis steps over to us, no longer in the cabin. “It’s amazing you Hoodlums lasted this long without my help. Too much brawn and not enough brains.”
Roan laughs. “Watch your mouth, rat.”
“Not today, Satan.” Hollis smirks. “I have an idea.”
“On where to bury the bodies?” Terrence asks, perking up.
“Less brutal, but still effective,” Hollis says. “I need to make a call, though. Get me what you can on Renaldo.”
I gape at Hollis, shocked as hell. “Who is this guy?”
“My husband,” Roan says with a cheesy-ass grin. “I taught him everything he knows.”