Total pages in book: 168
Estimated words: 153571 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 768(@200wpm)___ 614(@250wpm)___ 512(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 153571 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 768(@200wpm)___ 614(@250wpm)___ 512(@300wpm)
The thought destroys me. He's going after them, and there isn't a fucking thing I can do to stop him.
Not unless…Fuck. Not unless he's willing to trade my girls for his.
This is fucking wrong on every level. Using her as collateral goes against everything I've ever been taught. I'm not Guerrero. I don't take hostages or trade lives. I'm a fucking cop.
And that's exactly what Guerrero expects me to be. He thinks he's untouchable because I'm bound by law and my own fucking sense of duty and obligation. He came for Mila because he thought I was soft, that I'd sit back and let the law handle it. That's still what he expects.
Too fucking bad for him. The rulebook went out the goddamn window the minute he came for Mila. I'm writing my own this time, and I'll do whatever the fuck I have to do to ensure Mila and my kids are safe.
"Get dressed," I bark at Selena, trying to breathe through the rage flooding through me with each beat of my heart. "You're coming with us, and we're leaving. Now."
She opens her mouth and then closes it. Fear flashes through her eyes. I think she knows exactly how far I'm willing to go to protect my family. But she doesn't argue, plead, or beg for me to let her go. Instead, she takes a deep breath and nods before spinning around and hurrying into the house. She moves quickly, her head held high.
"You good, brother?" Brady asks me quietly when she starts up the stairs.
"No. Fuck no." I grip my hair and tug hard, letting the dull pain ground me. "If anything happens to them…if he touches them…" I can't finish the sentence. I can't even finish the fucking thought.
"We won't let that happen," Brady promises me, murder in his eyes. "We'll kill the son of a bitch first."
God help the motherfucker when I find him, because that's exactly what I plan to do. Slowly and painfully.
Chapter Thirty
Mila
"Ms. McPherson, I don't think this is a good idea," Officer Carter growls, his lips tipped down into a frown as he glowers at her from his post in front of my hotel room door. His jaw pulses with tension, and his green eyes are unyielding. With his arms crossed over his broad chest, he's every bit as intimidating as Roman.
Unfortunately, Tahani isn't easily intimidated.
"Why not?" she asks, arching a brow. She's standing tall, her arms crossed over her chest like she's ready to go to war with him to get her way if that's what it takes. Like Roman, she's relentless when she wants something, and nothing stands in her way, not even the two giants with guns blocking our only way out of the room. "My house is safer for her than a hotel full of strangers. It's gated and has a security system."
Officer Carter glances at Officer Benson, who shrugs one shoulder like he doesn't care one way or another if we stay here or go to Tahani's. He seems more laid-back than his partner, more willing to go with the flow. I have a feeling that Officer Carter intends to follow Roman's instructions to the letter. He's rigid and immovable.
"You know it's true," Tahani wheedles when Carter still doesn't look convinced.
His frown deepens, his green eyes narrowing.
"Look at her, Officer." Tahani throws her hand out to indicate me. "She's exhausted. She doesn't want to fall asleep in a hotel full of people she doesn't know. After what she went through, can you blame her?"
She's not wrong about that. I can’t relax here—my mind won’t stop racing long enough to let me. But I’m so fucking tired. The entire world is a blur and my knees tremble. I feel like I'm going to fall over. But I don't want to get Officer Carter or Officer Benson in trouble for breaking the rules.
"It's okay," I tell Tahani, my voice soft. "I'll be fine here."
Officer Carter’s gaze shifts from her to me, his resolve cracking when his eyes land on me. His expression softens incrementally. He may be a hard-ass cop, but I think he’s a big teddy bear underneath it. "We'll go."
"Thank you." Tahani beams at him, showing her teeth. She doesn’t like him much.
"Thank you," I whisper.
Carter jerks his head in acknowledgment, breaks my gaze, and glances at Tahani again. His expression firms as soon as his eyes land on her. I don't think he appreciated her trying to steamroll over him. Not that it’ll stop her. Tahani steamrolls everyone. It’s her way.
"We're not stopping on the way," he tells her.
"Fine, but she's riding with me."
Carter opens his mouth to argue, but Benson cuts him off.
"Let's just fucking go," he mutters, sounding bored by the entire argument. "You can ride with them, and I'll follow behind."
Tahani smiles, triumph flashing in her hazel eyes. But she doesn't antagonize Carter any further. Instead, she grabs my arm and practically drags me out of the room.