Total pages in book: 41
Estimated words: 37824 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 189(@200wpm)___ 151(@250wpm)___ 126(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37824 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 189(@200wpm)___ 151(@250wpm)___ 126(@300wpm)
“I don’t do casual hookups, babe. I might be a smooth talker. My smooth talk has helped me and my brother navigate life, but I don't play around. My father did that shit to my mom. I’ll never be that kind of man.” I tell her the truth. Something I’ve never felt the need to tell anyone else. My father was a piece of shit who up and left our mom knowing she was pregnant with twins.
I knew I’d never do that shit. That I wouldn’t put my dick inside of a woman I wouldn't be willing to marry. Sure, I could wrap it up, but I wasn’t taking that chance. Hence why my dick has never been inside a woman before.
“I’m sorry.” She glances down. “I didn’t mean to imply—”
“Hey now.” I cut her off, putting my finger under her chin to make her tilt her head back so I can get those eyes of hers back on me. “If you want to know something, I want you to ask me. I’m not offended. You’re learning, and I get that.”
I know Libby never means harm with her questions. It’s not her nature. She’s too damn sweet for that, but I also don’t want that sweetness to stop her from asking a question in fear of a response.
"Okay.” She smiles up at me.
“Plus, if we had spoken up about how we felt days ago, you never would have left our bed.”
“I hated not sleeping with you.” That shit will never happen again.
“Good, because I didn’t sleep at all.” I lean down and kiss her. My girl parts her lips for me, her body melting into mine.
“So now are you going to tell me about this?” I lift my head at Winter’s question. She’s got her attention trained on Libby.
“I didn’t know what it was.” Libby presses herself into my side. I put my arm around her shoulder, hating that she doubted what she meant to me. “If we were a thing.”
“More than a thing, babe.”
“I'm happy for you,” Winter admits. “You know that, right? I wouldn’t keep you from Ace. I get it more than anyone.”
“I know. For once, I was trying to figure it out on my own.”
“Not sure that I love that,” Winter huffs.
“We can talk about that all later, I promise, but Ace has news,” Libby tells her sister.
“Let’s sit down.” I motion to head back over to the end of the bar. I grab a few chairs while shooting my brother a glare that lets him know I’m not done with his ass.
It only earns me one of his rare smiles. I know what that fucker was doing letting that man get close to Libby. He was fucking with me. Who knew Garrett could be a matchmaker? He got Libby and me to clear up our shit real quick with that stunt.
“The raid go good?” Garrett asks when we all sit down.
I'm sure he's been keeping tabs on it. He knew we were going in. He wanted to come with me, but I needed him to stay with the girls so I could keep my focus. I knew Libby was safe with him. He had already had his fun. It was my turn.
“Raid?” Winter glances between the two of us.
“We went into Heaven’s Temple tonight.”
“Oh God.” Winter gasps. “Is everyone okay?”
“There were no female or children casualties.” I give the best honest answer I can.
“Casualties?” Libby asks.
“Deaths,” I clarify.
“Oh.” I pluck her out of her chair and put her into my lap. “There was no choice. They weren’t willing to go down without a fight.”
“Because they believe all those crazy lies,” Winter snips out.
“Or are a part of them and would rather die than face the consequences of their actions,” Garrett adds.
“But I’d say it was rather successful. We're uncertain about a few members, so we've separated them until we gain a better understanding. You two could potentially provide valuable assistance with getting them sorted out. Not everyone will tell us the truth about some of the members. They will still feel compelled to defend them.”
“They will,” Libby says softly. I squeeze her hip.
“But they’re safe, and that’s what matters,” I reassure her.
“Where are they?”
“Still there for now. There are teams of people that will be coming in. This won’t be a quick fix.”
“But it’s a start.” Winter smiles.
“It is,” I agree.
"Can we assist with more than just answering a few questions?" Libby asks.
“In due time.” I had a feeling she would want to. I actually think a lot of people in town will want to help if they can.
“Our parents. You haven’t mentioned them.” Libby tenses at her sister's question. Garrett pulls Winter closer.
“We have your mother. Your father took off a few days ago. I'm guessing he and a few others were spooked when I took Libby and Joseph didn't return.”