Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 36632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 147(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 147(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
We pulled through the gate. The prospects each threw up a hand in greeting and waved us on toward their clubhouse. The main building was a converted firehouse. There were rooms for guests and most of the club girls were housed there, as well as some offices. Thorn’s office was here.
I parked the bike and Sonya hopped off, bouncing with excitement as Caroline and Bella both met her at the door. The three embraced and I couldn’t help but smile. I strolled toward the girls and the entrance to the clubhouse. Sonya looked back at me with the happiest smile I’d ever seen from her. And, by God, the woman was so fucking beautiful it hurt.
“Angel!” Mariana, Sonya’s mother and Thorn’s wife, called out to me from across the room. She had a lovely smile on her face as she greeted me happily and I could see the resemblance between her and Sonya. “Come in! Thorn’s in his office. He said you’d be coming to talk to him.” She gestured for me to come with her. The smile seemed genuine, which was confusing as shit. Also, I hadn’t talked to Thorn yet or even reached out to him. Not because I didn’t want to tell him but because I wasn’t sure how I was going to word this. So, how did he know I was coming?
Mariana opened the door to Thorn’s office and ushered me inside. “Would you guys like something to drink?” She asked the question like she didn’t have a care in the world. I never expected Thorn wouldn’t have heard about me and Sonya by now. After the incident at the front gate of Black Reign, all of Reign knew. Someone would have passed it to Thorn. Probably El Diablo himself.
“Get me a beer, if you don’t mind, sweetheart.” Thorn smiled up at his wife. “Angel, we got anything you want.”
“Would it be too much trouble to ask for ice water?” I asked as I gave Mariana a polite smile.
“Of course not. You sure you don’t want a beer?” Her smile was polite and I didn’t sense a trap, so I tried not to automatically assume she was making a sly reference to the incident with Gloria and how we’d come to be married.
“No thank you, ma’am. I quit drinking a long time ago.” I kept my smile serene and in place. I didn’t know how much information she had, and just because Thorn knew didn’t mean Mariana did.
“I admire anyone who’s able to break from unhealthy habits. It shows strength of character.”
I dipped my head to her. “Thank you.”
“I’ll be right back. Anything else, Thorn?”
“No, honey.”
I thought the wait for Mariana to return would be awkward, but Thorn chatted cheerfully about Ripper’s triplets and how fast they were growing up. Ripper and his wife, Emmanuelle, had their hands full with the three girls and it amused Thorn to no end.
Mariana returned with the drinks, then left and closed the door behind her. I took a pull of my water before carefully sitting it on the edge of Thorn’s desk.
“Tell me how Sonya’s doing. I wasn’t expecting her home for another couple of days.”
I tried not to wince. “Momma always said it’s best to just rip the Band-Aid off. Peeling it off slowly prolongs the torture.”
Thorn chuckled. “That’s not cryptic or anything.” He leaned back, putting his feet on his desk and crossing them at the ankles. “What’s going on?”
“I’m in love with your daughter, Thorn. I’m going to make her my old lady.” I waited for the explosion. When none came, I continued. “She knows that’s my intention and has accepted my claim on her.” Still nothing. I was getting nervous. Thorn wasn’t that much older than me, but I felt like a naughty child being guilted into confessing his every transgression. “I’d like your blessing for this, Thorn. I love Sonya with my whole being, but she’s still your daughter. I won’t go against your wishes.”
“For Christ’s sake, Angel. Why the fuck do you think I sent her to you in the first Goddamned place?”
“I… uh, what?” My brain was pulling a four-oh-four on this one.
“She’s had a crush on you since she was sixteen! Not a normal crush either. I watched her weigh your pros and cons. She might not have realized what she was doing, but she studied you like she wanted to make damned sure you were worthy of her. I knew before she went to college you would be the only man she’d ever accept. It was you or nobody, and my baby girl isn’t gonna live her life by herself.”
“Are you fuckin’ kiddin’ me right now?” I scowled. I stood and paced across the room, unable to process what the fuck just happened. Also, I was really glad I’d hadn’t jumped to conclusions with Mariana before.