Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 34282 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34282 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
“That’s what me and your sister need to work out. Plannin’ on takin’ you with me. You good with that?”
“Will Brick be going too?”
“He’s my vice president. He goes where I go.”
“Then I guess it’s OK if we go with you.”
“You like Brick, huh?” Sting grinned. I got the feeling he was very pleased with Jerrica. “You know he’s not the only one who can protect you. Right? I’m pretty handy myself.”
“Yeah, but he’s much bigger’n you. So he has to be better.” I could tell Jerrica was only half joking. Brick made her feel safe like Sting made me feel like he could fix anything. Sting had brought Jerrica back to me. And the other girls I hadn’t even known were missing. He’d never intended to leave them or Jerrica. He wasn’t willing to risk their lives. So he found an alternate way of doing things.
“That he is, honey. That he is. So, you good for the night?”
“I’ll be here with you and Clover.” Jezebel smiled at the two girls. “We can build a blanket fort if you like.”
“That would be fun.” Jerrica grinned at Clover, and the girl nodded eagerly.
“Good. If you need Iris, just tell Jezebel, and she’ll send someone after her. We’ll be in the compound. We’re not leaving. We need to talk.”
Jerrica didn’t need any other convincing. While she probably had some pretty rough days and nights ahead, for now she was content. Whatever had happened when Brick rescued her, he’d made an impression. If it put her mind at ease, I was thankful they’d made a connection.
“Come on, little hellcat,” Sting said, tugging my hand so I had to follow him. We’ve got a long night ahead of us.”
Now, why did that simple statement send thrills through me?
Chapter Six
Sting
Having Iris in my room was more satisfying than I could have imagined. No, it wasn’t really my room, but it was the space I’d been living in for the last three months. She eyed me warily, like she knew I was ready to pounce on her.
“Are you afraid of me, Iris?”
She shook her head. “No.”
“Good. I see no sense in dragging out this part of the conversation. I want you and Jerrica to come with me back to Evansville. I’ll get Wrath to make your adoption of Jerrica happen now instead of waiting on the state of Florida to make a decision.”
Her lips parted. “You can do that?”
I shrugged. “Ain’t my territory, but Wrath’s a damned good lawyer. Besides that, he has Shotgun and Esther working with him. They can file the proper documents and get it pushed through in record time.”
“As long as Jerrica comes with me, I don’t care where we live. I need to be able to get a job to support us.”
“Don’t worry about that either. I’ll take care of both of you. The club takes care of its own.”
“The club. Your club?”
“Iron Tzars. Yes. I came here for advice from my father, Warlock. He was president of Iron Tzars until a month ago. I hadn’t been here long when you came to Hope for help. El Diablo asked for our help with this. It’s what we do. Shut down human trafficking rings when we find them.”
“They have a lot of that in Indiana?”
“Not what I’d call a lot, but more than you’d think. We’re not so naive to think we’ve shut them all down in the area, but we do what we can. They needed to find Jerrica fast. We did the best we could. Still took us three months.”
“I might never have found her if you hadn’t come along. Thank you, by the way. I’m sorry I doubted you.”
“Which brings me to another part of the discussion. You’re in trouble, little hellcat.”
She took a step back, eyeing me with caution. “Trouble?”
“Don’t act like you don’t know what I mean. I promised you a spanking for running off on your own. I think it’s time for me to follow through.”
Iris tilted her head, managing to look both incensed and intrigued. “I’m not letting you abuse me, Sting. No matter how good you kiss.”
“You like my kisses?”
She rolled her eyes. “You know I do.”
“Before we start this, my name is Aiden Wagner. Call me whatever you’re comfortable with, but you should at least know my name.”
“Why would it matter to you if I know your name or not?”
I stepped closer to her. She didn’t back up. Instead, she rested her hands on my chest, her gaze following her touch. I waited until she looked up at me again before I answered her.
“You’re mine, Iris. Everyone in my club knows it. Everyone at Black Reign knows it. Since the moment I first saw you, I knew you were going to be mine.”
She sucked in a breath, her eyes going wide. “What does that mean?” Her whispered question was followed by a shiver through her body. Her fingers clutched at my chest, and sweat glistened on her upper lip and forehead. Her pupils dilated, and she wet her lips, her gaze dropping to mine.