Total pages in book: 139
Estimated words: 132892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 664(@200wpm)___ 532(@250wpm)___ 443(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 664(@200wpm)___ 532(@250wpm)___ 443(@300wpm)
“No, you just don’t think like a criminal.”
I sighed, then looked back up at him. “And you do?”
Gage held my gaze steadily.
“Remember my promise not to lie?” he asked. I nodded, feeling sick to my stomach. “I’ve committed crimes. Some of them I’d do again, given the chance. Others I’m ashamed of. But I’ve never put an innocent man in prison because he wouldn’t pay me off.”
I swallowed, feeling sick to my stomach.
“Brandon’s done that? I mean, it’s one thing to let a guilty man go, but to set someone up . . . ?”
“Yeah, seriously,” Gage said sadly. “It’s happened to men I know, and it happens more than you’d like to think. Bikers are easy targets—we scare juries. Your ex has used that in the past, at least according to my sources. Those high-profile club cases helped put him on the map. I didn’t make the connection at first. My brothers put it together for me.”
“How long have you known?”
“Not long,” he said, wrapping his arms around me, hugging me close. It felt good. Warm. Safe.
“I don’t think I’m ever getting married again,” I muttered, wishing I could just close my eyes and make it all go away. Travel back in time, go to a different college. Marry some nice guy who sold insurance for a living. “Who’d have thought he could get even worse? I mean, for real—what else is he hiding?”
Gage gave a soft laugh.
“Does it matter?” he asked. “You’ll be free of him soon. If your lawyer can’t pull it off for you, ours will. He’s a fucking shark.”
I shivered and he pulled me closer.
His phone gave a chime in his pocket. A loud one. Then it started buzzing.
“You better check that,” I said, trying to pull away. “It’s late—usually people don’t get in touch this late unless it’s an emergency.”
“Or they’re drunk,” he said wryly, reaching between us to pull the phone out of his vest pocket. “Ah fuck.”
“What’s wrong?”
“There’s a level-one fire evacuation notice,” he said. “For the whole county. Emergency alert system.”
“Oh crap,” I said, closing my eyes. “Has the fire grown?”
Using his thumb, he typed something on the phone, shaking his head. “No, looks like there’s a new one. They’re calling it a complex now, because it’s so big that the different fires are merging in some areas. They’re also asking farmers to get in touch if they have earth-moving equipment.”
I shivered.
“They must be running out of firefighters and bulldozers,” I said. “I hope Randi’s grandparents are okay.”
“I’m sure they’re fine. They’re just evacuating people to be cautious. And a level one isn’t that serious—it just means to be aware. You might want to pack a bug-out bag, just to be safe. But even if the fires keep growing, they’ll protect the town. It’s the farmers and ranchers who need to worry.”
He was probably right.
“So are you gonna go to the party with me tomorrow night?” he asked, tugging me close again. I shrugged against him.
“No,” I said, but my heart wasn’t in it. He smells too good. It’s distracting.
“Yes, Gage, I’d love to go to the party,” he corrected wryly. “Give it a try—it’s a much better answer.”
“Will Talia be there?” I asked.
“Not even she’s that stupid. With any luck she’s left town already. If not, she will soon. We’ll keep an eye out for her. You’re under my protection now.”
“Like I was at Jack’s?” I asked. “All things considered, I’d prefer not to go through that again—I’m so embarrassed. I’m still thinking about this criminal thing, too. You said your hands aren’t clean. What does that mean?”
“You know I can’t answer that,” he said.
“Do you . . . hurt . . . people?” I asked, swallowing. What I really wanted was to close my eyes and bury them in his chest. Pretend he was a nice guy like Joel.
Except Joel bailed on me when an angry biker showed up at my door.
“Sometimes,” he admitted. “But here’s something to think about. Nobody lands in my world by accident. We don’t go after civilians, it’s strictly opt in. Having said that, you fuck with us, we’ll fuck you back. Always. You have to be tough to survive, but the rewards are worth it.”
“What rewards?” I asked. “Money?”
“Money’s nice,” he said. “But it’s really about riding our bikes. Brotherhood. The Reapers are a family, and if you show up tomorrow you’ll see that for yourself. Give it a chance, Tinker.”
“I need to think about it. You should probably go.”
My brain knew it was for the best, even if my body didn’t quite agree. He patted my back, then let me go, stepping away. Our eyes met in the darkness.
“You really want me to go?” he whispered.
I shook my head, then said, “No, but you need to. I should pack a bag. Dad and I are headed to Seattle day after tomorrow anyway, and it seems like a good idea given the evacuation alert.”