Total pages in book: 147
Estimated words: 140795 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 704(@200wpm)___ 563(@250wpm)___ 469(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 140795 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 704(@200wpm)___ 563(@250wpm)___ 469(@300wpm)
“You want to bet his life on that reasoning?”
Ginny bit her bottom lip. “No.”
“Alec is going to stay with him tonight and make sure he’s not left alone until he recovers.”
“That doesn’t make me feel better.”
“It’ll have to do, because you’re not going.”
“You enjoy bossing people around, don’t you?”
“What?”
Ginny sat down on the couch to take her tennis shoes off. Then, curling up against the armrest, she pulled a throw pillow onto her lap, making herself comfortable. “You do it to me a lot. I would be upset, but you’re just as bad with men. You expect everyone to follow your orders—Nickel, Alec, his men. I bet you and Viper fight constantly.”
“We used to, not so much anymore.” His pained expression showed it was an unwilling admission. She couldn’t help but try to heal his pain.
“Your both alpha. He’s giving in because he loves you.”
“You don’t know shit about Viper and me.”
Ginny saw his back go ramrod straight as he tried to deny her assertion.
“I don’t have to. I can see it with my own two eyes. With both of you being alpha, the only one that Viper would be able to cave into would be you.”
“Quit saying that as if we’re two dogs trying to piss on the same tree.”
Ginny made a face. “I certainly didn’t mean it like that. Both of you are leaders, not followers. It only stands to reason you would have fights.”
“I’m no leader.” Reacting as if she had hit a raw nerve, Gavin went to the door. “I’m going to get my things and talk with Nickel.”
“I’ll make us lunch,” she offered, beginning to get up.
“Don’t bother. I’ll find something while I’m next door.”
“I didn’t mean to upset you, Gavin.”
“I’m not upset. I don’t care enough about your opinions to give a fuck.”
It took all of her willpower not to burst into tears at his callous remark. However, Ginny would rather shoot herself in the foot before she let him know he hurt her. She would lick her wounds after he left.
Ginny proudly tossed the pillow aside to stand as if he had missed his mark. “That’s fair. You didn’t ask for my opinions. I should have kept them to myself.” Giving him a dismissive nod of her chin, she went to the door to unlock it. “If you’re ready, I’ll lock the door behind you.”
Gavin paused before going through the door. “Are you going to let me back in when I come back?”
“Of course.” She raised her clear eyes to his. “I’ve been making the effort to discover what type of man you are, while you couldn’t care less what type of woman I am. It shows by you having to ask me that question. You might not know me well enough yet to know this about me, but I’m going to be fair and give you a heads-up. You’re not the only one who’s not afraid to ride in storms.”
Chapter Thirteen
Reaper stared up at the dark ceiling with eyes so tired they felt like they were filled with sawdust. Rolling to his side, he used his legs to kick the covers off him. Ginny’s spare bedroom was a fourth the size of his at the club.
His racing mind wouldn’t let him sleep. He kept going back to the way he had spoken to her when she got too close to the truth. He remembered his arguments with Viper when they got out of the service and him trying to get his brother to see him as an equal. What hit him hard was that Ginny’s insight was probably closer to what really had gone down. Even as a child, Viper had been responsible; their mother leaning on him with Ton being deployed. When she left, Viper had easily stepped in as the provider. Entering the Navy, each step up the ladder of command had crafted and honed Viper to become a man to be respected and feared. It was only when Viper left that Reaper started relying on his own strength without having Viper ready to pick up the pieces if things went to shit.
Coming out the service hadn’t been an easy adjustment for Ton. Their father had spent too many nights out at bars, and Reaper had lost count of the fights he had to get him out of. He never told Viper, not wanting him to worry about Ton. When he was old enough to join the service, Ton finally settled down enough to quit drinking, and he took a job that gave new meaning to his life.
Entering the service, Reaper had found his purpose in life. He took the skills he was taught and moved up the ranks just as quickly as Viper had, until he landed on the team that Viper commanded. They hadn’t butted heads then, because it had been Viper’s job to look out for his men, and Reaper’s job to follow his orders.