Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 35194 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 176(@200wpm)___ 141(@250wpm)___ 117(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35194 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 176(@200wpm)___ 141(@250wpm)___ 117(@300wpm)
“Apple jumped in front of me, you know. Shoved me out of the way. He was supposed to kill me. Not hurt Apple.”
“Apple gets it. I guarantee you, if the same situation happened again, she’d still throw herself into the battle. Would you do any less for her? Or Gina? Or any of the children?”
“No.” My answer was no more than a whisper. “Everyone here has been so good to me. I’ve never known caring like this from anyone other than my mother. I’d protect everyone here with my life. They deserve no less.”
He nodded his head in approval. “Good. Now. Let’s go see Apple and make a fuss over her.”
Chapter Thirteen
Ringo
Apple was understandably shaken. She’d tried to adopt the personality of her sister, but Apple was gentle where Lemon was hard as granite. I wasn’t sure what had happened to send her running and for her to try to change her personality, but this was the woman I’d first met. She was strong, but fragile in so many ways.
“I’m sorry,” Apple said. “I didn’t mean to cause so much trouble.”
“Honey, you’re no trouble,” Bullet was saying even as he worked on her shoulder.
“You saved Calista,” Lemon said, holding Apple’s hand. She kissed her sister’s fingers, showing a rare moment of tenderness. “For that, you can be as much trouble as you want.”
“I agree,” I said as Calista and I stepped into the room. “I owe you more than I could ever repay, Apple.”
Apple’s gaze went immediately to Calista. “You’re OK?”
Calista nodded, then burst into tears. She hurried to Apple’s side and reached out to her but didn’t touch her. Instead, she pulled her hand back and looked up at Bullet.
“Will she be all right?”
“Yeah, honey. She will. Our Apple is one tough cookie.”
“I’m really not,” Apple said. She tugged her hand away from Lemon and reached out to Calista. Calista took it, holding it firmly with both of hers. “I’m so glad you weren’t hurt, Calista.” Apple looked a little lost. She was clearly in pain but doing her best to be brave about it. “We’ve got world domination to plan and stuff.”
That got a watery chuckle from Calista. “Yeah. We do.”
Calista turned her head toward Lemon. “I’m sorry I brought this shit to your club, Lemon.”
Lemon waved her off. “Even if you did, I’m not sorry. If we hadn’t gotten rid of Redwood now, he might have done worse later.” She gripped Calista’s shoulder. “You did exactly what you were supposed to do. I won’t hear any more about it.”
“Where’s Rocket, Lemon?”
“With Crush and Byte. They’ve gone to get this Borris Illivitch shithead.” Lemon’s phone buzzed and she pulled it from her back pocket, checking the message she’d gotten. She gave a derisive snort before putting it back. “‘Bout fuckin’ time.”
“They found him?” Apple looked up at her sister, a hopeful look on her face.
“No. But reinforcements are coming. God have mercy on Illivitch’s soul. Because your man will have none.”
Apple looked confused. “My… what?”
Lemon shrugged. “Deacon is on the way. And if he doesn’t make things right with you, after he finds and kills Illivitch, I’ll kill him. Might anyway. So either way, it’s a one-way trip for him and he knows it.”
“Lemon! What did you do?”
“Nothing you need to be concerned about. Just get better. That’s your one job.” She reached down and squeezed Apple’s shoulder. “Now. Bullet, does she need to go to the hospital?”
Bullet shook his head. “I want to take her to my clinic in town for an X-ray, but I think she’s fine.” He reached over to a small, curved basin sitting on the table beside the bed where he worked on Apple. He pulled out the bullet he’d obviously removed from Apple’s chest before he stitched her up. “Souvenir.”
Lemon took it from Bullet before Apple could.
“That’s mine, Lemon! Give it back!”
“You’ll get it back. I’m having it made into a necklace for you. It’ll be a sign that you’re a total badass, sis.” Lemon grinned wickedly. “You’ll thank me later.”
“Somehow, I doubt that,” Apple muttered. “Anyway, I’m tired of trying to be like you. It’s too much work. I want to rest and be pampered and have people wait on me hand and foot.” She pouted prettily, but I could see the vulnerability in her eyes.
“Sounds like a plan to me.” Rocket entered the room with a kind smile for Apple. “All the women are gathered in your house waiting for you. They’ll have everything ready to spoil you by the time you get there. Even got a couple of the brothers volunteering to stay with you until this fuckin’ mess is cleaned up.”
Apple nodded. “All right,” she said in a soft voice.
“I’ll even give you some good drugs to help with the pain,” Bullet said as he finished dressing her wound.