Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 132321 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 529(@250wpm)___ 441(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132321 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 529(@250wpm)___ 441(@300wpm)
Honesty. Margot couldn’t lie if I pointed a gun at her. I like that in people. Brave too. She knew there was a chance I’d say fuck no to the whole arrangement, but she asked anyway. “I’m not mad.”
She flicks her gaze to the kitchen behind me, like all this eye contact and honesty is too much to handle. “Do you want anything to drink?”
“No, I better get going.”
She stares at me.
I’m not staying over unless she asks.
And she doesn’t ask.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Jigsaw
As I step into the downstate clubhouse the next day, a sense of wrongness washes over me. This doesn’t feel like the club’s home anymore. Not since we were raided and had the place turned upside down.
Sure, months have gone by. We’ve put all the furnishings back together, replaced couches, patched holes in walls, but the security I used to feel here hasn’t returned.
Since the raid, I haven’t bothered keeping more than a change of clothes, a box of condoms, and a toothbrush in my room. Anything personal resides at my cozy apartment at Rooster and Shelby’s place.
Still have to check in with Z and Grinder to see what needs to be done. Z always says I can stop by his house but the uppity suburban neighborhood full of hideously oversized McMansions makes my skin crawl.
Z’s office is the second door on my left. I stop there first and tap my knuckles against the wood.
“Come in.”
“What’s up, Prez.”
“Look who it is.” He stands and rounds the desk to pull me in for a slap on the back.
“You act like I’ve been gone for a month.”
“Where have you been hiding?”
“Nowhere.” I’ve been in plain sight. Except for that detour to Margot’s place.
“You covering the laundromat this week?”
I hook my thumbs in my pockets. “If Suds is still on the road, I kinda have to, don’t I?”
“No, not if you’ve got something else going on,” Z answers.
Our last president didn’t give a fuck what we might be doing in our personal lives. Z’s a lot more respectful about giving us a choice. I need to show him the same respect. “I don’t mind. I can bring my laptop and get my shit done for Rooster while I’m there.”
He snorts. “You better make sure some little tweaker doesn’t steal your laptop.”
“No shit.” The last one who tried learned the hard way not to fuck with the Lost Kings.
“If you don’t mind, Eazy’s planning to stick around for a while. Would you show him the ropes there? That way, I can start freeing you up for other things.”
Hell yeah. Please let those assignments be closer to Pine Hollow. “Like what?”
“Rock and I would like you working with Dex on the support club.”
Fuck yes. This keeps getting better. Johnsonville’s much closer to Margot’s place.
“And Teller’s going to be wrist-deep in diapers when the twins get here.” A quick frown settles over Z’s expression, then disappears. “So if you can help out at the funeral home as needed, that would be a relief.”
I’m helping out there more than you know, Prez.
“None of the financial stuff,” Z hurries to add.
I snort a laugh. “Yeah, no shit, Teller’s not letting anyone look at his books.”
“Right.” Z chuckles, then turns serious. “But stay away from the daughter.”
My jaw tightens. Too late.
Z scowls at the hard look on my face. “I’m serious. That place is gonna be a gold mine for the club. Don’t fuck it up for us.”
Openly lying to my president isn’t my style—so I say nothing. Instead, I cross my arms over my chest and nod once to acknowledge the message was received—even if it’s too late to follow the order.
My non-answer seems to satisfy Z for now. “I know you’ve been picking up a lot of shifts at Crystal Ball to help out Dex,” he continues. “Upstate appreciates that a lot. You’re doing more than your fair share for the club. I told Hustler to bump up your pay.”
“Appreciate that, but it’s not necessary.”
“We got you running all over New York, brother.”
“Prez,” I say in a let’s not fool ourselves tone, “I’m basically riding to one place, sitting on my ass, then riding elsewhere, playing with cars at the track, riding some more to watch ladies dance naked and if I get lucky, punch a few guys who don’t understand the no touching policy. None of that’s a hardship, I swear.” Still leaves me plenty of time to do whatever the fuck I want, and that’s all I care about. Freedom.
“Don’t downplay your role. You do more than that.” He closes his eyes for a second. “Just you and Rooster taking over the porn business and making sure I don’t have to deal with Stella has been a huge relief.”
Yeah, I bet it is.
“Again, I’m not as hands on with Stella as you were.” I smirk at him and he rolls his eyes. “I’m doing the work from my computer. So it’s not hard.” Was it a dick move to remind him of his involvement with a club asset? Yup. Do I care? Nope.