Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 42809 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 214(@200wpm)___ 171(@250wpm)___ 143(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 42809 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 214(@200wpm)___ 171(@250wpm)___ 143(@300wpm)
“Take him ta the warehouse,” Monster says with his fists at his sides. He’s ready to attack. I don’t blame him.
The rest of the brothers drag Bragan away, but not before he looks directly at me.
“Secrets don’t stay buried forever and choices need to be made,” he warns me.
And with that, he’s taken away, leavin’ me with Monster who’s watchin’ me closely.
“What the feck does he mean by that?” he asks.
I can’t lie ta my brother. I can’t tell him the truth about Clover either, so I shrug. Headin’ ta the bar, I take a deep breath before I walk inside. Monster follows close behind, and I can feel him starin’ at my back. He must know somethin’ isn’t right, but that’s one of the things I respect about him—he won’t push. He’ll wait it out until I come clean.
There, on the floor, is a body, and I have no doubt it’s Rogan. But it’s only when I look at Clover that panic sets in. She’s bleedin’ and lookin’ weak when I reach her.
“What the feck happened?” I ask, the fear of losin’ her is clear in my voice.
“I’m okay,” she whispers, but her eyes are flutterin’ closed. I didn’t notice she was wounded from outside. If I was bein’ honest, I was more focused on Bragan than her.
“Take her to the hospital,” Monster orders me. “I’ll have the prospects come and clean this up.” I look up at him, and I want to cry. I haven’t done that in years, but I know how lucky I am, havin’ him as my best friend. He’s never let me down in all the years I’ve known him, but right now, I’m the one lettin’ him down. “Go,” he tells me. It’s one word, and I don’t argue.
Liftin’ Clover into my arms, I carry her out into the side street and make my way to the bikes. I’m not sure how the feck to get her on the back of one, so I end up on the main road, hailin’ a taxi. The driver looks as panicked as I feel.
When we reach the hospital, I rush Clover into the ER. Even though she’s not fatally wounded, she’s lost a lot of blood. I’m met by a couple of the nurses who I recognise from when they’ve stitched either me or one of the brothers up before. They help me get Clover admitted into surgery within minutes.
I don’t bother callin’ Monster. Mainly because I’m too feckin’ scared he’ll figure it all out. My focus is on what Clover’s goin’ through. I don’t know what’s goin’ta happen, but as I pace the hospital corridor, waitin’ fer news, I realise I’m in love with her.
I don’t want her to leave, but I’m not sure how the brothers are going to take her bein’ Bragan’s niece. Especially when she hid it from me fer months. She coulda told me, but instead, she kept it a secret. I knew there was somethin’ off. I just didn’t think it would be anythin’ like this, though.
Deep down, I wondered if there was a kid she was keepin’ from me. I could have handled a kid. Never thought I’d have one, but when I think about Clover carryin’ my bairn, I can’t deny I’d gladly fill her up every night ta make it happen.
I wonder if Ma would have ever wanted ta be a nan. Back then, I didn’t want to consider the possibility. There were too many fecked up arseholes in the world, and I didn’t want ta add to that. If they turned out like me, it would be a nightmare. I didn’t want ta have a bairn ta worry about. And knowin’ where I was headed, joinin’ the club, I didn’t think I could ever raise a family, let alone have a wife. But Clover fucked all that up because now I can’t think of anythin’ else.
There are so many things that could go wrong now, and I don’t know if tellin’ me the truth is even in her mind. I need her to admit everythin’ta me. I can’t live with someone who’s goin’ta keep shite secret. Ma used to hide things from Conall, and he would always find out. Her keepin’ secrets wasn’t right, but what he did ta her was worse. Far feckin’ worse. However, I know that hidin’ things never helps any situation. I wouldn’t ever hurt Clover, but I can’t deny I’m feckin’ livid she didn’t tell me the truth.
Just as I’m about to fetch some coffee from the canteen, Ronan McCallum saunters into the hospital. I want to walk in the opposite direction, to avoid confrontation, but he sees me and makes a feckin’ beeline fer me. He must have heard from someone that we have Bragan. I’m not sure what he wants with the arsehole, but he’s not goin’ta get him from Monster. There’s no way my best friend is goin’ta give up the man he’s spent most of his life searchin’ fer.