Total pages in book: 41
Estimated words: 37111 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 186(@200wpm)___ 148(@250wpm)___ 124(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37111 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 186(@200wpm)___ 148(@250wpm)___ 124(@300wpm)
“We’ll do it.” Cain’s reply was soft, respectful of Warlock’s pain. “I’ll make sure we’re gentle with her, out of respect for your father.”
“I appreciate that. I’m sorry I brought this to your door, Cain. Bones is on the up and up. I own you one, and I fully intend to repay you.” He stuck out his hand to Cain, and our president took it in a solid grip. “You know how to get in touch with us if you need an extra set of hands.”
“I do. Same with us. I’d like to form an open dialogue between our clubs. We looked into what the Tzars do and approve. Your business is your own but know that we’d be willing to assist in times of need.”
The phrasings were danced around carefully, but the meaning was taken. The Iron Tzars departed, leaving only Warlock holding Bev in his arms.
“She was a bitch,” Warlock finally said, still looking at Bev’s face. Her eyes were open, and she’d grown pale in death. “But, for some reason, my heart wanted her.”
“You can’t help that,” Cain said. “Sometimes we make fools of ourselves over our women. Hopefully, you’ll find yourself a woman worthy of the effort in the future.”
“I’m done. Nothing is worth this.” He shook his head and stood, Bev securely in his arms.
Daniel brought back the side-by-side, minus Chloe and Sword. He pulled up beside Warlock. The big man gently laid his woman in the back, brushing a lock of her hair off her forehead. Daniel handed him a blanket and Warlock tucked it around her before pulling a tarp over the back to cover the body.
“Fuckin’ bitch,” he muttered. “I hope you rot in hell.”
Chapter Eight
Chloe
I knew my mother was dying as I drove Sword to the clinic where Mama fussed over him appropriately. Especially when she realized I wasn’t leaving him to deal with this on his own. The man had taken a bullet for me. Literally fallen on his sword and sacrifice himself to save me. I still had reservations, but I knew I’d be a bitch if I didn’t give the man a chance. And, oh, he was milking it.
“My back!” He groaned and winced as I helped him move to the stretcher. “Can you get me a pillow to put under my knees? I think I hurt my back when I landed after jumping in front of you.” He gave me a look so filled with pain and sadness, I rolled my eyes, but fluffed the pillow behind his head and found one for his legs, repositioning it several times before he was satisfied. He wasn’t mean or grumpy, just… like a hurt puppy. It made me want to love on him until he was quiet and comfortable. When I scowled at him, I saw him fight a grin before he looked up at me like he was helpless as a newborn babe.
“If you try to make that girl feel sorry for you one more time, Sword, I’ll give you something for her to really feel sorry for you about.”
“Can’t a man get a little attention from his daughter without taking criticism?”
“He might. If it was warranted.” Mama scrubbed his wound a little more vigorously than I thought was strictly necessary, but at least I knew, this time, his grimace was real. “There. Clean. Now, I need to see if I can get the bullet out.” She dug into the wound with a pair of forceps, and Sword gave a sharp yelp before biting down and clenching his jaw.
“Christ, woman! What the fuck?”
Mama didn’t look up from her work, just kept digging. “Perhaps if your actions change in the future, should something like this happen again, I’ll find a bottle of anesthetic.”
Sword grumbled but didn’t disagree with her. I caught him looking at me out of the corner of his eye like he thought I would suddenly remember what he’d done and storm out. Finally, I just sighed and sat on a stool next to him. I held out my hand and raised my eyebrow when he just looked at it. Finally, he looked away. But he also took my hand. Blinking rapidly, he grunted and started grumbling at Mama once again. The older woman snipped back at him but gave me a wink when he wasn’t looking.
Something inside me settled. Perhaps this was the first step toward healing. Toward getting to know my father. I didn’t have answers to questions like that. But I knew it felt right. So, yeah. I’d forgive Sword and start over with him. What happened after that, well. We’d see.
“Chloe?” I turned to find Isaac walking through the door. He came to me and pulled me into his arms. I let go of Sword’s hand to another round of grumbling from the big man.