Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 60848 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 304(@200wpm)___ 243(@250wpm)___ 203(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60848 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 304(@200wpm)___ 243(@250wpm)___ 203(@300wpm)
“Penny,” he breathed, his voice breaking before he cleared his throat. “You’re OK. The girls --”
“They’re safe,” I assured him. “They’re with Caleb at the edge of the woods.”
Tiny held me for a long time. I cried into his neck and clung as tightly as I could. He didn’t protest.
“I thought --” I choked on the words, tears streaming down my face. “I thought they were going to kill you.”
He cradled the back of my head, stroking gently over my hair. “Takes more than a few cheap shots to put me down,” he murmured, though I could feel the slight tremble in body, the unsteady rhythm of his breathing betraying how close it had been. “Just needed to buy you some time until the boys got here.” He rubbed the back of his head. “They got in a few good licks.”
“Damned lucky those fuckers didn’t take your fuckin’ head off with that crowbar,” Pain muttered, his expression a mixture of exasperation and understanding. “Let me check him out properly before you squeeze those ribs any tighter,” he said, not unkindly. “He’s probably got at least one or two cracked.”
I immediately loosened my grip, though I couldn’t bring myself to move away completely. Tiny kept his arm around me as Pain quickly examined the gash on his head, shining a small penlight into his eyes to check his pupils.
“Concussion for sure, but nothing that won’t heal,” Pain announced after a moment. He gently pressed along Tiny’s ribs, noting where Tiny flinched. “Two, maybe three cracked ribs. You’re one lucky son of a bitch, Tiny.”
Tiny’s lips quirked in a half-smile despite the blood still matting his beard. “Told you those assholes couldn’t fight worth shit.”
“Let’s get you back to the Bronco,” Pain said, helping Tiny unsteadily to his feet then slid a shoulder under Tiny’s arm to support him. “We’ll clean you up at the compound.”
I turned to look for the girls, needing to make sure they were still safe. They had emerged from the trees with Caleb. Riot joined them, talking quietly with his stepson and the girls. They hung back, watching the chaos with wide eyes. Knight had Andy and two of his men on their knees, hands behind their heads. Griffin stood guard over the others, his face a study in controlled violence as he watched them.
Tiny followed my gaze, his body tensing at the sight of the girls. “They really OK?” he asked, his voice tight with concern.
“They’re fine,” I assured him, squeezing his hand. “We were all so scared for you.”
“They shouldn’t see this,” he muttered, gesturing vaguely toward the blood on his face. “Don’t want to scare them more.”
The protectiveness in his voice, even now when he was the one bleeding and injured, made my heart swell. “Hate to break it to you, big guy, but they’re already running this way.”
Zelda reached us first, Kira half a step behind her. They both threw themselves at him and Tiny, bless his heart, caught them each in one arm and held them close. Zelda’s expression hardened into a mask of fury that reminded me so much of my own I almost laughed despite everything.
“Did you at least hit him back?” she demanded, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. “Did you break his stupid face?”
Tiny’s laugh rumbled through his chest, though it cut off sharply as the movement jostled his injured ribs. “Yeah, Zelda. I got him good.”
“You can call me Z,” she said, lifting her chin. “Blame Knight. Heard him call me that when he talked to Mom.”
Kira’s eyes brimmed with tears as she stared at the blood on Tiny’s face. “Are you gonna be OK?” she whispered.
Tiny’s expression softened as he looked down at her. “I’m gonna be just fine, darlin’. Nothing a little rest won’t fix.” He winked at her, the gesture so incongruous with his battered face that a watery giggle escaped her.
Knight approached us, his tattooed face set in grim lines. “Cops are on their way,” he said without preamble. “We need to get out of here. Now.”
“What about him?” I jerked my chin toward Andy, who was still kneeling on the ground, blood running from his nose and split lip. The hatred in his eyes as he glared at me made my skin crawl.
“He’s not going anywhere,” Knight assured me. “Got some anonymous tips headed to the right people about his dealings. Couple files might have found their way to the feds too.” He shrugged, a cold smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “Andy Harlow’s about to have a very, very bad day, and it’s only going to get worse.”
Relief washed through me, so intense I swayed slightly on my feet. Tiny’s arm tightened around my waist, steadying me.
“Let’s get you all back to the compound,” Knight said, his gaze softening slightly as he looked at the girls. “The girls and Caleb can ride with me, Riot, and Griffin. Penny, you ride in the Bronco with Tiny and Pain.”