Total pages in book: 41
Estimated words: 38439 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 192(@200wpm)___ 154(@250wpm)___ 128(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38439 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 192(@200wpm)___ 154(@250wpm)___ 128(@300wpm)
“You killed her?” Now, there was fear in Hope’s eyes. She stiffened in my arms once again. This time, I didn’t restrain her. If she wanted up, I’d let her go. Surprisingly, she stayed where she was. continued to look up at me, waiting for an answer.
“I did. She knew death was her sentence, though she thought it would happen later and, likely, that she could talk me out of turning her over to the club. I made it quick and didn’t tell her it was coming. But yes. I killed her. My woman. My responsibility.”
She was silent for a long moment before nodding her head. “That’s a warning to me. Isn’t it?”
“It is, honey.”
“What would I have to do? You know. For you to kill me?”
“Betray my club. Understand me -- my club is my family. Right now, I’m here. I’m still the outsider, but Black Reign is doing its best to take me in and treat me like family. I’m a member, but I’ve only been here a month. I’m useful to El Diablo, so he’s done things must faster than he should have. Given my history -- which he knows from beginning to end -- your presence here under the circumstances you brought with you is being looked at carefully. Don’t think I want anything to happen to you, Hope. I don’t. You seem like a girl caught up in my mother’s meddling. But, if the men here find out there’s more to this story than my mother meddling in my life, if you have another reason for being here, you need to tell me now. This is your one chance to come clean. I’ll mitigate the damage, sever ties, and you can go on your way provided you never come near the club again.” I waited for that to sink in. “You understand?”
She nodded slightly. “I do. But I swear to you, everything I’ve told you is true. I’ve told you everything to the best of my ability. I understand why you want rid of me now. I really do.”
“So, you’ve changed your mind? You want out of this marriage now?”
She ducked her head, and I stilled. I found myself torn as to what I wanted her answer to be. If she said yes, my problems were over. If she said no, Black Reign would continue to look into her past, digging up everything there was to know about her. She’d been here long enough, I was sure Shotgun had picked up her prints and had run them, along with facial recognition to make a positive ID. Since I’d given her this one chance to come clean, anything he found I’d make sure they didn’t use against her. At least, not in the extreme. Well, not if she hadn’t already betrayed Black Reign.
“I don’t know. I mean, I haven’t done anything like what you said and hadn’t planned to. But I don’t want to be where I’m not wanted.” She did move off me then. I let her. She scooted to the other side of the bed and stood before walking around it to the bathroom. She shut the door behind her. I didn’t hear it lock, but I was sure she had. What woman wouldn’t after what I’d confessed? Was she even now calling the cops? I’d confessed to a murder.
I got up from the bed and stood by the bathroom door. Listening. At first, I heard nothing. Then there was a soft sob. Not the torrent she’d let loose earlier but more than I was comfortable with.
Gently, I tried the door. It was unlocked so I opened it, stepping inside. Immediately, she turned her back, swiping her arm over her eyes and clearing her throat to cover any sounds she’d made.
“Why are you in here? I could have been on the toilet.”
I thought about lying, but why do that? I wanted her honest with me. I had to be honest with her. “Wanted to see if you’d locked yourself in here to call the police.”
She turned around, her eyes wide. “Why would I do that?”
“Because I told you I killed Bev. I murdered a woman in cold blood.”
“We’re married. I couldn’t testify against you, anyway.”
“You don’t have to testify. Doesn’t mean you couldn’t.”
“I couldn’t if you didn’t want me to.” She frowned. “I’m not stupid, Warlock. I paid attention in Civics class.”
“I’m fully aware you’re not stupid, honey. I think you’ve been underestimated all your life. I’m not about to make the same mistake everyone else has made about you. Though, I suspect my mother probably saw your potential. Now tell me. Why are you upset? Are you afraid of me now?”
“I should be.” She looked away. Then took a breath. “You were honest with me.”
“I was. I will never ask you to do something I’m not willing to do myself. I want the truth from you, so I give you the truth in return.”