Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 33553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 168(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33553 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 168(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
"I'm going to do what I should have done two days ago. Find him and kill him."
"Need help?" he offers, a savage grin on his face.
"I've got this one, but I do need a favor."
"Name it."
"Keep an eye on her for me. I can already tell these bitches are going to be catty today. Make sure she isn't facing their bullshit alone."
"We've got her," Madden promises, glancing at his wife and my girl, who still have their heads together, whispering. "Just do me one favor."
"What?"
"Break his fucking hands for me."
"Already planned on it."
Madden holds his hand out for me to bump his fist.
I stalk back to Makenzie, placing my hand on the small of her back. "Angel baby."
She and Olive break apart, her bright eyes coming to my face. "What is it?"
"I need to take care of something," I murmur, leaning down to brush my lips across hers. "Don't even think about leaving this house until I get back."
Her face falls. "You're leaving?"
"Only for a little while. I have some business to take care of." I nod at Olive and Madden. "They're going to keep you company for me."
"You're going after him, aren't you?"
"Who?
"Zion," she says, narrowing her eyes on me. "Don't treat me like I'm stupid, and don't act like you are, either. You know exactly who I'm talking about."
"I do." I press my lips to her forehead, careful not to smudge her makeup. "And I'm not answering that question, angel baby. All you need to worry about is looking like the goddess you are."
She huffs at me, making me smile.
"Behave, beautiful. I'll be back soon."
"Maybe I will, maybe I won't," she mutters.
I hook my arm around her waist, toppling her against my chest. "You better fucking behave," I growl in her ear. "Otherwise, the only thing I'll be feeding you when you're finished is my cock."
She moans quietly, shivering in my arms.
"I love you." I drop a kiss to her crown and pry myself away from her before I find a reason not to go at all.
I call Zayne and Gideon from the truck, rallying the troops.
Zayne answers on the first ring, as if he's been waiting for my call. He probably has. He may be a pain in my ass, but he's the pain in my ass who always has my back, no matter what. When I was languishing in the hospital overseas, waiting for them to ship me home, he's the one who raised hell until they allowed him in to see me. He's the one who kept me alive when I wasn't sure I wanted to survive.
He didn't leave my fucking side until I was home. That's the brother I know. He goes hard for everyone in his life, refusing to quit even when we do. I need that single-minded focus in my corner now.
"You in cuffs yet?"
"No. Plans have changed."
"Damn. Guess I'll call Gideon and tell him we're letting Taggert live."
"Actually, we're not. I need the two of you to meet me at the house. We're going to find the sorry son of a bitch."
"Why?"
I quickly fill him in on the situation.
"Be there in fifteen," he says when I'm done, not asking a single question.
I disconnect with him and dial Gideon.
"You in cuffs yet?"
"Jesus Christ. Are you two taking bets or something?"
"Possibly. Did I win?"
"No. Pry yourself off Kenna and get your ass to my house. We have something to do."
"What?"
"We're going to hunt the sorry son of a bitch down and make him regret the day he was born."
"You saw the video."
My brows climb toward my hairline. "You saw the video?"
"It came up on Kenna's feed this morning. Apparently, Taggert knows her manager. What a fucking prick."
"Nothing he said was remotely true."
"Obviously not. Which is precisely why I'm looking forward to helping you kill him. Be there in ten minutes." He hangs up on me.
I start the truck, preparing to pull off. And then I hesitate, reaching for my phone again. I pull up Makenzie's number, sending her a single line.
You're marrying me.
It's not a question. I'm not asking. When this is over, she's marrying me.
Chapter Eleven
Kenzie
I turn to the left, flowing through one movement after another as Bianca snaps photo after photo. My mind is a million miles away, but I keep a smile on my face, pretending this is the best day of my life.
It feels a little like hell to me. Every time I lift my gaze, it's to find somewhere whispering about me. They've been doing it all damn day. It's turned the photoshoot into a disaster. I'm tense and distracted, and it shows in the photos.
I keep picture Lyle sitting at that desk in his video, his hands clasped, a fake, sympathetic look on his face. As if he regrets the words coming out of his mouth, as if he truly believed them. We both know he didn't. Every word he said was a lie.