Total pages in book: 185
Estimated words: 191421 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 957(@200wpm)___ 766(@250wpm)___ 638(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 191421 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 957(@200wpm)___ 766(@250wpm)___ 638(@300wpm)
Poe covers my hand. “Consider it done. I’m going to get you all the information you need to track him down.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Ledger Thorne, with his long wavy hair and his glinting dark eyes, is a force of nature.
A dark, angry force of nature.
And his attention — more like aggression — is focused on another force of nature, Tempest Jackson.
If someone had told me that I’d be witnessing the fury of these two forces, say, this morning, I’d have said that they were crazy.
As it is, I’m thankful that both of them are here.
See, when Poe said that she was going to get me all the information to track Reign down, she didn’t lie. She did bring me everything, plus a companion.
Turns out, Callie’s husband Reed did know where Reign was and it wasn’t at the motel. But at a gym called Yo Mama’s So Fit, specializing in boxing. Apparently, he works out here almost every night, including tonight, and his workout buddy is Callie’s brother, Ledger Thorne.
Callie’s sister-in-law and my newly-made friend, Tempest, who lives in New York but frequently visits, overheard this and offered to help. Because this gym is located in a very secluded and poorly-lit part of Bardstown. She even came to pick me up at the usual spot in a shiny red sports car, which she drives like a maniac; I truly thought I was going to die tonight.
She is currently engaged in a showdown with Ledger, who was ordered by both Callie and Reed to look out for us. And now that I see her with him, I’m wondering if she decided to drive me over not only because of the unsafe surroundings but also because Ledger was going to be here.
Not that I’m complaining.
As I said, I’m super thankful that they decided to help me. Much like the night of The Horny Bard.
“What’s your problem, asshole?” she asks, looking up at Ledger and standing with a cocked hip. “Let us in.”
Ugh.
I totally feel her frustration.
So maybe I am complaining a little because apparently, there is a problem.
When we arrived here ten minutes ago, we noticed that the gym was closed. Before my heart could plummet though, we saw Ledger coming out of a back door, giving me a little hope that maybe the place isn’t closed after all.
But instead of letting us go in, he’s planted himself between us and that steel door, and I’m just about ready to start screaming with anger and irritation.
Listen, the fact that this is a ‘boxing’ gym is already making me feel nauseated.
Because since when does Reign box?
He’s a soccer player. He plays soccer. He kicks a muddy ball around a field. He even has a scholarship for that.
He’s not a fighter.
That’s why he had so many bruises on his face, isn’t it?
So I need Ledger Thorne to move out of the way so I can go in and put a stop to whatever Reign thinks that he is doing. And yell at him and then demand answers.
“What are you doing here?” Ledger asks Tempest instead of doing what we want him to do.
“My brother told you, didn’t he?” Tempest says, gritting her teeth. “I’m here with a friend. And she needs to see your friend. Who’s in there.”
“Your fucking brother told me that if he could’ve locked you up in a room, he would’ve. In a heart-fucking-beat. But since you know how to bust out, now somehow it’s my fucking responsibility to babysit you.” He motions at me with his jaw. “And your friend.”
Admittedly, Reed did say that.
I heard it from Poe who heard it from Callie that Tempest’s brother was frustrated beyond words. He didn’t want either Tempest or me to go anywhere near that gym. But of course, we wouldn’t listen. And if Callie and Reed’s newly born daughter Halo had a fixed sleeping or feeding schedule, he would’ve accompanied us himself. As it was, it fell to Ledger to help us.
Tempest fists her hands. “You don’t have to babysit me, okay? I’m not a child. So you’re off the hook. Just —”
“The fuck I am,” he snaps. “And the fuck you aren’t.”
Tempest sighs, glaring up at him. “Look, you want to be my brother’s little lackey and do his bidding, that’s on you. But if you think for one second —”
He steps closer, his eyes wild-looking now. “The fuck did you say to me?”
Tempest looks ready to rip him a new one too but I step in with my palms up. “Okay, let’s settle down, both of you. Listen, Ledger,” he snaps his eyes over to me and I barely suppress a flinch at how scary he looks despite my own ire, “I’m sorry for inconveniencing you tonight. And I’m really thankful that you’re here to help us, me. You’re here to help me when you probably don’t know me but I’m —”