Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 131888 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 659(@200wpm)___ 528(@250wpm)___ 440(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 131888 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 659(@200wpm)___ 528(@250wpm)___ 440(@300wpm)
Good thing Liyah had plenty of patience.
She wasn’t in a rush to get in any kind of serious relationship, and she certainly wasn’t worried about the ticking of her internal clock. She glanced at the males that she birthed already. Those two were plenty enough.
And her career and business was right where she wanted it. Successful but manageable.
“Where are you a pig?”
“Keenan!” Liyah scolded. “What did I tell you about calling police officers that? It’s not only disrespectful to your brother’s father but it’s insulting to the man sitting across from you. Would you be okay with him calling you a brat to your face?”
Kee pouted. “But I’m not a brat.”
Liyah’s eyebrows shot to the top of her forehead. “Says who?”
His mouth gaped open. “But Mom…”
“Don’t you dare ‘but, Mom,’ me. I told you that terminology is not permitted in this house. Ever. I guess your visits with Grumpa will need to be limited if you have to repeat everything he says.”
“But Mom!” Panic filling Keenan’s eyes at the thought of not being able to spend weekends with his grandparents.
“You just made it clear that you need to learn some respect and you’re not learning it at his house.” It was an empty threat. She’d never limit her sons’ time with Magnum and Cait, or their kids, but still…
Apparently, she needed to have another conversation with her father and his use of that insult around her boys. She would also threaten him with limited time spent with his grandchildren.
Again, the threat might be empty but hopefully it would be effective.
“Finish your dinner and don’t you ever call any law enforcement officer that again. Not under this roof and not outside of this house, either. Understood?”
Keenan’s mouth tightened. “Yes.”
“Next time I hear you say it, you’ll be grounded, too. Now apologize to Nox.”
Her youngest son turned to the man sitting quietly next to her taking everything in. “I’m sorry.”
Nox gave him a single nod. “Apology accepted. And to answer your question, I work for Shadow Valley PD.”
Kee’s eyes lit up. “That’s in the Dirty Angels territory.”
Liyah mentally sighed. She didn’t like the fact her seven-year-old knew so much about motorcycle clubs.
“I’m going to join them when I turn eighteen,” her son declared next. “Dawg said I could.”
Who said what?
“Oh no, sir, you are not.” Now she had to have a discussion with Caitlyn’s father, too? Dawg did not need to be encouraging her kids to join the Dirty Angels. Or any club.
“Just join the Dark Knights. Grumpa would love that,” Devyn suggested, oh so helpfully.
“They only accept Black members,” Kee informed his older brother. “I’m only half Black, like you.”
Liyah smacked a hand onto her forehead and groaned. “Enough of this talk. We’ve had this discussion before and we’re not having it again right now at the dinner table. But to be clear, half Black is still Black, and you are never joining an MC.”
She was about to lose her shit and she wanted this evening to be pleasant, not full of drama.
Nox would never want to come back again, and she wouldn’t blame him.
They somehow managed to finish dinner without Nox sprinting from the house screaming and after he helped her clean up the kitchen, the two of them moved into the family room to settle in with a movie.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Aaliyah had to call for her kids three times before they finally came in to join them. Of course, they dragged their feet the whole way, despite letting them choose the movie. No surprise, they picked the first Fast & Furious movie, even though they had seen it a billion and one times.
Both boys claimed the recliners flanking the center couch that Liyah and Nox were left sharing. The only complaint she had with that was, she was tempted to curl up with the man while they watched the action flick.
Instead, they kept a safe gap between them. Though a few times, Nox’s fingers trailed over hers when he grabbed a handful of popcorn from the bowl they shared.
Halfway through the movie, a sound caught her ears. It took a few second to realize it wasn’t coming from the television.
The loud, very distinct rumble of a Harley was unmistakable. She heard it too often not to recognize it.
With a groan of annoyance, Liyah shot up from the couch, rushed over to the window and pulled the drapes aside to peer outside.
Holy shit. “Devyn!”
“What?” her oldest asked, trying to sound innocent around a mouthful of popcorn.
She looked for his cell phone. It was face down in his lap.
Figures. “You didn’t tell Grumpa that Nox was here, did you?”
“He texted and asked what I was doing. I told him the truth because you told me not to lie.”
The kid was fifteen. He lied all the time and never worried about it.
But, holy shit, this could be bad.