Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 118333 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 592(@200wpm)___ 473(@250wpm)___ 394(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 118333 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 592(@200wpm)___ 473(@250wpm)___ 394(@300wpm)
Adelita Ayers . . . I smiled. It felt . . . right.
The coil of dread that had resided in me since I came back to Tanner grew tighter still, fear chasing away any other dominant emotion. But I pushed it aside, willing myself to ignore the persistent feeling that this couldn’t last. I would embrace the moment. And right now, after years of seeking a safe place for us to be together, Tanner was introducing me to his friends as his old lady.
I knew this meant the world to him.
Gripping my hand in his, Tanner led us from the room that had become my sanctuary, and toward a bar. The sound coming from inside was deafening as we approached. If Tanner felt my hand trembling, he was polite enough not to let me know. I took a deep breath as Tanner opened the door. The place was packed. I knew the clubhouse and the grounds outside were full of other men from all over the southern states of the US. But seeing them all congregating in one place was more than overwhelming.
Tanner craned his neck above the sea of men, and then waved at someone over the crowd. Some of the men looked at us as we passed, but not as much as I feared. I relaxed some when my being in the room, holding Tanner’s hand, didn’t garner as much attention I as I thought it would.
When we broke through the throng, it was to see Beauty sitting with other familiar faces. The man beside her got to his feet, as did Beauty. Tank. Beauty was smiling widely at me. “Hey, darlin’!” she said, and came around the table. I froze as Beauty threw her arms around my neck. I quickly looked to Tanner, who let go of my hand. The corner of his lip was pulled up in humor.
When Beauty let go, I said, “Hello, again.”
Beauty put her hand on Tank’s shoulder. “Now that things aren’t so fucked up, this, Adelita, is Tank. My man and Tanner’s best friend.”
Tank gave me a tight smile, then held out his hand. I shook it, and said, “Thank you for being such a good friend to Tanner.”
Tank seemed taken back by my words. Like he didn’t know that Tanner would’ve spoken so highly of him. Or maybe that he’d even told me who Tank was to him. Tank looked at Tanner. “You been talking about me, brother?”
Tanner shrugged, then looked to some other men who were there. “This is AK.” AK got to his feet and I shook his hand. I remembered him from the truck ride to the clubhouse when I was taken from the barn. “This is Bull, Ky, Cowboy, Hush, Smiler, and Rudge.” I shook all the men’s hands.
A tall man with red hair got up from his seat and smiled widely at me. He came straight to me, saying, “Fuck the handshake.” He wrapped his arms around me. “I need to show our cartel princess some Viking love.” Just as he squeezed me to his chest, he was pulled away.
Tanner pushed him back until he fell into his seat. “Don’t fucking touch her,” Tanner warned.
The red-haired man just smiled and casually put his hands on the back of his head. “What’s wrong, White Prince? Worried your princess will prefer the anaconda to your worm?” I frowned, having no understanding of what they were talking about. The redhead shrugged. “I can’t help if bitches love me. I’m fucking irresistible to pussy.”
“Chlamydia-ridden pussies,” the blond man—Ky— said.
The redhead opened his arms. “VP, I’m as liberal as they come. I don’t discriminate against any pussy that comes to pet the anaconda. Black, white, brown, they’re all welcome . . .” He put his attention back to me and licked his lips suggestively. “Though I must say, I do have a real penchant for how the Latinas taste.”
Tanner sighed, then said, “Lita. This prick who never shuts his stupid fucking mouth is Viking.”
He bowed dramatically. “At your service, ma’am.”
I raised my hand in a wave, not sure quite how I should be greeting him. Suddenly the tall dark-haired man—AK, I remembered he was named—and Viking were on their feet. “And he is risen!” Viking shouted just as a man with black eyes, piercings, and tattoos all over his body came toward us. A beautiful woman walked beside him. They were hand in hand. She looked distinctly like Styx’s wife.
AK stood in front of the man. He didn’t touch him, just simply said, “You good now?”
“Yes.” The man said, then looked at me. His black eyes unnerved me.
AK must have seen. “This is Adelita. Tanner’s bitch.”
Flame didn’t shake my hand when I held it out. The woman with him stepped forward and shook my hand instead. “Nice to meet you.” I smiled at the woman. She was small with huge green eyes. “I am Maddie. This is Flame, my husband.” I noticed she had the same strange accent as some of the women I met the first day I was here.