Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 81584 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 408(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81584 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 408(@200wpm)___ 326(@250wpm)___ 272(@300wpm)
“That’s assault,” he blustered.
Cian laughed.
“We’ve all done time.” I shrugged. “I could use the vacation.”
“Let’s just go, Dave,” a woman behind him said, glaring at me. “Come on. They can’t stand out here forever.”
“Don’t come back,” I warned as Dave’s woman tugged on his arm. “I find out you’re here, you won’t get another warning.”
There was plenty of grumbling and yelled insults as the group hurried away. My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I pulled it back out. Frankie had texted back.
Who is this?
“You know they’re gonna be right back out here tomorrow,” Bas said, watching the protesters as they climbed into cars in the adjacent parking lot. “Fuckin’ hypocrites.”
Gray.
How the hell did you get my number?
Easy to get. Just stay inside.
Wait. Where are you?
“Well, I feel accomplished,” Draco said, slapping me on the back. “We done here?”
“Yeah, man. Thanks.”
“No worries. Got me outta the garage for a minute.”
I’m outside, I texted her back.
“You comin’?” Brody asked as the boys lined up along the curb. The protesters’ cars were pulling out of the lot, most of them flipping us off as they drove away.
“I’m gonna wait a minute, make sure they’re not circlin’ the block,” I replied. “Thanks for the assist.”
“Never a dull moment,” Mick said with a grin, waving as they crossed the road. “My wife’s gonna love me for this.”
“Jesus,” Otto said, shoving his brother.
I walked over to the building and leaned against it, watching my brothers as they separated and climbed on their bikes. I’d never known a time when the Aces didn’t have my back, and I’d been in some tight situations when they’d saved my ass. There was something to be said about a group of men who would drop whatever they were doing to help you out, no questions asked.
What the fuck? Frankie texted.
Ten minutes later, when I knew that the protesters were well and truly gone, I texted Frankie that she could come outside whenever she was ready. Letting out a deep breath, I settled in to wait. She’d only been inside for about half an hour, and I’d never known any doctor appointment to take less than a full one, so I figured it would be a while. Tilting my head back, I let the sun beat down on my face.
There had been something about Frankie’s expression before the security guard came out to get her that was eating at me, and it took me a minute to figure out what it was.
No fear.
Twenty people were crowding her and yelling at her and there hadn’t been an ounce of fear in her expression. She’d been ready to take on every single one of them by herself. No hesitation.
I wasn’t sure if it was stupid or brave.
When the door hinges squeaked, my eyes popped open.
“What are you doing here?” Frankie asked dully, letting the door swing shut behind her.
I straightened. She looked like hell. Her skin was so pale she was nearly gray, her eyes hollow.
“You all right?” I asked, pushing off the wall.
“What are you doing here?” she repeated.
“Saw you from across the street,” I replied, looking her over. The fearless woman who’d gone inside had come out as something else. Fragile. “Thought you were gonna take that guy out.”
“He was an idiot,” she said quietly, glancing at the restaurant. “Are you the one who cleared them out?”
“Me and the boys,” I confirmed.
Frankie’s eyes widened in horror.
“Didn’t tell them you were here,” I reassured her. “They were more than happy to clear them out on principle.”
She nodded.
We stood there for a moment, but she was somewhere else in her head.
“You drove here?” I asked. “Where’d you park?”
“Uh—” She looked around in confusion. “In the back.”
“Come on, I’ll walk you,” I said, gesturing toward the parking lot.
She walked silently beside me as we rounded the building. There were only a few cars in the lot, and her Tahoe was easy to spot. I was glad that I’d told the boys to meet me at the restaurant. If any of them had gone around the back of the clinic, they would’ve instantly noticed her rig.
When we got to the Tahoe, I waited for her to pull her keys out, but she just stood there, like she wasn’t sure what she should be doing.
“Frankie?” I called softly. “What’s goin’ on?”
“What?” she asked, her gaze sharpening. “Nothing.”
“You gonna unlock the doors?”
“Oh, right,” she muttered.
She still hadn’t reached for her keys.
“Come on,” I said finally, setting my hand between her shoulder blades as I led her away.
“Where are we going?” she asked. It didn’t sound like she cared.
“I’ll take you home on my bike.”
“All right,” she murmured.
My stomach clenched as she allowed me to lead her across the street without a single word about leaving her Tahoe parked there or how she would pick it up later. When we got to my bike, she halfheartedly helped me put my helmet on her head. She wasn’t fully out of it, but it was enough that alarm bells were ringing loudly in my ears.