Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 58604 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 293(@200wpm)___ 234(@250wpm)___ 195(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58604 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 293(@200wpm)___ 234(@250wpm)___ 195(@300wpm)
“I know. Me too. She acts like she’s too good for this place, forgetting we all know she practically lived here while fucking my dad for clout.”
“Gross.” I cringe.
Pushing off the door, she saunters toward me and grabs my hands, pulling me up from the bed. “Come have a drink with me. Everyone has been asking about you.”
“What do they know?” My heart skips, a cold dredge chilling my skin.
“Nothing. We said you came off a bike and are recouping.”
Swallowing down the spike of fear, I smile. “Okay. Let me change.”
“Yay!” She claps her hands and backs up the way she came. “I’ll get Diamond to make chili dogs!”
I couldn’t stomach more food. Diamond is like a mother hen, I’ve never eaten so well in my life. “Sounds good.” I smile as she exits the room.
Attentively, I push off the bed, my muscles protesting the movement. Kitty’s right, I’ve been hiding away in Callan’s room since he left three days ago. It felt safe in here. I half expect the police to barge in at any given second and cart me away to prison.
Reaching the bathroom, I stand in front of the mirror. “You’re okay,” I assure myself, dabbing cream to the bruises along my jawline, and raking a brush through my hair. Slipping into a pair of jeans—my own for once—and pulling on a sweater, I check myself once more in the mirror. Good enough.
I find Kitty in the bar, already halfway through a beer. She looks gorgeous in a tennis skirt and camisole without a bra, showing Cutter what he’s missing. “Hey,” I say, sliding onto the stool next to her. “Cutter’s back in society, I see.” My eyes flit to where his gaze is burning a hole into the side of Kitty’s head.
“Is he? I hadn’t noticed.” She shrugs, sucking on the lime from the beer she got for me.
“Why is he looking at you like you shit in his bed?”
She tosses her hair over her shoulder and peeks, a grin lighting her face. “He’s bitter because I’m not fawning over him. I’m done with his bullshit. If he wants his wife, he can have her—but he’s not getting me too.”
I pat her knee, smiling. “I’m proud of you.”
She swings her legs and winks at me. “Thanks. Me too. Now, take a look at this.” She pushes an envelope toward me.
“What’s this?” I frown, taking it apprehensively.
“Just open it. It’s a good thing. Promise.”
Reaching inside, I pull out a listing for a building. “What is it?”
“Not what is it, what can it be.” She jabs her finger against the paper, rattling it in my hand. “You can open your own veterinarian clinic.” My own clinic. That’s been the furthest thing from my mind as of late, but it’s the ultimate dream. The far in the future dream. I didn’t think it would be possible so soon. I need experience, money, a strategy.
“I couldn’t afford anything like this. And a bank wouldn’t give me a loan.” I have no assets or employment background. Getting a job in someone else’s clinic was the plan. Save, hope, and eventually open my own clinic.
“Kings own this building—and many more. You wouldn’t need a loan.” She scoffs.
“I couldn’t take a handout.” I shake my head, placing the paper on the bar top. She’s presenting me with a golden ticket. My mind races through the possibilities of doing this, taking her offering. A shortcut, sure, but the end results the same. I can’t take this, it’s too much.
“It wouldn’t be a handout. You’d pay ‘rent’ like everyone else.”
“Why are you using hand quotations?” I pick up the beer and take a swig, my stomach somersaulting. Rogue’s veterinary clinic.
“Because you’re a biker brat and know the game. It would benefit us to have a business like this, and you planned to open your own place anyway, right? So, win-win.”
“Does Callan know about this?” Maybe this is what he wanted to show me.
“Forget Callan. Forget everyone and ask yourself, is this what I want? Take your time. It’s not going anywhere.” A shaky sigh leaves my lips. Nodding, I reach over and squeeze her hand.
“Thank you. And not just for this but for everything.” I run my tongue over the healing cuts in my mouth before adding. “I know learning about who I am seemed difficult for you.” Her warm smile lightens my heart.
“I handled it wrong. I feel shitty for not hearing you out and giving myself time to absorb it.” She winces. “I went off barging into Callan’s room.” She lets out a heavy breath. “If I hadn’t lost it, you wouldn’t have stormed out of here and that bastard wouldn’t have gotten to you…”
“Stop.” I keep hold of her hand and move closer to her dragging my stool until our knees touch. “That wasn’t your fault.”