Total pages in book: 157
Estimated words: 145088 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 725(@200wpm)___ 580(@250wpm)___ 484(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145088 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 725(@200wpm)___ 580(@250wpm)___ 484(@300wpm)
The music came to an abrupt stop, leaving Dex’s ears ringing. But then people’s voices rose up, and he dared to take in the figures looming in the faint light.
Lion stepped their way with concern marring his features. “Weren’t you supposed to be on the hunt?”
The question was vague enough to tell nothing to bystanders, but Dex realized this had to be about Ryker. That was why Hammer was late. Disappointment filled Dex’s throat like bile. Despite the fiasco of last time, a part of him hoped they’d go after the bastard together once an opportunity presented itself, but it seemed that Hammer had judged him as not good enough for the job.
A nuisance. A hassle. A problem.
Instead of answering, Hammer focused on Dex. “Give me your vest.”
Dex’s blood went cold, and even the whispers died down in anticipation of something big.
Lion frowned. “Brother? What are you doing?”
“I earned it,” Dex muttered, but when Hammer held his hand out with a face carved in stone, Dex reluctantly took off his prospect vest.
So Hammer wasn’t just angry. No, he wanted to publicly destroy Dex and his future with the club. This wouldn’t be the first time Dex found out he’d fucked something up without even realizing.
And knowing that not only the bikers but also his closest friends and uncle were here to witness his humiliation was like a band that would continue tightening around his chest until he stopped breathing.
Tears welled up in his eyes as he remembered the way Hammer watched him the night before Dex’s impulsive desire to impress fucked everything up. Back at that hotel, Hammer had considered him worthy of appreciation and opening up to. Now? The man Dex felt so much for was like a rock under a cascade of freezing water.
And unless Dex couldn’t make his heart freeze too, he’d never make it out of this unscathed.
But instead of tossing the vest somewhere, Hammer put it on the counter and placed a new patch above the one Dex had already worn. He then used a stapler to attach it.
Even Lion raised his eyebrows and stayed silent.
The aggressive sound of the staples piercing leather was like gunshots, and Dex was left standing still, unable to catch a glimpse of his mutilated vest.
A patch of shame for his many slip-ups? For not rebuffing Torcher aggressively enough and lurking on Grindr?
Demon Brethren MC. Slut?
Would Hammer really be this cruel? It wasn’t in his nature to do unnecessary things, but maybe Dex’s actions had crossed a line he didn’t know of?
When Hammer dropped the stapler to the floor and handed the vest back to Dex, his gray eyes were like twin razors, and the muscles of his neck—steel that had fully cooled.
Dex wasn’t sure what he was looking at for a long moment, because Hammer seemed so angry, so tense, it didn’t correlate with the patches.
The prospect patch was in place, but the cut had gained three words—Property of Hammer.
Dex’s gaze met Hammer’s and, numb from shock, he put the vest on. His mind couldn’t compute the sudden turn from fear of rejection to something absolutely joyful.
And now that he knew the real thought behind Hammer’s sharp gaze, he realized it was full of tension and worry rather than anger. This was… quite the way to go about coming out. But Hammer was like that—intense and uncompromising, even if he sometimes remained so difficult to read.
There was a single boo, squashed almost immediately, and a whole lot of shocked murmurs as Dex’s knees softened under him so rapidly he needed to support himself against the counter to avoid falling flat on his face.
“Jesus, what a jealous ass,” A familiar voice said, but Dex was too overwhelmed to discern which of the bikers had spoken up. He’d have bet on Torcher, but that guy was away, getting his nose mended.
Hammer raised his chin and pulled Dex closer. “He’s still a prospect. But he’ll also wear this patch until he’s voted in.”
Dex wasn’t sure how much affection in public Hammer was ready for, but he leaned into the touch with his body, smiling as the warm sense of joy spread in his chest. When he glanced to the side, he spotted Ros discreetly giving him a thumbs up
Wasp, who cleared his throat. “Just to be clear, this means he’s…?”
Hammer stared back. “He’s…?”
It was a mystery whether he really didn’t know what his friend meant or wanted to embarrass him for asking in the first place.
Wasp shook his head. “Your property-property?”
Hammer turned Dex around. “What’s the patch say?”
“Fine. No more questions,” Wasp grumbled.
As the initial shock wore off, reality trickled into Dex’s mind. He wasn’t sure what had brought on this change of heart in a man who’d stormed off without another word only hours ago, but he’d grab it with both hands and never let go.