Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 142728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 714(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 142728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 714(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
“You have enough to do,” Rock says to Z. “Smaller jobs like this are the whole point of the support club.”
Z taps his president patch. “Prez or not, I’m okay with gettin’ my hands dirty.”
“We don’t need to know what you and your ol’ lady do in the dark, Prez,” Butcher says.
“Shut up,” Z laughs.
At least Z’s antics take Rock’s interest off of me. He moves to Wrath next, then Murphy, then turns the meeting over to Z.
I perk up when Rooster goes over numbers for their porn production company.
“Has Stella gotten over her snit?” I ask. “We could use her as a featured dancer at CB again.”
Z groans.
“I’ll ask,” Rooster promises. “But I wouldn’t get your hopes up.” He slides his gaze to Z and back to me. “She hasn’t exactly gotten easier to deal with since Sway took off.”
“I’m not surprised.” I shrug. “It was just a thought.”
“You got a thing for our girl?” Butcher asks.
“No.” Christ, Stella’s the last person I’d want to be involved with. But she brought a different clientele to Crystal Ball.
“Anything else?” Rock asks.
No one raises their hand, so Rock dismisses us.
I press my hands against the table and push my chair back.
“Dex?”
I glance at Rock. Concern seems to be brewing in his eyes. But he’s almost cautious as he asks me to stay. “Got a minute?”
Not really. But I can’t exactly say no to my president without a solid reason.
“Sure.” I stand and push in my chair, moving past Wrath. Rock takes a few steps away from the table, toward the window. Usually, he stays at the table for these after-church talks with us. “What’s up, Prez?”
“How’s everything going?”
“Uh, fine.” I sweep my hand toward the table. “Like I said—”
“With you? How are things?”
“Good,” I answer immediately. For the first time in years, it doesn’t feel like a lie. “I’m supposed to go pick up Emily.” So could we hurry this up?
He lifts an eyebrow. “Yeah?”
For some reason, his interest sends unease coursing through me. “Yeah. Thinking of taking her out to Eraser’s place one night.” Might as well assure him that I’m not letting my club responsibilities slide.
“She into race cars?”
“Don’t know yet. But I need to check up on those guys if we want them to be our support club.”
“Think we’ll make them official soon?”
Soon would be nice. I’ve never been able to get a read on how Rock really feels about the support club. Whether he’s doing it to keep Priest, our national president, off our backs, or he thinks it’s the next logical step in securing our upstate New York territory now that the Vipers MC and Wolf Knights MC are no longer in the area.
“I think they’re ready,” I say with conviction.
“Have they come up with a name, colors?”
I snort. “I think I know what name they’re going with.” It was truly perfect for many reasons.
A smirk twists his mouth. “Surprise me.”
“Will do.”
“Go on.” He cocks his head toward the door. “If anyone’s earned a day off, it’s you.”
“Thanks.” I don’t know why that makes me feel guilty, but I shake it off.
Time to see Emily.
I can’t remember the last time I looked forward to seeing someone this much.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Emily
“Does this look okay?” I ask Libby, hating the awful example I’m setting for her. I want to project strength and confidence to my little sister. Not a woman who worries about her appearance. Why am I so damn nervous about my date?
“You look great.” Libby squints at my leggings. “I’m just surprised you’re not wearing a dress on a date.”
I glance down at my tight, black hiking leggings. “We’re going to be walking around a bunch of rocks.” I reach into my closet and grab a teal half-zip sweatshirt and slip it over my tank top. “Are you sure you don’t want to come with us?”
A hint of her sneaky smile curves her lips. “No way. I don’t want to be the third wheel.”
“You wouldn’t be a third wheel.” I wish she’d change her mind but I don’t want to beg. Not that I don’t want to be alone with Dex, I just hate leaving Libby alone to go on a date. It’s not like me.
She’s sixteen. She can be alone for an afternoon. It’s okay.
I trust her. I don’t trust the rest of the world.
“Em, I’m fine. Honest.” She holds up her hands. “I have plenty of homework and television to keep me occupied. I won’t throw any wild parties.”
I roll my eyes. “I know you better than that, Libby.”
It still feels wrong to choose a date over my sister.
The doorbell chimes.
“I’ll get it.” Libby flashes a devilish grin.
“No way.” I rush past her, my socks sliding over the hardwood floors. Damn, my hiking sneakers better be in the hall closet.
Libby’s hot on my tail all the way down the stairs but throws herself onto the couch in the living room. With her back against the arm, she faces the front door with an evil little grin.