Total pages in book: 44
Estimated words: 40484 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 202(@200wpm)___ 162(@250wpm)___ 135(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40484 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 202(@200wpm)___ 162(@250wpm)___ 135(@300wpm)
Tooth rolled his eyes, and his mouth curved into an unpleasant smile as he showed El a device made up of two wings of thick metal, and a handle meant to widen the space between the other two parts. Just seeing it so close turned El’s guts into a pit of snakes that all started biting his flesh at the same time.
“You made it our business when you dragged Trig into your mess,” Tooth said in a husky tone.
El couldn’t hold in his sobs. “I didn’t! It was his choice to not let me die! I had no idea he was there! Just call Trig and ask him.”
Tooth stalled, staring at El’s shaking form, but then the padded door across from the chair flung open and Trig entered with dark red blots on his cheeks.
Tooth hung his head, muttering something under his breath but stepped away from El as Trig stumbled closer on stiff legs.
“What the fuck, Tooth?” he roared and knocked the gag from his president’s hand. The contraption fell to the floor with a loud clang and rolled away when El’s savior approached, shoving Milk away.
“The men you killed were Moreno cartel,” Tooth said. “Your ex is a liar.”
Trig stalled, his eyes wide under messy strands of hair that must have fallen into his face as he sped down the stairs. But then, his face hardened, and he pushed Tooth farther from the chair, like a buck protecting his partner. “There must be an explanation!”
“Yes, and you won’t let me work on getting it out of him, will you?” Tooth asked.
El’s arms itched to curl around Trig’s neck. This man was not only his best friend and lover, but also his savior for the second time in the same night. “I’m sorry…”
Trig wouldn’t look at him as he faced Tooth with hands on his hips. His Adam’s apple kept bobbing as if it were a trapped animal trying to break free. “You shouldn’t have taken him without talking to me first, prez,” he said in a dull voice.
Tooth shrugged. “How am I supposed to question him with you hovering here?”
“I would have gotten you the answers without pliers,” Trig said through clenched teeth.
Milk leaned against the tiled wall and crossed his arms. “You wouldn't, because I caught him leaving the clubhouse.”
Shame sank into El’s skin, but despite always thinking about his own skin first, he couldn’t bring himself to deny it and lie to Trig yet again. Not now. His lips trembled as if he was still that scared teen from years ago, and tears blurred his vision before rolling down his cheeks.
The muscles of Trig’s jaw twitched as he lowered his head, breathing faster. “Why?” he barked. “I want to protect you. Why would you run like a rat? Why do you lie? What is wrong with you?”
The words tore from deep in his chest so violently El smelled phantom blood in the air. It was as if all the hurt and grievances Trig had been holding back had been unleashed when he smacked both hands on the chair, making it tremble under El.
El dared look up at Tooth despite his fingers shaking. “Because I hate this fucking club!” His heart broke when he moved his gaze to Trig, and when their eyes met, he couldn’t help but spit out everything that had been weighing down his soul. “They took you away from me! It was supposed to be us against the world. You promised me all of that, and still chose them! I even asked you to go with me tonight, and you chose them again!” Snot dribbled from his nose, but he was so overwhelmed that he didn’t care. Nothing mattered as long as Trig heard him out.
The strong shoulders he wanted as his shield dropped. “You were the one who told me to fuck off!”
El screamed with frustration, not even embarrassed about having an audience, because what did shame matter in the grand scheme of things?
“I wanted you to go after me!”
Trig stilled, gravitating closer as if the other two men weren’t there. “I did,” he said, placing his hand over El’s heart.
El’s frustration knew no bounds, but the touch released some of the tension in his muscles. He might have been afraid for his life only moments prior, but with Trig here, he was safe.
“Not like that!” He sobbed in anger, yet wished to be freed so he could curl up against Trig and apologize for everything.
Trig had never given up on him. He’d always been there, waiting, no matter how misguided his methods were, and El hadn’t even had the decency of giving a chance to something that was important to him.
He looked so handsome with the longish hair falling into his face again, the stubble that had felt so exciting on El’s skin, and strong arms that used to feel so good around El on cold nights. They were both speechless with emotion until Tooth cleared his throat and pushed his big, furry head into the picture.