Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 70940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 355(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 236(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 355(@200wpm)___ 284(@250wpm)___ 236(@300wpm)
"Howdy, Bri."
I look over and see another favorite of mine, old Raptor. I have no idea why everyone calls him that, maybe because he's tall and skinny and does have strangely shaped face that I suppose could resemble a Raptor? No. No way. I think there is probably another reason for his name.
I feel bad for thinking he looks like a dinosaur.
Poor guy.
"Hey Raptor," I wave.
"How're you doin', girly?"
"I'm doing okay. Getting there."
"Sorry to hear about your momma. Broke my fuckin' heart when I found out the news. We love that woman. King is broken and fucked. Been a hard few weeks."
I swallow and nod. "Yeah, I know."
I'm angry at King, but I still love everyone in this club. I can't help that. They're the family that I never had. The only people I can rely on to always be there for me. What I feel for King has nothing to do with them.
"You need anything, you give us a call, yeah?"
I smile, grateful. "Thank you."
"What're you doin' here?"
I see Alarick walking into the room, followed by King and Samson. King's eyes move to mine, but as quickly as they come in my direction, they drop and he walks off. I can't deny that King is suffering. I know he is. He loved my mother probably more than he loves his own life, so I know it's hurting him not to have her here.
I'm not a cold-hearted monster.
"I wanted to talk to you," I say, standing. "Do you have a minute?"
He nods, and we disappear into the kitchen where nobody can hear us. Once we're alone and the door is closed, I turn to him. "King doesn't look like he's doing so good."
"Would you be if the love of your life fuckin' died, and you didn't know why?"
This again.
I bite my tongue, but I want to say, of course he knows why. He has to understand why. He runs this club. He knows who his enemies are.
"Has he questioned anyone, how can he be so sure it isn't someone seeking revenge?" I ask, unable to help myself.
"We're not gettin' into this again, Briella. I've told you that there are things you don't know. I've told you your mother wasn't killed because of King. You're choosin' not to believe it."
"I just don't understand why someone would come into her house and murder her, if not to get back at the person who loves her most – King. Nothing else makes sense."
"You ever watched television in your life?" Alarick mutters. "Ever heard of random murders that make no sense, because there are fuckin' thousands of them."
"Don't be cruel, Alarick. I know there are random murders, and if King wasn't running a huge biker club well known for doing illegal things, I might consider that. Still, he is what he is, and he does what he does, and I find it hard to believe this isn't an attack against him. Especially after what I witnessed at Avi's house."
"You're never goin' to let this go, are you?" he snaps. "I'm fuckin' tired of it, Briella. You're hangin' onto somethin', and you're not letting anything else in. You want to hate my father, go right ahead. This is goin' to be my club soon, and you're either going to accept it, or you're not."
So he's going to take over the club?
I mean, I knew he was, but I kind of hoped all of this might make him change his mind.
"Is taking over the club what you want?" I ask, my voice is a little strained with hurt.
"Yes," he mutters. "Yes, it fuckin' is. It's my family and it's my blood right. This club is mine."
"And me?" I whisper.
He glances away. "I want you, Briella. You know I want you. But I want you to want this, and I know right now you don't. I get it, you've seen some fucked up shit in the last few weeks, and you're scared. I know that, I respect that, but if I don't have your trust, this won't work."
"I do trust you," I protest.
"Do you trust King?"
I clamp my mouth shut.
"Do you trust that you're never going to get hurt because of backlash from this club like you so claim?"
I have no answer to that, and he knows it.
"Then you might trust me, but you don't trust all of who I am. Without that, it won't work."
"What are you saying?" I whisper.
He steps forward. "I'm sayin' I want you. I want you here. I want us. But I'm not goin' to spend the rest of my life convincin' you that it's safe. You have to make that choice on your own, and unless you let go of this hatred towards King, you're never going to do that. Have you ever even asked him what he thinks happened? No. You just judge, and that ain't right."