Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 114936 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 575(@200wpm)___ 460(@250wpm)___ 383(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114936 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 575(@200wpm)___ 460(@250wpm)___ 383(@300wpm)
I choke on my laugh because he isn’t that funny. “No.” I lean closer into him, so close I can smell the nicotine on his leather jacket. “I’m a Kiznitch, baby. We fuck. It’s what we do.” Leaning back, I roll my eyes. “I mean the other stuff. Why else were you there? The assignment and then saving me? That all?”
Dominic seems to be surprised before relaxing in his chair again. “Actually, yes. I was also bored.” He winks at me. “It’s not that deep, darlin’.”
I laugh loud this time and it’s a second before he’s joining me.
“Go home, Cartier. Go and sort out your family and your empire. Start your shows again and do it right this time.” His eyes come to mine. “Don’t punish those around you because you’re battling wars inside.”
I breathe out a sigh, pushing up from my chair. “Why are you a cocky, wise asshole?”
His head dips and his eyes flash up at mine devilishly. “I’m a King, baby. It’s what we do.”
Pushing through the sea of bodies, I hit the front door and breathe in the fresh air, shuffling my long trench coat on and tying it at the front. I came tonight for a drink and to get away from the silence, sure, but I always wanted to double-check on Dominic and Bam Bam. Delila and her lies, you can never be sure. My black SUV pulls up to the curb and Jordan winds down the passenger window. “Come on. Time to go home.”
I slide into the back seat and pull out my phone, flicking through the photos. Tapping on Instagram, I open Midnight Mayhem’s page and take a quick shot with my blue hair spread over my shoulders and my tongue sticking out. Typing out the caption, I hit Post.
We’re fucking back.
Two Years Later
I knew it. I knew she was going to be the death of me the second her little eyes looked up at me for the first time ever. And I was right because she’s gone and done it this time.
“Cartier!” I call out as she zips through the dirt track at speeds way too fucking fast. I clench the wrapper in my hand and push my other two fingers into my mouth and whistle. It’s no use. The little fucking shit sends it, flying up the ramp and flips backward into a La-Z-Boy, flipping me off with her free hands. After all the bullshit that happened with Delila, we burned The Castle down below The Village and turned it into one big riding paddock. It was fucking perfect for all of us since we’d worn out the old one.
She lands back onto the dirt and skids to a stop, removing her helmet and bouncing toward me with a smile. “What, grumpy? What’s wrong?”
“Oh? What’s wrong?” I flash the packet in front of her face, tilting my head to the side. “You’re fucking pregnant, and you’re riding like that?” Her smile falls instantly, grabbing the package out of my hands. “Tigger, what the fuck?”
“I’m not.” She shakes her head, and her blue hair falls over her shoulders. “I thought I was, but I’m not.” When the words leave her mouth, I try to ignore the way disappointment foils in my gut.
I reach for her hand, pulling her back against my chest. The smell of cooking meat and fried potatoes drifts over the cliff, and I know it’s almost time to head over to King and Perse’s for Sunday family dinner. “Hey.” I move her hair out of her face, tucking it behind her ear. “I didn’t know you wanted that?”
Her lips pucker a little, her eyes flying over my shoulder. “I think I do. What about you?” The question I’ve thought about more than she probably realizes. “I mean, I know that’s a real stupid question, of c—”
“It’s not that, baby. It’s just—what if it’s hereditary? What if they come out to be the new Ted Bundy or somethin’ because they won’t have you?” Fear cripples my bones, and panic starts to raise my blood pressure. “Fuck. That could be a disaster.”
She raises her hands and rests them on my cheeks. “Keaton, you’re the greatest man I know. When was the last time you needed to?”
“Not the fact of need,” I say, but I already know what she’s saying. “Two years…”
A smile turns up on her face, and suddenly the sun setting behind her is way too fucking bright. I curl my hand behind the back of her neck, forcing her lips onto mine. “I love you. It’s because I love you that I don’t need to be that person anymore.”
Her smile spreads over my mouth before she bites my bottom lip playfully. “I love you too. Now, may I please have your sperm?”
My chest rumbles when a chuckle leaves me, picking her up from the ground and throwing her over my shoulder as I make our way back up to Sunday Session. “I guess so.” She laughs all the way up and through the forest and I don’t place her back down onto her feet until we reach the long rectangle table that’s stretched over the grass clearing right in the middle of where all the houses surround. Luna-Knox is running around between the tables, and Perse and King are each holding their two new additions. Everyone is seated. The crew, The Brothers, everyone who makes Midnight Mayhem what it is are all seated around the table, digging into the hot food laid out in the middle like fucking royalty.