Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77394 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77394 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 387(@200wpm)___ 310(@250wpm)___ 258(@300wpm)
“Take your time.”
Once he was gone, I nodded to the window and said to Savage, “We’re gonna need to take care of him.”
“We’ll handle it.”
“Good deal. I appreciate you boys taking care of Beckett these past few months. We’re always available if you need us to return the favor.”
“I’ll be sure to let Prez know.”
Savage and Wrath gave me a hand loading Beckett’s things, and after giving him some time to say his goodbyes, we were on the road home. We’d gotten a later start than I’d hoped, but there was little I could do about it. Things had to be done.
We shared a little small talk along the way, but it was short-lived. Beckett grew quiet and remained that way all the way to South Dakota. We stopped for the night, ate and filled up, and then, we were back at it.
After a few hours, the silence was getting to me, so I asked him, “How’s it going over there, kid?”
“It’s going.”
I glanced down, and I couldn’t help but notice the cuts and bruises on his knuckles. As the club’s enforcer, I’d had my own fair share of wrecked knuckles and knew they hurt like a bitch. “You good?”
“Yeah.” Beckett kept his focus on the view out the side window. “Just ready to get home.”
I glanced down at the GPS as I told him, “I hate to break it to you, but we’re still about eight hours out.”
“Figured as much.”
“We’ll stop in an hour or so to fill up and grab a bite to eat.”
He didn’t respond.
I didn’t expect him to. The kid was a million miles away. I didn’t want to push. He’d been through a lot over the past few months, and it had been a hell of a ride.
I’d already tried asking him how things had gone in Washington, but he wasn’t exactly forthcoming. He mentioned working at the construction site and hanging out with Rooster and Torch. His spirits seemed to lighten at the mention of their names, but only momentarily. In a blink, his somber mood returned, and he was back to staring out the window.
And he’d been like that for hours.
I’d tried to be patient and all that bullshit, but the silence was too much for me. When I couldn’t stand it a moment longer, I gave him a nudge and said, “Any plans for when we get back?”
“Probably sleep for about three days.”
“I know your dad and the rest of the brothers are looking forward to having your back.”
“Hm-hmm.”
And with that, my patience broke. “What the hell was that?”
“Nothing. I’m good.”
“The hell you say,” I argued. “You’ve hardly said two words since you got in the fucking truck.”
“Yeah, I know. I got a lot on my mind.” I thought that was all he was going to say until he glanced over at me and continued, “I’m not sure I’m ready for this.”
“Ready for what?”
“All the Christmas bullshit.” His eyes drifted to his lap as he confessed, “Not sure I can do the whole holiday thing without Amy.”
“You won’t have to handle that alone.”
“You say that, but I’ve been handling it alone for months.”
“I’m here.”
“Yeah, I appreciate it more than you know.” He inhaled a deep breath, then added, “You didn’t have to bring him to me, but it meant a lot to me that you did.”
“Wish I could’ve done more...”
“I know. I get it.” He gave me a half-hearted shrug. “They’ll get theirs in the end. Assholes like that always do.”
“Yeah, they definitely do.” I finally had him talking and didn’t want him to stop, so I said, “I bet you’re ready to get home and sleep in your own bed.”
He grimaced as he answered, “About that... I’m gonna be staying over at Amy’s place.”
“No. That’s not gonna happen.”
“I’ve put a lot of thought into it... It’s sittin’ empty and most of my shit’s still there. Just makes sense to hang there until things settle down.”
“It’s almost Christmas. You gotta know that being there is gonna fuck with your head.”
“Maybe it will. Maybe it won’t.”
“And what about Prez?”
“What about him?”
“He wants you home with him for the holiday.”
“And I will be. I just won’t be right up under his fucking nose.” Beckett shook his head and sighed. “I know he won’t like it, but he should be happy that I agreed to come back at all. Things were good in Washington. Those guys treated me like I actually mattered.”
“Don’t even start with that shit. You know damn well that you matter here,” I snapped. “Hell, everyone bends over backward for you.”
“Yeah, right.” His brows furrowed. “I’m nothing there. Just the Prez’s kid, spoiled and entitled, and that’s all I’ll ever be.”
“That attitude isn’t gonna do you any favors.”
“It is what it is.” He shrugged with a scoff. “But it’s all good. I’m over all the bullshit.”