Total pages in book: 168
Estimated words: 160578 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 803(@200wpm)___ 642(@250wpm)___ 535(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 160578 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 803(@200wpm)___ 642(@250wpm)___ 535(@300wpm)
Her body turns stiff. She doesn’t answer because Stella interrupts with a sigh, leaning against the hood of Priest’s car and crossing her legs at the ankle. Her black thigh-high boots cling to her petite legs, and every time the wind blows, her long black hair swims in the breeze like silk.
“I’m bored and under-fucked.”
“Stella…” Vaden snarls at her from the other side of the car, the dark around his eyes worsening and his skin paler than usual. Vaden was always the one who had a joke, or a smile, or God forbid, when we take it right back, was the one who I felt safest around because he’d always make Priest see reason, but this new Vaden isn’t someone I recognize.
“Careful with those pretty eyes, Little One…” I don’t realize I’m staring until his words pull me back into the now. He watches with a weight of darkness that sucks me in like a vortex. He has a soul too poetic to be left with nothing but a good tune. “Before you lose them.”
“Vaden…” It leaves my mouth in a whisper, but he turns away from me, back to watching what’s happening in front of us in a cloud of smoke.
I shouldn’t ask if he’s okay, because it will only raise questions of why I think I can, with everyone here. Not that they’d judge if they knew the extent of truth between him, Priest and me, but because drawing even more attention to him when he clearly doesn’t want it would do more damage.
I look up to River, but she shakes her head, hiding her mouth beneath the fur of her collar.
“River, who was in your bed this morning?” War asks from the other side of Vaden where he’s against Halen’s Hakosuka.
River glares at War, flipping him off. “None of your business.”
“Who, as in one?” Stella’s brow rises at the same time as the corner of her mouth. “Surprised…”
“Okay, both of you shut up, I—” The sound of a V8 sends ripple waves through the air as Priest steps closer behind me.
The sleek black Rolls Royce comes to a stop, with nothing but the beam of its headlights to squint at. When polished Oxfords come into view, followed by another shadow, I almost choke on my laugh.
Everyone is so tense.
Pop and a young guy around our age step in front of the light. When Priest steps in front of me, his hand brushes mine and my heart skips a beat. He pulls me back casually without looking, putting himself between me and his grandfather.
Weird.
“What’s up with that?” I ask River while keeping my eyes fixed ahead. My holster is in Priest’s car, but it’d take me less than three seconds to have it lodged in someone’s forehead if they even make a single inclination of harm toward him. Or anyone here.
River’s laugh dies a little. “That dude there is Bas. He fucked Halen, and War is still pissed.”
Seems about right.
I relax a little. I know how much his pop means to Priest, but I also know how things can change off the drop of a hat in this world.
“Grandson, you’re a hard man to get a hold of these days…” Pop Hayes always has three things: a cigar, a suit, and the uncanny ability to make everyone in the room feel uncomfortable. A cloud of smoke wafts from his lips, and when he turns, my body turns to stone when his eyes land on me.
I’ve heard stories of him over time, all of which weren’t particularly great. He spent a great deal of his earlier days being the bad person in everyone’s lives. It wasn’t until Madison fell pregnant that it changed.
“Luna Nox,” Hector says around the trunk of his cigar. His voice is gritty yet languid, the damage of nicotine obvious.
He plucks the cigar from his mouth and flicks the ash off the end. “Can’t say that I’m surprised you’re here, although, it was a long time coming.”
“Good to see you, Hector.” My smile is soft, but my shoulders are pulled back and my feet are solid to the ground.
I hold his stare the entire time until he finally chuckles. “Well. They sure knew what they were doing with you, didn’t they?” His smile is tight before going back to Priest. “I need to run something past you, and you might not like it.”
The energy doesn’t loosen. Anyone else would think Priest is simply standing, but I see the instinctive stance of an animal on alert. “And he needs to be here for this?” He gestures to Bas.
Hector turns over his shoulder slightly before nudging his head toward the car. Bas retreats, but not before his eyes land on me. Seconds pass. Questions linger. It’s suffocating. Like looking back at an old photograph.
“Your bitch boy has about ten seconds to find his seat before you don’t have a bitch boy no more.” Priest’s warning is loud and clear.