Total pages in book: 52
Estimated words: 47615 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 238(@200wpm)___ 190(@250wpm)___ 159(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47615 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 238(@200wpm)___ 190(@250wpm)___ 159(@300wpm)
“It went off when Ada and I came out into the courtyard,” I mused. “He could have been waiting for one of us. Either he’s terrorizing us, or…” I trailed off, trying to think about what I knew of Rat Man. “I was only a kid at the time,” I muttered. “But he’s not that great a marksman.”
“How do you know?” Gunnar asked.
“Went huntin’ with him more than once. He always misjudges his distance. Either leads too far ahead or not enough.”
“You think he wanted you to be closer? Kill or incapacitate you or Ada?”
“Hard to say. I always thought part of his problem was his vision. But it’s possible, if he intended on getting one or both of us with that blast, he misjudged how far we were from whatever delivery method he used.”
When nothing else happened, I helped Ada to her feet and we hurried inside the nearest compound. Apparently, the camo netting came in handy from time to time and wasn’t merely decoration. Who knew?
“Fuckin’ Rat Man,” I muttered.
Gunnar had his phone to his ear, listening intently. After a few seconds he grunted. “Yeah. What I thought too.” He ended the call.
“Knight says the sound and the white powder indicates it was likely Tannerite.”
“Guess you were right.” I pulled Ada closer, needing to keep her at my side. “What now?”
“Knuckles is on the phone with Tonio Miles. Normally, he wouldn’t get the other man involved in our business. We’re at his beck and call, not the other way around.” He said the last with a wry grin. “But Darby is his daughter and if he hears about this from anyone other than Knuckles or Darby, we’ll have bigger problems than Rat Man to worry about.”
That kind of caught me off guard. “Didn’t know Kiss of Death was affiliated with the Miles family.”
“We’re his muscle. He knows we’re not here to terrorize the city or rob him blind. In return, he pays us very well. And foots most of the bill for Haven.”
As if on cue, the rumble of motorcycles cut through the night. Seconds later, headlights swept across the compound as Knight and Knuckles roared through the gates, flanked by four more riders.
Knuckles moved toward us, parking next to where we stood. Knight was right behind him, his face twisted with cold fury as he looked out to where the white dust was still settling, clearly visible even in the rapidly fading light.
“Anyone hurt?” Knuckles demanded of Gunnar.
“Ada got knocked off her feet.”
“I’m fine,” she assured him. “Ears are ringing a bit.”
“Small fucking mercies.” Knight’s gaze fell on Ada, his expression softening slightly with relief before hardening again as he turned to Knuckles. “This is it. The line’s been fuckin’ obliterated.”
Knuckles nodded once, a simple movement that somehow conveyed absolute finality. “Tonio is on the way.” Knuckles gave Gunnar a curious look. “You didn’t say anything about gettin’ Cain involved. Thought you were only talking to your brothers.” If Knuckles meant to censure his new VP for not running something by him, I couldn’t tell. These two had a different dynamic than I was used to.
Gunnar gave Knuckles a puzzled look. “I didn’t call Dad.”
“Well, he says to let him in the Goddamned gate when he gets here.” Knuckles shrugged. “His words. Not mine.”
“Yeah.” Gunnar winced. “Maybe I should have called him before I called my brothers.”
As they continued to talk, I turned to Ada, looking her over closely for the first time. Her wet clothes clung to her frame, her wet hair was a tangled, dirty mess, and she had a small scrape above her eyebrow. Could have been much worse.
I cupped her face between my hands. She was alive. Whole. The relief that flooded through me was quickly chased by something darker, more primal. Whoever had done this had threatened what was mine. Had threatened her.
“I’m gonna end this,” I promised, my voice carrying the weight of every second I’d spent behind bars, every fight I’d survived, every night I’d lain awake planning for a moment like this. “I’m going to find Rat Man, and I’m going to finish this.”
Ada didn’t flinch at the lethal intent in my voice. Instead, she covered my hands with hers, holding my gaze steady. “We’re going to finish this,” she corrected. “All of us. Together.” She was right. We were in this together. She was my anchor. I was her protector. We were bound by something stronger than fear, deeper than desire.
And God help anyone who tried to come between us.
Chapter Nine
Jag
I leaned against the wall of the common room, watching Ada nurse her coffee with hands that weren’t quite steady. Morning light sliced through the blinds, casting shadows across the floor. Nobody had slept much after the explosion. Knuckles stood next to me, arms crossed, eyes fixed on the door like he expected it to blow inward any second. The air hung thick with the smell of coffee. We were waiting, all of us, though nobody wanted to say exactly why or what for. I had the feeling Knuckles knew but he wasn’t saying.