Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 73230 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73230 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Now I was happy he had forced me.
Especially since now I had a child in my arms, clinging to me like I was her anchor in a storm.
My leg was now throbbing, the adrenaline that was coursing through my veins earlier was now wearing off, making me aware of how much it hurt.
My head was starting to pound, and I knew I was losing a lot more blood than I should, which meant that most likely the bullet had nicked an artery.
“Mommy,” the little girl whimpered. “’Pease.”
I closed my eyes and did the last thing I ever thought I’d do again.
Prayed.
Then I got up, and ran.
The first four steps were agonizing.
The next five were beyond gut wrenching.
Then the shooting started, followed by the bellowing.
I would’ve made it to the tree I was heading for, too, had I not caught another fucking bullet in the same goddamned leg, only in my calf this time.
This time I wasn’t able to stay upright.
I went down hard, turning my body to protect the little girl that was still in my arms.
She cried out in terror as I hit the ground roughly, then bounced before coming to a stop with my head hitting a tree.
I managed to roll, shielding her body with mine, as I crawled the rest of the way behind the tree, pulled my piece from the back of my pants and moved to position my back against the tree.
And I waited.
***
Tasha
I was running.
Running so fast that I could barely feel my legs.
I normally would’ve fallen on my face from running this far, but I couldn’t afford the time to do that.
Not with Casten being in the hospital.
I’d been sitting at home, Core in the recliner and Mig on the sofa, while I graded papers at the kitchen table.
I hadn’t initially recognized the tension that was suddenly permeating the room.
Then I’d looked up when I heard the harsh, urgent whispering between Mig and Core.
I set the pen I was using to grade the papers down and stood up.
“What’s going on?” I asked softly.
Mig looked up and his lips thinned in a hard line before he stood, shoving his phone back into his pocket.
“Casten’s in the hospital,” he said.
I gasped.
Core shot Mig a dirty look, then looped his arm around me.
“Come on, darlin’,” he said. “Let’s go there and see what’s happening before we freak out.”
I rushed to the door, snagging my purse on the way, and tore out of the house after locking it.
When I went to get in my car, Core stopped me with an arm around my waist.
“Goin’ on the bike, darlin’,” he rumbled.
I shook out of his hold. “No, we are not. I’m not riding on the back of anyone’s bike but Casten’s,” I insisted.
Core’s mouth tightened, but he didn’t protest.
“Fine,” he shrugged, walking with me to my car.
He held his hand out for the keys, and I shook my head.
“No one’s driving my car other than Casten,” I insisted once again.
He sighed heavily, but once again bowed to my irrational request, and walked around the car to the passenger side.
I wasted no more time as I hurried to the driver’s side and got in, slamming the car door and starting it up in one fluid movement.
Mig followed me as I rushed to the hospital, the entire time wondering what the hell had happened.
Casten had insisted before he left that this was a routine pick up and that nothing would happen.
He was wrong! My mind screamed out.
My hands were utterly shaking as I made it to the first person I saw, which happened to be a security guard. One I’d made friends with when I was in the nursing program at school.
“Steve!” I cried. “Steve!”
Steve, one of the oldest men alive, shuffled around to stare at me.
I’d always wondered what he would do should a security guard actually be needed, but that was neither here nor there. I just hoped that nothing like that ever happened.
“Oh, hey girl! Haven’t seen you around,” Steve waved at me as I rushed towards him.
Then the expression on my face finally penetrated, and he froze in place.
“What do you need, honey girl?” he asked as soon as I made it up to him.
I gasped for air.
I wasn’t sure if it was because my heart was utterly breaking to pieces in my chest, or if I was out of air and in need of some oxygen. Either way, he looked at me with even more concern when I couldn’t get the words out.
Which turned out not to matter when I heard my name being called.
“T!”
I turned to find Wolf waving me over with his hand.
I patted Steve on the arm, then slipped down the hall to Wolf.
He was like a dark ink stain on the hallway, dressed head to toe in black leather. Black leather pants. Leather boots. Leather vest.