Total pages in book: 189
Estimated words: 181808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 909(@200wpm)___ 727(@250wpm)___ 606(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 181808 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 909(@200wpm)___ 727(@250wpm)___ 606(@300wpm)
“You miss the good old days of getting info?”
Shaking his head, Shade leaned further back on the banister and crossed his ankles. “No. There are certain priorities which come first with the club, and then there are those that come with Lily. I keep them separate.”
“What happens when the day comes, and you can’t?”
Shade gave him a level stare. “Then that’s the day I give my cut to Viper.”
Moon knew Shade meant it without a doubt.
“The new kid’s taking a long time to take a dump, isn’t he?”
Moon frowned. “Now that you mention it, he is.”
“I’ll go check on him.”
Moon wasn’t surprised Shade had ended the brief discussion. The brother had never much been into sharing the inner workings of his mind.
He was stubbing his cigarette out when Shade returned.
“Pace isn’t in the club.”
“Where’d he go?”
“Beats me. But stay here. I’ll send a text to Viper.” He took out his cell phone. “I’m shutting the club down until we find him. He shows up after the door’s locked, he better have a damn good explanation.”
As Shade went inside, Moon heard the steel lock click in place. Taking his gun out of his jeans, he kept it in his hand, on the ready.
Over an hour passed before he heard the lock slide open and Shade and Viper both came outside.
“You find Pace?” he asked, seeing their expressions.
Viper gave a grim nod. “He’s dead.”
“Dead?”
“Shade found him in the sauna.”
Moon swore. “What happened?”
“A bullet to the back of the head. He was executed.”
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
Larissa took another bite of cake. If she hadn’t been watching Killyama open her last baby shower present, she would have missed the brief flash of pain on her face. As the party progressed, Larissa timed the subtle hints that Killyama was in labor.
She was serving Beth a glass of punch when Killyama abruptly stopped Fat Louise mid-sentence to make her way to the table she was standing at.
Instead of giving Killyama a glass of punch, she filled a taller one with chips of ice and water.
Killyama stared at the plain water as if she were debating taking her head off. “Bitch, I asked for punch.”
Larissa gave her an apologetic glance. “Sorry. Your pains are too close together to give you the punch. I made you a pitcher of fruit juice. Would you like me to pour a glass?”
Killyama’s glare intensified. “I’m not in labor.”
“You are.” Larissa locked her shaking knees. Killyama was pretty scary when she didn’t get her way. “Unfortunately, this isn’t going to be something you can control. Babies come on their timetable, not yours. You’re going to have to hand the reins over to me.”
Killyama gripped the edge of the table, hunching over as she gasped in pain.
“Are you ready for me to ask everyone to leave, except for those who you want to be with you during the delivery?”
“Let me do it.”
“Go ahead, or I will,” she warned. “I texted Train already. He’s taking Ela to stay with Viper to play with Aisha. He should be here any minute.”
“I was going to do it.”
“When? After the baby was born?”
“Yes.”
“I promised Train I would text him when you went into labor. That was the only reason you were able to convince him of a home birth. Priss is preparing your bed, and Lana called another doctor to relieve her, so she should be here any minute.”
“What’s going on?” Sex Piston came up to the table.
“Killyama’s in labor,” Larissa answered for her.
Sex Piston took one look at her friend’s face and turned to the group of women behind her. “Party’s over.”
The women who were from The Last Riders’ clubhouse left. Those who remained consisted of her closest friends.
Train walked in the door as she was helping Killyama to her bedroom.
Killyama was directing Fat Louise and T.A. every step along the way. “Fat Louise, put the ice cream back in the freezer and punch in the refrigerator. T.A.—” Killyama cried out in pain. “Son of a bitch!”
Train stopped dead in his tracks.
“She didn’t mean you personally,” Larissa tried to assure him.
Killyama gave her a wild-eyed look. “Yes, I did.” Her gaze went Train’s. “What took you so long? Can’t you see I’m in pain?” she snarled. “I need you to massage my back.”
Train took Killyama’s other arm as they entered her bedroom. “I bet you’re regretting not going to the hospitals to get the good drugs.”
“Do you want to die?” Killyama practically snatched Train’s soul out of his body at his question.
Priscilla moved to take Train’s place. “The water is ready. Train, I placed a chair for you next to the birthing pool.”
Briskly, Larissa started helping Killyama remove her clothes with Priss’ help.
“Lie down on the bed. I want to assess how far you are dilated. Priss is going to take your blood pressure and start monitoring the baby.”