Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 81285 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81285 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
I glanced over at Memphis as I grumbled, “He deserved worse. They all did.”
My wrist throbbed, making it difficult to ignore. I clenched my jaw and pushed through. It was just a fucking sprain, which was nothing compared to what Smitty was dealing with.
It had been almost a week, and he was still laid up in the infirmary. His broken ribs had made it tough for him to breathe, much less move, which brought on a pretty bad case of pneumonia.
Blade had been hovering over him, shoving antibiotics and pain meds down his throat, hoping it would be enough to get him back on his feet. Like he could read my mind, Ghost glanced over at us and asked, “Have either of you been in to check on Smitty?”
“I went earlier this morning, and he was still out of it.” I shook my head. “Blade said he’s better but not out of the woods yet.”
“He’s still got some fight left in him.”
“He’s gonna need it.”
We could handle busted knuckles, sprained wrists, and cracked ribs. We could laugh off bruises and cuts, no matter how deep, but lungs filling up wasn’t the kind of thing you could just muscle through.
I leaned my head back and closed my eyes as I thought about church, which we held right after the fight. Emotions were high, and we were all still carrying the taste for revenge. But it wasn’t the time for that. This was the time to face some hard truths.
They started with Creed.
Our VP didn’t sound angry. It was more like disgusted as he said, “We shouldn’t have been caught by surprise. We should’ve known their names. Who was in charge. How many they have patched in. We should’ve known it all. It’s our job to know. It’s my job to know.”
“You’re not alone in that,” Grim growled. “This was on all of us. We got distracted. Lost focus with the casino and how good things had been. That shit cost us.”
The room fell silent.
His words stung, mainly because they were true, and we all knew it.
“He’s right. We lost focus, but that shit changes now.” Prez cleared his throat before saying, “We’ve been in talks about pulling away from the casino. We aren’t needed like we used to be. Doesn’t mean we won’t be there if they come calling, but for now, we’re adjusting our priorities.”
“That’s going to be a financial hit.”
“We’ll manage. We always do.”
“So, that’s that?”
“That’s that,” Prez answered. “Time to tighten our perimeter. We keep our eyes open, and no more blind spots. We’re Fury, and we don’t lose. Ever.”
The Rebel Coyotes thought they’d made a statement.
All they really did was take the first step in their own undoing and made us stronger than we’d ever been. I was enjoying the moment of reprieve when I felt a pair of warm hands slide over my shoulders. I opened my eyes and found Misty smiling down at me.
She ran the flat of her thumb down the base of my neck, massaging the tense muscles as she purred, “How you feeling, handsome?”
“Better now.”
“I sure hate you guys got hurt.” She kept massaging as she added, “But I gotta say… Those bruises make you look even hotter, and that’s hard to do.”
Memphis snorted, and Ghost chuckled.
I did neither. I knew she was flirting, but I had no interest in getting cozy with her. I just wanted her to work on the knot in my shoulder, so I just stayed quiet and let Misty work her magic. “You’re so tense.”
“Been a long few days.”
The words barely left my mouth when the air in the room shifted.
I opened my eyes, and there she was.
Presley was standing in the doorway next to Skid, and her eyes held mine for only a moment before dropping to Misty’s hands on my shoulders. The color drained from her face, and she looked like she’d been punched in the gut when she muttered, “This was a bad idea. I shouldn’t have come here.”
Without another word, she turned and darted down the hall.
I shrugged Misty off, and I was moving before anyone could say a word. I charged toward the door, and when I got up to Skid, I shook my head. “A heads up would’ve been nice.”
“Where’s the fun in that?” Skid chuckled, unapologetic as hell.
I grumbled as I rushed past him. I wanted to punch the shit-head in the throat, but I didn’t have time for that. I had to get to Presley before she made it to her car.
She was halfway out the door when I shouted, “Presley! Wait!”
She didn’t stop.
And she sure as hell didn’t slow down. If anything, she moved even faster. I called out again, “Presley! Wait!”
This time, she stopped, turned to face me, and her expression was a mix of heartbreak and disappointment. “You don’t have to say anything. You don’t owe me anything. I had no business coming here.”