Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 115525 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 578(@200wpm)___ 462(@250wpm)___ 385(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115525 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 578(@200wpm)___ 462(@250wpm)___ 385(@300wpm)
Wood chewed on his stern jaw like he was pissed, but he smartly kept his mouth shut and walked away.
Trent sat there, looking confused. “Dad. What’s going on? What’s up with you and Rayne?”
Mike wasn’t going into this right now, but he couldn’t keep ignoring Trent’s and Bishop’s repeated calls and texts. “I know we need to talk. But not now. Not tonight.”
“Then when?” Trent scoffed. “After you guys have shacked up for a year?”
“Son. It’s been a rough evening, okay?”
“Are you sure you’re good?” Trent asked, trying to meet his eyes. “What about your crew?”
“I’m fine. We’re all fine. I’m just glad we got there in time. That guy was drunk as fuck and disgusting.”
“Dad. You know we didn’t mean for Rayne to catch us like that,” Trent tried again. “He was supposed to be at his friend’s tonight. I made this arrangement with him two weeks ago. But I’m not mad at him. He doesn’t have to leave.”
“He knows that. But I offered, and he accepted.”
“Has he seen your house?”
“No.”
“He’ll love the upgrade. Rayne’s not exactly the trailer park type,” Trent chuckled.
God, I hope he likes it. Rayne came down the hall with Wood following behind him, trying hard to convince him to stay. He was struggling with two large suitcases and an overstuffed duffle bag slung over his back. Mike went to the door and whistled for his guys.
Manny and Score came in first, followed by Marcus, Beast, and Drama. Mike asked them to get Rayne’s bags and to transfer the rest of the luggage from Trent’s truck into his.
“Are you sure?” Wood whispered nervously at the back of Rayne’s head.
Rayne turned and gave Wood a quick one-armed hug, then pecked him on his cheek. “I’m positive. Thank you both so much for taking me in, but I think this is for the best.”
Manny took Rayne’s duffle and luggage while Beast went in the back and began to haul the rest.
“Well, that room will always be there if you need it.” Wood glared at Mike, though he was talking to Rayne. “Anytime. Day or night.”
“Thank you.” Rayne went to Trent. “I’m sorry your night didn’t go as planned.”
“Yeah. You too, man. But I’m glad you’re safe.” Trent hugged Rayne before he left out the door.
Wood looked concerned, and Mike was proud when his son told his boyfriend, “You can rest assured now, babe. With Mike is the safest place Rayne could ever be.”
Chapter Twenty-six
Rayne
“Hey. We’re almost there. I live in that new subdivision on the north side of Norfolk.” Mike’s eyes stayed on the road, but Rayne caught him checking his side mirrors several times.
Were they being followed?
“Rayne, are you sure you’re okay? You’re still shaking.”
Rayne wiped his clammy hands down his pants leg in an attempt to calm them, but it was a useless effort. He didn’t know if he was still scared from being trapped by his uncle and almost getting eaten by Zelda or the fact that he was moving in with the man of his dreams before he was in a monogamous relationship. Oh my god! What am I doing? What if this changed things for Mike? They weren’t even a couple yet, and Rayne was already wreaking havoc and blowing shit up in Mike’s world like the TNT that he was.
Rayne cleared his throat. “I’m fine. I—”
“Don’t lie,” Mike rumbled, his voice dark and confident. “You don’t have to fake anything for me. I’d be rattled too if some drunk, perverted relative locked me in a room.”
Rayne refused to cry in front of this incredibly strong man, but he was beyond frustrated with life knocking him down every time he got up on one knee. He searched for something to be grateful for instead of whining about life not being fair. He was still struggling to think of something when Mike turned into his driveway, and Rayne’s mouth fell open. The streetlights illuminated Mike’s gorgeous lawn that continued around the side of the two-story house. There were solar lights lining the pathway to the front door and framing the flower bed that was overflowing with spring blooms. It was even more amazing than Edison’s.
“I know the lawn needs some maintenance, but I’ve been up to my ears in new contracts and haven’t been able to get to my own yard. I’ll work on it tomorrow,” Mike muttered after he’d brought the truck to a stop.
Um, what?
Mike pressed a button on the remote attached to his visor and waited for the garage door to go up. The lights came on as he eased his big RAM inside and parked it beside two shiny black motorcycles. The garage was neat with a padded asphalt floor and barely scuffed white walls, which told Rayne that Mike’s house was pretty new. Maybe a year or two old, if that.