Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 35194 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 176(@200wpm)___ 141(@250wpm)___ 117(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35194 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 176(@200wpm)___ 141(@250wpm)___ 117(@300wpm)
She looked horrified, which just made Dom grin wider. “Please don’t hurt anyone on my account. He didn’t know and was just trying to do his job. He was guarding the gate. Right?”
Dom nodded. “He was, baby. But he should have brought you straight to me as soon as you told him who you were.”
“But I didn’t.” She reached out and took Dom’s hand, gripping his fingers tightly. “I didn’t tell him. Not until Ringo got there. I didn’t want to say anything other than Tina had sent me.” She held out the compass she’d been gripping tightly in her fist. “She said to show you this, and you’d know it was me.”
Carefully, as if handling the most precious thing in the world, Dom opened his hand to look down at the compass Calista had given him earlier. He caught the small map fluttering to the ground when it slipped from his fingers. A pained expression of longing and sorrow crossed his face before he folded the map and secured it back inside the device and flipped it over. Using the edge of his nail, he pried the back cover off.
Calista let out a small, pained noise but said nothing else. I brushed my lips over her hair for comfort. The scent of woods and moss was sharp but underneath I could smell the sweet essence of her. There were no perfumes or fancy soaps. Just exhausted woman. Made me want to carry her to my room and keep everyone out until she’d eaten, rested, and showered. In that order.
“Easy, honey,” I murmured to her. “Let him look.”
Inside was a small card. Calista sat up and leaned in to see. Dom brushed his thumb over the paper, and I saw it was actually a picture. Caliste gave a small gasp and her gaze met Dom’s. Dom handed her the picture, and I looked over Calista’s shoulder as she studied the image.
“That’s Mom,” she whispered. “With you?”
Dom sighed, swallowing back emotion I couldn’t read. “Yeah. We were barely more than teenagers. I remember when that picture was taken.” The muscle in Dom’s jaw bunched. It was obvious he was struggling for control.
“Maybe we should leave and give them some privacy.” Apple spoke softly, tapping Rocket on the shoulder. “Take the guys. Me and Lemon can stay until Calista feels comfortable, but I think they need some time to talk.”
Rocket nodded, leaning in to kiss Lemon’s temple. “She needs anything, you girls call me. Ringo, when you guys find out what happened, let me know. We’ll decide what needs to happen next.”
I nodded at my president. I liked that he assumed I wouldn’t be leaving. Because I wasn’t. I was going to find out what happened to send this girl scrambling through gator-infested wetlands and woodlands at night to find a man she’d never met and had no reason to believe he even knew she existed, other than what her mother had told her.
“I’m the sergeant at arms, Ringo,” Dom said, his voice husky with what I was sure was emotion. “When the safety of the club is involved, I decide what has to happen. Not Rocket.”
“And I’m the president, Dom. Every decision regarding this club is ultimately mine.” Rocket pinned Dom with a hard gaze. “You’re too close. You can be present and help us plan or anything else you feel like you need to do inside the compound to help us prepare. You will not be part of anything going down.”
For a moment, I thought Dom was going to protest, but he finally let out a breath and nodded. “Last thing I want to do is something to bring the club under scrutiny.” He scrubbed a hand over his face. “Sorry, man.”
“Dumbass.” Lemon snorted. “Ain’t worried about you doin’ somethin’ to harm the club. You’d never do that. We’re worried about you. Killin’ is one thing. But you shouldn’t do it when emotions are high. Not unless it’s life or death.” She gave Dom a stern look. Like a mother scolding a child. “You kill when you’re calm and can properly appreciate the pain and suffering you’re inflicting without that haze of anger.”
That got a bark of laughter from Calista. She sat up straighter and grinned at Lemon. “I think you and me are gonna be good friends.”
Chapter Four
Calista
My mom was right. These people had welcomed me. Dominic hadn’t rejected me. In fact, I thought he might be a solid wall between me and anything my stepfather could throw at me. And, God help me, there was Ringo.
The very last thing I wanted was to come between him and my father. It seemed like they had a close relationship, though I could be wrong. Unfortunately, I couldn’t seem to make myself crawl off Ringo’s lap and out of his arms. I was tired, hungry, and feeling extremely vulnerable. Ringo made me feel safe like I hadn’t felt since mom married Borris.