Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 65872 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 329(@200wpm)___ 263(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65872 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 329(@200wpm)___ 263(@250wpm)___ 220(@300wpm)
As I look around the room, I stare at Hangman. “You know,” I accuse without explanation. Hangman nods. “For a few years, yeah. Blade discovered the truth right before his brother died. He thought about searching you out, but you had already banned our club from your territory. We had enough on our plate already.”
“I would probably do the same thing again, but I do regret everything going down the way it did.”
Hangman nods. “Water under the bridge.”
“It’s a fucking big bridge,” I mutter, and he barks out a bitter laugh.
“That it is.”
“Why did you decide to help me, considering the way things were with our clubs?”
“Blade. He’s getting out soon and has a huge score to settle. He didn’t want to take the chance that what happened to Bear would happen to you.”
“I owe you. If he needs us, call in the marker anytime. I’d be open to that alliance once more.”
“I’m sure he’ll be in touch once he takes over again.”
“Will you miss your role now?” I ask with a smirk.
“Fuck no. I never wanted to be his second, let alone the man in charge,” Hangman chuckles.
“Then why did you step up?”
“When your club loses so many members, you come together. It’s what you do. Blade and I had been friends since birth. I’d take a bullet for him. Hell, I’d take his place and be the one rotting behind bars if I could.”
I nod in understanding. That same devotion is what led me and my brothers to form our crew. I think back on those days, realizing we were young and stupid and had no idea what we were creating. We only wanted a home back then—a place to belong. We got so much more than that. I find myself hoping Blade manages to find the same shit, too. I frown and let out a sigh as I drop into a chair. Nicole comes over and gets in my lap. I hold her close and breathe her in.
“What are you thinking?” Ford asks. I look up at him and see his gaze on me and Nicole, and for a second I see hunger on his face. Not hunger for my woman—if it was that he’d be dead. He wants what I have. I kiss Nicole’s temple and squeeze her tight, knowing what a precious gift she is. I’ve always known that. It’s something you recognize quickly when you almost lose it. Irish almost took everything from me, and that’s exactly what is bothering me.
“I don’t understand how the photo of Irish ties into all of this,” I finally answer, giving a growl under my breath. “There has to be a reason the Feral Kings left it in the van. I don’t understand why, though.”
“Could Irish be behind all this shit?” Hangman asks.
I smile, but it’s not a friendly one at all. “No way. That’s one motherfucker who will never breathe air again. He’s gone. Which is why the photograph itself is so confusing.”
“Dragon?”
I look down at Nicole and squeeze her into me even more. “Yeah, Mama?”
“Did Irish have any children?”
I frown, thinking about it. “Not that I know of. I mean, I also didn’t know he was betraying the club, so I suppose anything is possible. Why do you ask?”
“It’s something he said to me. King heard him,” she explains, motioning toward … my son. Jesus, that’s a trip. It’s going to take me time to come to terms with everything. Nicole is right, though. I should have done it before now and not tried to pretend it wasn’t happening.
“Is that what you meant when you said Nicole might have an idea?” I ask King.
He nods, staring at my woman like she’s an enigma that he will never understand. My lips stretch into a genuine smile. I could almost wish him good luck. Nicole is elusive. You will never be able to grasp what she’s going to do next. That’s part of her appeal. Life with her is anything but fucking boring.
“Something Lucky said to Nicole about you killing his father,” King says with a shrug.
“Actually, he said he was going to do to you what you did to his father,” Nicole interjects.
“Well fuck, that could be any number of people,” I argue.
“True, but if you put those words along with Irish’s picture …” I look up at Dom and frown.
“So, all of this could be because of that fucker screwing with me again after all these years? Jesus Christ, can’t old ghosts just die?”
“We don’t have proof, but I think it’s something you should think about and maybe have your tech guy do what they do.”
“Do what they do?” I repeat, grinning at Nicole.
“Exactly.”
I bend down and press my lips against hers briefly. “I love you, Mama,” I murmur.
“I love you,” she answers, her hand sliding under my shirt so that her fingers caress my stomach.