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)
“Dex is the kind of guy who can weasel his way out of any situation, so I wouldn’t worry,” Hammer said before digging into the food.
Dex’s stomach sank as he waited for the verdict as if he were on trial for murder. His hand was sweaty around the spoon, and his throat closed up, but then Hammer made a pleased grunt and nodded.
“Gotta say, I did not expect it to taste this good. Real comfort food.”
Dex beamed at him, wishing he could sit in Hammer’s lap. It felt like forever since they touched, and their one and only kiss had been cut short. “They don’t call me Noodle Master for nothing.”
Shane laughed. “No one calls you that. Try it, Frank, it’s really good.”
Frank shook his head, but when his gaze licked the strips of bacon topping the bowl of food, Dex could sense his resolve breaking. “Fine. If whatever this is,” he pointed between Dex and Hammer, “is happening, you need to know the rules. The main one being, you can’t fuck here when I’m home. You can hear everything through these walls.”
“That’s fair. I have my own place,” Hammer said, helping himself to more food.
“Definite upgrade from your last guy, Dex,” Shane said, but his grin was no longer mean. It seemed good instant ramen could appease just about anyone.
Dex smiled with his mouth full. “I can’t wait to see it. And maybe I can sort out something for myself too in a few months. I just need to save up.”
He could practically hear Frank’s muscles turning into stone, even though he seemed pleased with the crispiness of the bacon. “Move out where exactly? Does this mean you’ll get a job?”
“That’s one thing I wanted to talk about,” Hammer said and reached into a backpack he’d brought with him. Moments later, a leather garment landed on the table between him and Dex. “The club has voted on it. It’s your choice,” He said and picked up the bowl, drinking some of the soup.
Dex’s heart stopped.
The leather vest in front of him had the Demon Brethren patches and logo, and the bottom rocker read prospect. He’d been accepted, even if only for a probation period. Despite him being young and openly gay, the club had voted to give him a shot. He could hardly believe his eyes and had to push his bowl away to avoid staining the precious garment.
“Oh fuck! Oh fuck!” He grinned, rubbing his face when it tingled. “What did they say? Do I go meet the prez now? He’s in a bad mood, isn’t he?”
Hammer laughed and gave his shoulder a little squeeze. “You already have a nickname, Grinder.”
Shane frowned, and his lips twisted as if he’d bitten into a lemon. “Is it because you can hear the Grindr notifications wherever he goes?”
Hammer’s eyes darkened, as if a gray cloud passed through. “It’s an inside joke.”
Frank’s loaf-sized hands flattened on the table. “What about?”
Grinding people into mince.
Dex stopped breathing when Hammer met his gaze, but instead of revealing how Dex had spent time following the attack on Cora’s home, Hammer said, “Club business.”
“No, no, no. What the fuck is this?” Frank asked, getting up from his chair so fast his head barely missed the lamp hanging far too low for a home inhabited by someone as tall as him.
Dex glanced at him, surprised. “It’s a prospect vest. It means I’ll be doing a trial period with the club, and they’ll decide if I have it in me to be one of them. I don’t yet know what exactly—”
“I know what it means! What I don’t know, is what the fuck it’s doing here!” Frank roared at Hammer like a wolf protecting her cubs from a bear. “You want to get him killed? Why don’t you just fucking shoot him in the head to save time?”
Shane got up as well. “Frank… Calm down. Let’s just finish our nice meal and talk it over.”
Hammer put down his empty bowl before wiping his lips with the back of his hand. “I understand you’re worried, he is your family, but he was the one to ask me for this, and I’m not gonna keep him in a golden cage. He is more than capable of standing on his own two feet. And he will have me to back him up.”
Frank’s face turned dark red. “Leave. And take the fucking vest,” he yelled, ever louder.
Hammer met Dex’s gaze and stood. “Thank you for the food. It was just as you described it.”
Dex wasn’t sure whether he should grab his hand or the vest. “No, stay. Please. Frank can’t tell me what to do.”
Hammer gave him a brief pat on the shoulder but left the vest on the table. “I don’t want to overstay my welcome. I’ll be outside for a while.”
“And take this with you,” Frank said, but when he reached for the patched treasure, Dex snatched it into his arms.