Total pages in book: 159
Estimated words: 155775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 779(@200wpm)___ 623(@250wpm)___ 519(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 155775 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 779(@200wpm)___ 623(@250wpm)___ 519(@300wpm)
Perhaps they hadn’t had to do much to him, or maybe she couldn’t see what they had done. She studied Cash and Ralen, looking them both over. Ralen was missing his normal charismatic grin, while Cash just looked dark and angry.
She really hoped that this hadn’t hurt either of them. It couldn’t have been easy.
“Right, talk,” Ralen said, kicking Limpy’s leg.
Monroe jumped slightly, but then seemed to steady herself.
Addie really wished she could hug Cash, but the closed-off look he was giving her had told her that wouldn’t be a good idea right now.
“Fine, fine,” Limpy said in a nasally sounding voice. “I’ll tell you.”
Ralen had his phone out, and she gave him a curious look. “I’m recording this. Ink will want to hear it too.”
She nodded. It meant that they wouldn’t forget any details.
“Where do you want me to start?” Limpy asked.
“How about with who Vextar really is?” Monroe said. “Why he married me, what he was doing in Las Vegas, and how he died.”
Limpy sighed, long and loud. “I don’t know his real name. He never told me. Vextar was like a ghost. He had no past. That’s what made him so valuable.”
“Valuable to who?” Dotty asked.
“To The Team,” Limpy said.
“Who is The Team?” Dotty asked.
“The Team is no one and everyone,” Limpy said with a creepy laugh. “They’re everywhere and nowhere. And just when you expect them, they sneak up and they get you. Like the bogeyman.”
What was he saying? And why did she now have goosebumps?
“Did you hit him in the head or something?” Dotty asked. “Why is he talking nonsense?”
“Not nonsense. I’ve heard rumors about The Team,” Ralen said. “If you want something stolen, they’re the people you call. They’re international thieves.”
“They’re more than that,” Limpy said. “They can get where others can’t. Vextar, he was perfect for them. A ghost who didn’t leave a trace because he was untraceable. Too bad he was so fucking dumb. Who marries some dumb bitch while they’re on a job?”
Ralen slapped him around the head and he moaned. “Fuck, stop hitting me, I’m telling you, aren’t I?”
“So Vextar belonged to this Team?” Dotty asked.
Monroe had her arms wrapped around herself and Addie walked over to place her arm around her sister.
“Yeah, he did,” Limpy said. “This was his first big job. The one in Vegas. And he fucked it all up. Messed up his chance and mine since he was supposed to get me into The Team. Asshole.”
“You weren’t friends?” Dotty asked.
“Yeah, we were friends. But he’s still an asshole who messed everything up.”
“So he had a job for The Team in Las Vegas?” Ralen asked.
Limpy was silent.
“You might as well tell us,” Cash said. “Because we can make you hurt more.”
A shiver ran through Addie and again she did her best to hide it. She got the feeling that Cash was still concerned she was going to turn away from him. That she would be scared of him.
But nothing could be further from the truth.
She was grateful to him for doing what needed to be done.
“If I tell you, they’re gonna kill me.”
“What makes you think we won’t kill you if you don’t?” Ralen said.
Dotty sucked in a harsh breath. But Addie got it. And it wasn’t like he was a good guy. He probably would have stabbed her, plus he’d tried to strangle Monroe.
“Fine. He was there to kidnap Zinnia Danes.”
So that was the reason Vextar was there, and probably the reason why those guys had come after them in the airport. Because of the photo with the stolen car.
“Like I said, it was Vextar’s first big job,” he told them. “His one chance to impress them. He’d been on probation up until then. I knew him from when he worked at The Rabid Dog. He told me how he had an in with The Team and how they were gonna give him a spot. I’d heard about The Team before, and I knew you didn’t talk about them, not if you wanted to keep breathing. But Vextar thought he was above the rules because they needed him. But I’m thinking The Team doesn’t need anybody. Vextar was certain they were going to give him another chance and maybe they would have if you three hadn’t turned up and starting asking about him.” Limpy sneered at them and Addie shivered.
“Don’t look at her,” Cash snarled.
“Keep talking,” Ralen ordered.
“Vextar knew he had to get rid of them before the big boss discovered they were here. So he had me steal her bag.” He nodded to Monroe. “Then we left that message in their hotel room, and trashed it a bit. We thought they’d leave and that would be the end of it. But then those photos went up on social media. The big boss pulled Vextar in to question him about the photos and saw the message his wife sent him saying that she was leaving. So the boss sent men to grab you from the airport.”