Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 76812 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76812 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
We're leaving early enough that the hotel lobby isn't very busy, but we're heading right into the Christmas holidays, and by the time we come back this afternoon, we'll have a different plan to help account for the influx of people here.
When the elevator doors open, Kincaid and Shadow step off in front of Brielle, and I can only imagine what it looks like to anyone watching.
I hate the sound of phones being pulled out and camera clicks. More than likely these people have no idea who she is, but they don't want to miss a chance at a celebrity sighting. They can do the research later to discover that rather than being a pop princess or someone in the entertainment industry, she's the stepdaughter of a vile man.
Every criminal in a hundred-mile radius will consider her a snitch. They won't even know and could possibly hate Nathan Adair, but anyone who has ever done something outside of the law will want to hurt her. It makes me hate the entire world right now.
A man walks up, and I know from the look of him that he's a fucking tourist, but when he steps in my path, phone up in front of his face to snap a picture, I shove him out of the way with more force than necessary.
He grumbles as he has to chase after his phone as it spins on the floor away from him.
"Asshole," I grumble, knowing everyone can hear me because of our connected mics.
Being in front also means I don't get to ride in the same SUV with her, and it kills me.
I nod at Deacon Black, owner of Blackbridge Security, as he and several of his men stand beside the row of dark SUVs.
Only half of Cerberus came to Ohio. The other half is back in New Mexico protecting the clubhouse where Kincaid ordered everyone to stay until we got back. I know it isn't the first time that this has happened, but knowing we're protecting Brielle from someone who has a history of going after families makes my skin crawl. It also makes me proud to be a part of this organization because a lot of people would've weighed their pros and cons and backed out. Kincaid isn't the type of man that will leave someone without help, but he's also responsible for so many people, I can't imagine it was an easy decision for him.
We don't pull away from the curb until Brielle is settled in the SUV that's two back from the one I'm in. City police escort us from the hotel and I know they were ordered to do so by the state's attorney, but their presence doesn't exactly fill me with confidence in our safety.
Brielle mentioned that coming back here would be a mistake. She said that Nathan had so many people on his payroll, but when Kincaid asked her directly for those names, she provided nothing. Nathan is so good with how he handles business even Wren with Blackbridge wasn't able to find anything that connected the crime lord with specific people in the police department.
When this trip was planned, I fully expected to be right by her side when she spoke to the state's attorney, but I know now that isn't going to happen. I'll work in whatever capacity I need to in order to keep her safe, but it still grinds my gears to watch her disappear into the prosecutor's office, leaving me standing outside.
She hasn't had a single conversation with the people inside since she came to the clubhouse, and from the lack of effort put into today on their part, it makes me wonder just how easily all of this is going to fucking fall apart. It's my girl's life they're fucking with and that makes me want to beat some fucking sense into every single one of them.
Chapter 30
Brielle
"What do you mean if?" I growl, my composure taking a hit with these people's blatant lack of concern. "A minute ago you said when."
"We aren't sure what his attorneys will request," one of the people standing in front of me says.
"I just want to know if I'm going to have to get on the stand or not," I snap.
"How can we put you on the stand when you won't even tell us anything before the hearing?" a woman says and the irritation in her voice matches my own.
"I told you when I first got here that I don't know anything. I don't understand why I'm here to begin with. I told Detective Greene last year that I didn't have any proof about what Nathan and Xan were doing."
"Have you recently spoken with Detective Greene?" a third attorney asks me, his eyes narrowing.
"She's missing," I say. "And before you try and blame me for that, he told me she was."