Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 63967 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 320(@200wpm)___ 256(@250wpm)___ 213(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 63967 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 320(@200wpm)___ 256(@250wpm)___ 213(@300wpm)
Which of us will pull the trigger on that mayor? Who’s most capable of doing it without drawing heat on themselves or the MC?
“Fuck,” I groan and push away from the table, standing slowly, but the minute I’m on my feet, my legs move faster, eager to get back to my girls. As soon as I see Sophie, the storm inside of me calms down. It settles into something manageable because it never quite goes away. They are mine, and there’s nothing I won’t do to keep them safe.
Even if I have to pull the fucking trigger on Rojas myself.
“Hey, man.” Lucky appears beside me, handing me a beer with a smile on his face. “Congrats.”
“Thanks, brother. Means a lot.”
“I get it. There’s nothing I won’t do for Aria. Hell, I might even volunteer to take out the mayor myself. It could be fun.” The crazy fucker is smiling like he’s talking about going for a long ride on PCH.
“Fun? We have different definitions of fun.”
“Come on, brother. This is like prepping for a mission again, except the objective is clear, and there’s no political bullshit to wade through. It’s the dream mission, don’tcha think?”
“Maybe,” I concede. “But my baby girl just got here. I don’t want to even risk leaving her now.”
His smile fades. “Understandable. But I’d love to have you at my side to take care of this.”
“I’ll do it,” Stone says, a sly smile on his face. “Won’t be the first motherfucker I’ve smoked and surely won’t be the last.”
Lucky’s eyes light up. “Yeah?”
“Fuck, yeah.”
They do the handshake, fist bump, one-arm hug thing and laugh together, walking off into the proverbial fucking sunset.
Better them than me, I think before I make my way over to my woman and my little girl. “Hey, beautiful.”
Sophie turns to me with a huge, happy grin. “Hey yourself, handsome. Everything okay?” There are about a zillion questions swimming in her dark eyes, and I simply nod in response.
“One step closer to being okay, babe.” I pull her close and press our lips together, at least until Hope starts to stir between us. “Somebody’s jealous.”
Sophie laughs, and we both look down. “I don’t blame her.”
I lean forward and press my lips to her delicate skin, inhaling her sweet, clean scent. “Don’t be jealous, sweetheart. You’re daddy’s favorite girl.” I flash a wink up at Sophie. “And you’re my favorite woman.”
“Better be.”
Damn, I love this woman so fucking much. It’s scary at times, but right here, right now, surrounded by my brothers in arms, my family, it’s every-fucking-thing. “Always.”
“Good,” she whispers against my lips. “Is it too soon to go home?”
“Yeah, babe. We’re stuck here for the foreseeable future.”
“You know this really sucks. I just want to go home to my own bed. With you. And Hope.”
I kiss her forehead. “I understand. We’ll get there soon enough.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Sophie
The more time I spend in the Reckless Souls clubhouse, the less surreal, the less threatening it all feels. They’re no longer this elusive monolith that I can paint with the same brush, not the women or the men. Kenna, for example, is as bitchy as ever, but it’s because she cares. These people are her family, and she is fiercely protective of them. But her sister Kelsey is totally chill, nice and sweet with a shot of steel going straight down her spine.
Some of the others I don’t know what to think about, but since the baby shower they are slowly coming around. Valentina is a bit stand-offish, but she doesn’t mean anything by it. Growing up in a cartel family has to take a toll on her. Letty is a sweetheart, and Gia is a tough girl, but no one is openly hostile.
Not anymore.
A shadow blocks out my sun a heartbeat before Kenna’s voice sounds. “How’s new motherhood going?”
I look up at her with her lopsided blond ponytail and tired hazel eyes, and I see myself when I look in the mirror each morning. We have more in common than either of us wants to acknowledge.
“Rough, but I’m adjusting. You?”
“Same,” she sighs. “Ryder is finally getting his schedule down, but I’m always tired. And hungry.”
I laugh at that. “Breastfeeding burns a ton of calories. I’d suggest increasing your calorie intake.”
Kenna cocks a brow at me. “While I’m trying to get rid of the last of this baby fat?” She scoffs. “And I was ready to apologize.”
I smile. “I thought the baby shower was the apology?” She glares at me, and I laugh lightly, careful not to wake up Hope.
“Seriously though, an extra three to four hundred calories will help, at least until you’re done breastfeeding.”
Her hazy gaze studies me, as if she’s trying to see if I’m full of shit or not. “Okay. Thank you.”
“No problem. Was there something else?”
Kenna opens her mouth like she has more to say but decides against it. She sighs, peeking over my shoulder where Hope is sleeping on my chest. “Are you planning on getting a job at the hospital now that the clinic is closed?”