Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 73680 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 368(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73680 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 368(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
I force myself to relax. This shit makes me furious, and it happened a fucking decade ago. If I was Eagle-eye, I would’ve executed those motherfuckers, too. That has to be what fucking happened. I can’t imagine anything else. I run my fingers through her hair, trying to comfort her and wishing I could take that fucking pain away.
“Dad came in and tore them apart. I don’t blame him, but seeing my own father like that was pretty scary, too. We tried to stick it out for a couple weeks, but everything felt wrong, broken.”
“Where’s your mother now? Why haven’t you tried to get in touch with her?”
Faith curls up even smaller. “I love Mom, but she… She tries to pretend none of it ever happened. Her new husband worships her, but he doesn’t know. I already don’t tell her that Dad and I talk sometimes. She’d have a breakdown if she found out I was—”
“Fucking three bikers while on the run from the old MC?”
“Exactly.” She yawns, her breath warm on my chest and her eyelids drooping. “Your turn.”
“Tomorrow, baby. Get some rest. It was a long fucking day.”
“Promise?”
“Trust me, right?”
She nods. “Can I tell you a secret?”
I run my fingers through her auburn hair, wishing things weren’t this fucked up. “Yeah.”
“You guys scared the crap out of me that first day, but I never hated you. I wanted to. I tried, but it didn’t stick.”
“I never really believed you did, baby.”
Though I should probably enjoy this while it fucking lasts. If Eagle-eye executing two guys who deserved exactly what they got sent her straight into my bed, I can only imagine what she’ll think of me.
23
FAITH
It takes several long moments of looking around before remembering where I am. I’m the only one in bed, and I have no freaking idea what time it is or where Blade might be. I grab the blankets and roll myself up in a ball like a burrito. The sheets still smell of him, and I remember last night with a smile on my lips and a hint of tenderness between my legs.
I’ve slept with all three of the guys now. What does that make me?
Girlfriend? No, that’s not right.
Club slut? That isn’t right either. We’re just sharing.
Just.
What am I doing? I avoided even dating guys that liked motorcycles and now I’m involved with three bikers and sleeping in my father’s compound. The loss of my store is still an open wound, but it also feels like it happened in a parallel universe. Until I’m not running for my life, I can’t worry about insurance.
My stomach rumbles. God, I haven’t eaten since… Blade’s banana and energy bar.
I giggle at that, then unroll myself and find my glasses on the nightstand so I can get up and see if I can find some food. And new clothes. My jeans are nearly standing up on their own at this point. Thank goodness they bought me more than one pair of underwear, even if they are hot pink.
Of all the things I don’t expect to hear when I enter the common room, the sound of children playing is pretty much at the top of my list. I rub my eyes, trying to decide if I’m still asleep in Blade’s bed. At the Pit Vipers, I sure saw some things I probably shouldn’t, but inside the clubhouse, and especially the common room, was almost always off limits. And I certainly never played in there.
But here at the Screaming Eagles, there’s a woman running after a toddler while four bikers are holding up a couple of kids by the pool table and letting them bang the balls together to make them roll, while they’re all laughing. The braided-beard blond guy is one of them. They turn to look when I come out.
I freeze, but they seem friendly enough. “Uh, hi.” I wave kind of awkwardly and push my glasses up on my nose. “I’m Faith. I didn’t mean to barge in. I was just looking for something to eat.”
“You’re Eagle-eye’s daughter!” The woman scoops the toddler into her arms and smiles. She’s pretty, with Mediterranean features—sun-bronzed skin and long, straight, dark hair. “I’m Alessa. Welcome to the Screaming Eagles.”
The guys put the kids down so they can come say hi too. “I’m Bear,” says the biggest, then points to each in turn. “Viking, Snark, Hawk.” They all nod.”
“This is Dante, and those two are Liam and Isabella,” Alessa says with a friendly smile. She hands the toddler over to Hawk. “Here, watch your little devil for a second while I show her the kitchen.”
“Thanks,” I say while looking over my shoulder at the scene that still seems so unlikely to me.
“You’re the talk of the club. I heard about your place. That must really suck, but it’s a good thing you had the strike team with you. Everyone was ready to go to war yesterday and I have to be honest, it was a little scary.”