Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 114819 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 574(@200wpm)___ 459(@250wpm)___ 383(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114819 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 574(@200wpm)___ 459(@250wpm)___ 383(@300wpm)
“This is delicious,” Shanna said, coming out of Dev’s apartment with a bowl in hand. “Twilight’s on your dad’s television.”
Abi darted straight up like a jackknife, causing Cash to slow his steps, marveling at how she didn’t spill a single drop at such an abrupt move. Dev reached for Mae’s bowl, having some understanding that as Abi stepped over Dev toward the apartment, Mae was destined to follow. She was far less graceful. Dev barely kept her juice bag upright as she scurried after Abi. Shanna had to pivot against the wall to let the girls by or be run over.
“What’s Twilight?” he asked, making it to the top step. Abi’s timing was perfect. She darted back out the doorway, reached for the dog before she shut the door behind her.
“I feel like I should know…” Dev answered with a quick eyebrow arch at Shanna. “What’s Twilight?”
“The book series Abi’s been reading is made into a movie. Remember, the one I asked you about,” Shanna said and took a seat next to Dev, crisscross on the floor.
Dev stretched his long legs out in front of him, putting Mae’s bowl on the other side. “Apparently it’s the book series Abi’s been readin’,” his biker called out to Cash as if he couldn’t have heard Shanna’s explanation.
“Ha, ha,” Cash replied and mentally counted off each step. When he got to the bottom, he pivoted around and started up again. He stared at Dev the entire way. It wasn’t a hardship. His heart was happy and full even if he was more convinced than ever that Dev was keeping something important from him.
Honestly, it didn’t bother him as much as it probably should. The secret’s reveal was imminent, they always were. Until then, they remained together. He was comfortable with what they shared here. Tonight, he got lost in how content this brother and sister pair were with each other. He’d never seen either of them perform as a unit before today. Content and happy to share the other’s space. Even while digging through their father’s office then home, neither shed a single tear. Hell, not even a frown.
They laughed several times today as they came up empty-handed.
The probable reason for their lighter mood came with heartache for Cash. He didn’t like to think about the hell Fox must have put both his children through if his death eased them in such a way.
If something had happened to his own father… Well, he also didn’t want to think of that either. His father was his foundation.
His gaze connected with Dev’s who watched him climb to the top. Dev’s foot kicked out toward him, drawing his attention. “Why do you look like that?”
Cash didn’t miss a beat as he turned to head down the stairs again. “Because you need to be doing this with me. Makes your heart strong. It’s never too late to start…”
Dev barked out a loud, harsh laugh. “I’m never gonna run up and down those stairs.”
“Yeah, he has a point. It doesn’t look like too much fun,” Shanna teased.
Trace, who kept the door to his apartment open when home, came out, showing he was always listening, doing his job twenty-four seven. “Running those stairs does look like its own kind of hell.” Trace dodged his way around Cash to climb up the steps. “Is that food I smell?”
“Nothin’ you’re gonna like,” Dev said, finally admitting his true feelings. He’d spoken his truth louder than necessary to make sure he was heard.
“I like a lot of different things,” Trace hedged.
Cash smirked at that neutral answer. “It’s cauliflower chowder,” Cash said, breathy as he tried to suck air into his lungs. The workout was finally settling in.
“What did Joe think about that meal?” Trace asked, taking a seat on the floor next to Dev.
“You don’t see him out here, do you?” Dev answered snidely.
Shanna defended him, whacking her hand against Dev’s chest. “Stop being mean. At least he tried.”
Dev started chuckling as Cash narrowed his eyes.
“No. I think it’s good, Cash.” She lacked the conviction she’d used moments ago.
His thighs burned the more he climbed. It didn’t matter. The criticism rolled off his back. He was determined to put some health in Dev’s diet. Even if the man hated every bite.
Chapter 30
Dev came to an abrupt halt in the middle of the parking lot, his cell phone rammed against his ear, trying to hear Millie better. She spoke while he registered the appearance of the clubhouse. They had somehow made a decent advancement. The prospects were hard at work. From every angle, men were fixing the decades of damage. Con-man took his new position as property overseer seriously, barking out orders while a steady stream of men and women came in and out the front door, taking full trash bags out and a bunch of new shit in.