Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79564 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79564 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
“Yeah?” I ask, catching the mischievous gleam in his eye.
“It’s got a current strong enough to carry away all sorts of debris,” he says with a smirk as we park.
I laugh, shaking my head. “Let’s see how this plays out first.”
We step inside the shop, the smell of rubber and motor oil hitting me immediately. The man behind the counter greets us. He’s handsome enough with sandy blond hair and a perfectly straight smile. I take in the dull blue uniform with the name Liam on the pocket in red stitching.
“Liam Mattelle?” Rafferty asks, his eyes flicking to the name and back up again.
The guy’s gaze flicks between us and he frowns. I can see he recognizes us, but he’s not sure from where or how he knows the two large men standing in his work lobby. But then recognition dawns and his eyes nearly bug out of his head. “Holy shit. You’re Rafferty Abrams. And North Paquette! Man, I was at the game last night—”
“Wrong answer,” Rafferty cuts him off, his voice low and dangerous. He steps closer, towering over Liam. “I’m Farren Abrams’s brother.”
Liam’s face pales, indicating he remembers very clearly what he did to my woman almost a decade ago. His mouth opens, but no sound comes out.
“And I’m her boyfriend,” I add, pressing my hands on the counter.
Liam takes a step back, his hands raised defensively. “Look, I don’t know what this is about—”
“Bullshit,” Rafferty growls. “You know exactly what this is about.”
Before Liam can respond, Rafferty lunges across the counter and grabs a fistful of his shirt, pulling him forward. “We’re going for a ride.”
“What? No! Wait—” Liam stammers, trying to pull away. Rafferty merely drags him from behind the counter and then shoves him toward me.
I take control, my hand going to the back of his neck, and it takes everything in my power not to wring the scrawny thing. “Shut up and move,” I say coldly.
I half expect that coward to call for help, but I think he’s in shock. When we get to the car, he starts to struggle a little, putting on the brakes as he tries to dig his tennis shoes into the asphalt.
“I’m not going with you,” he whines.
“You can either get in the back seat,” I say as I open the door, “or the trunk. I’m giving you a choice but my patience is wearing thin.”
“Help,” he yells, and I glance around. No one in sight and I don’t have time to dick around with him.
“Pop the trunk,” I say to Rafferty.
He looks at me, unsure if this is getting out of hand, but then he pushes the button on the fob and the trunk opens.
Liam is no match for my strength and instead of screaming bloody murder, he starts crying as I shove him in the boot. Rafferty shuts the lid and looks at me with a slight bit of worry. “We could get in trouble for this.”
“Kidnapping is a pretty big deal, huh?”
He nods but doesn’t try to convince me to let Liam out.
“I suppose it’s better than murder though,” I say with a shrug. “Let’s go.”
By the time we get back to the Abrams’ house, Liam is a mess, sweating and babbling apologies when we pull him out of the trunk. It’s necessary for us to drag him in, not because he’s resisting, but because his legs seem to be boneless. We each take an arm and lead him shakily up the porch steps and into the house.
Farren and her parents are in the kitchen where we left them, except all the food is gone and everything is spotless. They’re all sipping coffee and I’ll never forget the look of shock on their faces as long as I live.
“What the hell is this?” Daniel asks in a voice filled with awe but no anger.
“Just wait,” Rafferty says, shoving Liam forward. “He’s got something to say.”
Liam stumbles, his eyes darting to Farren. She looks shocked, her face pale as she realizes who he is. He looks like he’s about to pass out and I take a step toward him.
He recoils and holds up his hands in surrender.
I toss my head Farren’s way and say, “I suggest you make it right and you might come out of this alive.”
Daniel makes a choking sound but doesn’t intervene. I don’t dare look at him.
“I’m sorry!” Liam blurts, his voice shaking as he turns to Farren. “I’m so sorry. For everything. For the bet, the pictures… all of it. I was a stupid kid, and I didn’t realize how much I hurt you. Please, I’m sorry.”
Farren stares at him, her expression unreadable.
Liam nods quickly, tears welling in his eyes. “I was an asshole. I ruined everything. I’m sorry, Farren. Please forgive me because I don’t want to die.”
There’s a long silence and Farren looks to Rafferty, then to me. “Whose idea was this?”