Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 132332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 529(@250wpm)___ 441(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 529(@250wpm)___ 441(@300wpm)
“Like what?” Rock snaps.
“You’ve been a bit of a dick to Murphy lately.”
Rock slams his mug on the counter. “Why does everyone keep saying that?”
“So someone else noticed?”
“Grinder mentioned it.” Rock lifts his chin at me as he returns to his seat. “Have I been harder on him than usual?”
“He’s your VP now.” I shrug. “Harder role than road captain.”
Wrath nods slowly, like he’s about to drop a truth bomb we won’t like. “You should’ve told him about this when you made him VP.” He pierces Rock with a disapproving stare. “All you did was undermine him and make him think you don’t trust him.”
Rock traces his finger in a line down the table. “They’re two separate things. Club.” He slaps his hand on one side of the line, then the other. “Family.”
“Fucked-up family,” I add.
“That’s bullshit and you know it.” Wrath crosses his index and middle fingers together. “The club is our family. Your blood relationship doesn’t change that. I shouldn’t have to explain this very basic concept to you, brother.”
“He’s right,” I say, dropping my gaze to the floor. “I’m sorry, Rock. It’s my fault. You wanted to tell them months ago.”
A heavy hand lands on my shoulder. I glance up, expecting to find Rock, but it’s Wrath. “There’s no way to prepare to have your whole history rearranged,” he says with more sympathy than I’d expect from Wrath. “Club still needs to come first.”
I nod.
“Apologize to Murphy. And mean it.” He squeezes my shoulder to emphasize his point. “Stop treating him like your little bro. He’s your VP now.”
“Shit.” I huff out a laugh. “Who would’ve seen that coming?”
“Right?” Wrath lifts his brow. “I always assumed he’d take over for me if I dropped dead.”
“You do beg for death on a regular basis,” Rock says.
“Don’t blame me because the truth is hard to swallow. You need to apologize to him too.” Wrath pierces Rock with an intense stare. “Your ability to own your mistakes and do what needs to be done to fix them is what makes you a good leader. All the brothers—well, except me—fear you. But we respect you more.”
Rock chuckles. “Thanks, brother.”
Wrath slaps the table and stands. “Heidi sent another text this morning. Said they’ll be back by noon.”
“What the fuck?” I sputter, reaching to check my phone. “Why didn’t you say that when you got here?”
“I wanted to assess the situation first,” Wrath says without a hint of apology.
“Thanks,” Rock says in his least thankful tone.
“Anytime.” He lifts his hand on his way out.
After Hurricane Wrath departs, Rock and I stare at each other.
“What do you want to do?” I ask. “Think they’ll stop by here?”
“I’ll stick around—
My phone buzzes, cutting off Rock’s answer.
Heidi: Are you at your house?
Me: Yeah.
“It’s Heidi,” I explain without looking away from the screen. Another message pops up.
Heidi: Can I come over?
Me: Just you?
It seems like an eternity before she responds.
Heidi: All three of us.
I let out a slow breath and close my eyes.
Me: I’ll be here.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Teller
“Pop-pop!” Alexa runs over the uneven grass toward Rock.
Murphy glares at him, like he’d rather chew on glass than say hello.
Rock leans over and swings Alexa into his arms. “There’s our little mermaid girl.”
Murphy’s jaw twitches as he watches them. He shakes his head and turns toward Heidi still lingering by the tailgate of Murphy’s black truck.
“Hey.” I approach them slowly. “You all right?”
Heidi curls her hand around Blake’s. “We’re good.”
“Can we talk?” I gesture toward the house.
“I’d like to.” Heidi clings to Blake’s hand, making it clear all three of us are having this conversation. Fair enough.
At the porch steps, Blake hesitates and tugs Heidi toward him. “You two should talk first,” he says in a low voice.
“Are you sure?” Heidi asks.
“Go on.” He lifts her hand to his lips and kisses her knuckles. “I’m not going anywhere.”
I hold open the door and nod to Blake after Heidi steps inside.
She stands in the hallway, awkwardly twitching as if it’s the first time she’s ever been in my house.
“You want something to drink?” I ask.
“Sure.” She follows me into the kitchen.
I pull out a pitcher of lemonade Charlotte made and pour two glasses.
“Where’s Charlotte?” Heidi asks, taking a seat at one end of the kitchen table.
“At the office.” I take the chair Wrath used earlier, so I’m closer to Heidi. She shifts away, the chair scratching over the floor, as if she needs more space.
“I’m sorry,” I begin.
She raises an eyebrow. “For?” She lifts the glass to her lips, taking a sip and puckering her mouth as the tart sweetness registers.
“I should’ve told you sooner. Instead of being a coward, I probably should’ve told you one-on-one.”
“You’re a lot of things, Marcel. A coward isn’t one of them.”
“An emotional coward then.”
She tilts her head as if she’s considering that suggestion. “So, this is why you’ve been so weird with me lately?”