Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 98255 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 491(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98255 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 491(@200wpm)___ 393(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
“Grant?”
“That wasn’t the only time that happened. Whenever he thought I was staring at a woman he believed to be a little on the large side, I’d get a beating. I’m no fucking coward, Bull, but at nine years old, I didn’t think to hit back. I learned how to survive. It was easier to bully women like Maddie, look away from what I wanted, and screw who I thought would impress Dad.” Grant shook his head. He’d never gotten real with his brother. This was a first. “I could lose Aria.”
“No, you won’t.”
“Before I met her, I had a one-night stand with a woman I met. Turns out, it was her sister. I’ve already lied to her, Bull. If she finds out the truth, she won’t forgive me.” Grant had done enough soul-searching for the night. He got to his feet. “We’ll figure out the Cartel problem. We have ways to do it that won’t harm the town.”
“Grant, I had no idea.”
“We both know our old man is a piece of work. Knowing it doesn’t change.”
“I should have been there.”
“Bull, you couldn’t always be there, and Dad knew what he was doing. It just took me a little too long to realize I didn’t need to pretend anymore. I love Aria, I would do anything for her.”
“Then tell her the truth,” Bull said. “Tell Aria what you just told me. Don’t let someone else tell her.”
“No one else knows. Just her, you, and me.” Grant pressed his lips together. That was the way it was going to stay. He couldn’t hurt her. Not with that.
“I’ve got to go,” he said.
Leaving the kitchen, he headed upstairs to his room. He opened the bedroom door and Aria was still fast asleep. Removing his pants, he slid between the sheets and pulled her against him. Aria didn’t fight him. She curled up, snuggled in close, and went back to sleep.
****
“Did you know your dad beat him?” Maddie asked, stepping into the kitchen.
“No, I didn’t.” Bull should have known his woman wasn’t too far. In the past few days, he’d struggled to sleep, and she always came to find him.
He opened his arms and she walked to him. The moment she was close, he wrapped his arms around her and drew her down onto his lap.
“You’ve got to stop sneaking around,” he said.
She rolled her eyes. “Why would I stop doing what I love?”
Bull chuckled. “Because some of the guys might mistake you for a spy.”
“No one will find me, and besides, it’s only late at night that I sneak anywhere, when the bed gets cold. You’re troubled.”
“Grant’s right. I’ve got four options in getting this guy to come to me.”
“The one with Julio sounds dangerous,” Maddie said.
“But it will be effective.”
“I don’t want you to use the dogs.”
“Not going to happen.” He remembered what happened the last time one of the rescue dogs died. Maddie had been inconsolable. It was what had alerted him to the dogfighting on his turf. Someone had made his woman cry, and he’d been determined to make that bastard pay, and he had.
“Which leaves Ranford and Grant,” Maddie said.
“I can’t use my brother.”
“No, it wouldn’t be good.”
Bull sighed. “And Ranford won’t play fair.”
“Which brings you back to either Julio or Grant,” Maddie said.
He had tried to keep the club business from her, but Maddie had been caught up in his world. There was no way he could keep her in the dark about all the shit that troubled the club. She was part of him, part of this world, and as much as he wanted to hide it from her, he couldn’t. Just by being with him at this time, she risked her life.
“It’s time for us to go to bed,” he said.
“You know what you’re going to have to do,” Maddie said.
“I know.”
“Bull, don’t die.”
He laughed. “Trust me. I plan to live a very long and healthy life.”
Chapter Fourteen
Grant stood out in the cold, staring at the dogs as they sniffed around the backyard of the clubhouse. He had to head into town to Aria’s house to grab her some clothes and personal items.
He loved seeing her in his clothes but knew there would come a point when she missed her own clothes. Shoving his hands into his pockets, he watched Wanda, Ernie, and Bruno. They were good dogs.
“Here you go,” Maddie said.
He turned to see her holding a mug of hot coffee.
“Thanks,” he said.
“Aria hasn’t come down for breakfast yet.”
“I told her to stay in my room,” he said.
“You’re going to keep her prisoner?”
Grant laughed. “No, but I don’t need her talking to you.”
Maddie snorted. “Please, I’m an adorable person.”
“Exactly. I can’t have you turning my woman against me.”
“That’s something I wouldn’t dream of doing.” She placed a hand on her heart. “I’m shocked you would even think that.”