Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 44774 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 224(@200wpm)___ 179(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44774 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 224(@200wpm)___ 179(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
“Not your fault, brother,” Cain said, using the reference in regard to me for the first time. This wasn’t my club, but Cain was my boss. He knew me inside and out. Just like he did everyone in his employ. “Tell me if there’s anything you need. Take care of her and help her back to the present. Don’t give up on her.”
“Never,” I growled. “She’s mine. She always will be. Good or bad.”
I made it to our room before letting her down. By this time, Jolene was sobbing uncontrollably, though she still fought like a banshee.
“You bastard! I trusted you!”
“You still can, baby. I ain’t goin’ nowhere.”
“How can I possibly? That woman --”
“Ain’t part of this. She’s gone.”
“You were hugging her!” Jolene yelled at me, tears streaming down her face. “You tried to kiss her!”
“You know that ain’t right. I’d never do anything to hurt you, and I know that’d hurt you worse than just about anything.” I wanted to tell her to calm down, but I wasn’t completely stupid. She had to do that part on her own. But I’d be here for her no matter what.
She still sobbed, wrapping her arms around herself and turning away from me. “I hate this place.”
“No, baby. You don’t hate it here. Up until today, you’ve been doing wonderful. So let’s talk about what changed.”
“You changed! You got another woman!”
“You know better, Jolene.” I kept my tone gentle when everything inside me wanted to vehemently deny it.
She stood there for long moments, tears streaming down her face. Her face scrunched, as if she were really trying hard to think back. “You weren’t hugging her back,” she murmured. “You didn’t kiss her when she tried to kiss you.”
“No, baby. I didn’t. You know I’d never do that, because you and I are a team. We have been since the beginning.”
Nodding slowly, she said, “Yeah. You saved me.”
“And I’ll always save you, honey. Just like you’ll save me.” She met my gaze, then gave an anguished cry as she launched herself into my arms. “I gotcha, baby. I gotcha.”
“I killed him, Styx,” she said in a shaky whisper. “I killed him, and I didn’t feel a fuckin’ thing.” She looked up at me even as she clung tightly. “Does that mean I’m a horrible person?”
“Not at all. Got a feelin’ that bastard made your life hell.”
She nodded slightly, then winced. “Yeah, but was it worth killin’ over? I mean, I survived. It wasn’t easy, and he never loved me or tried to protect me, but that didn’t mean he shoulda died.”
“He didn’t die just ’cause’a that. He shot at you. How many times?”
She shrugged. “Few times. That night. And over the years.”
“And you said yourself he tried to kill you before. Well, he did the same thing today. Only, this time, he not only put you in danger, but this whole club. Including the kids in here. And he didn’t care one fuckin’ bit who he hurt. So, I had no problem with him dyin’. I just wished you’d’a let Cain take care of it and left with me instead of watching the whole thing and takin’ the killin’ blow for yourself.”
“I wanted that, Styx. Wanted it with every fiber of my fuckin’ being.” She ducked her head. Which wouldn’t do. “I guess it all just built up.”
I lifted her chin to force her to look at me. “I’m proud’a you, honey. You made him pay. You made him see you. Got a feelin’ he never considered you a strong offspring. Probably mistook your capacity to care as a weakness.”
“Maybe. Or maybe he’s just an asshole who hated me ’cause I made my mama ugly like she always said.”
That didn’t compute. “Now… what?”
“Mama was young and slender and pretty when she got pregnant with me. Gained a lotta weight during the pregnancy. Always knew she blamed me from my very first memory of her. Only time I’ve ever felt loved and wanted was before my grandma and papaw died. She taught me how to bake. Papaw taught me how to hunt and fish. Then they died.”
“He said he killed them. You believe that?”
She nodded. “I was there.” Her voice was barely above a whisper. “He knew I saw, and knew I’d never tell anyone because I was afraid of him. But that wasn’t the reason.” She took in a shuddering breath. “I didn’t tell ’cause I knew no one would believe me. Then he’d just kill me, too. Always wondered why he didn’t.”
“Who knows what reason his twisted mind came up with?” I hugged her tighter, rubbing her back to comfort her as much as I could.
“Probably thought he’d find a way to use me like he did my older sisters. Probably had someone special in mind and was biding his time until he needed me. Unfortunately, with me hooking up with Avery, giving him my virginity…”