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)
When I’d come to this place, it was because Cain told me El Diablo had requested me. From what I’d gathered, it was more of an order than a request. I’d needed to get as far away from the Iron Tzars as I could, and Fort Worth, Florida had seemed to fit the bill. Besides, I was curious about El Diablo and what he wanted with me. He was a legend in the MC world. Not because he was so flamboyant, though he could be that on occasion, but because of his secretiveness. The only thing most people ever heard about were the raucous parties held at Black Reign or the help they gave the community. Like this fucking Christmas party coming up. But those of us deep in the MC world knew El Diablo was much, much more than what was on the surface.
I lay back on the bed with a groan. I was too fucking old for this shit. With perfect timing, my phone rang. I knew without looking it would be El Diablo.
“I need a word with you, Warlock.” His clipped British accent always threw me off.
“Yeah? If it’s about the Santa gig you can shove it up your ass.”
His boisterous laughter set my teeth on edge. “Now, now. Everyone takes a turn.”
“Yeah? Get someone who’s been here longer than a fuckin’ month to do it.”
“Nope. It’s all you, my friend. Now. Come to my office. We need to have a chat.”
Fuck. I didn’t need this. If I wasn’t curious as hell, I’d get on my bike and… ride. Never come back. I’d disappear into the great beyond and never be seen or heard from again. But I was curious. A man like El Diablo didn’t request you join his club to be fucking Santa Claus.
I made my way to the president’s office. Club girls rubbed against me several times on the way. I was still the new fish, and they were all looking to land me. None of them were appealing in the least. Every time I looked at one of them, I saw Beverly. The woman I’d loved and had to kill. They were every bit as manipulative as Bev had been, but they didn’t try to hide it. That was something at least. Didn’t mean I’d ever give any of them the time of fucking day.
“What’s on your mind, El Diablo?” I plopped down on the leather couch in his office. I hadn’t bothered to knock, hoping to irritate the man a little bit. Of course, it didn’t.
“Warlock.” He grinned as he leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers. “How are you settling in?”
“Was doin’ fine.”
“I imagine you’ll feel much better about your situation after the Christmas party. It’s actually an honor to be chosen Santa.”
“I thought everyone took a turn?”
He waved me off. “That’s the idea, but there are certain members who wouldn’t be a good fit for the role.”
I raised my eyebrows. “And you think I will be?”
“Oh, absolutely. You need to find your footing. Find that… inner peace you’ve been searching for.”
For a moment, I couldn’t find my voice. When I did, it came out harsher than I intended. “Are you out of your fuckin’ mind? Do you have any idea what I’ve been through?”
Instantly, El Diablo’s face hardened. “I do, indeed. And if it weren’t for me, your own son would have probably waited for the right moment, then put a bullet in your Goddamned head.”
I’d known this. Had anticipated it. But I’d been so far gone in my self-pity and self-loathing, it hadn’t really sunk in that, as president, since I was his father, Sting would have taken the responsibility for exacting justice for the club himself. My choices had put the club squarely in the path of the CIA. If he didn’t go after me, it would have made him look weak. For a newly appointed president of a powerful MC, that would have been a death sentence for him. We’d had our differences in the past, but we loved each other. I’d taught him no one was above club law. Not us. Not our families. I’d reinforced that notion when I’d killed Bev. I’d left it up to him to exact club law on me.
I sighed. “Shoulda ended it all instead of coming here. That woulda saved everyone the fuckin’ trouble.”
“Now you really do sound like a pussy.” El Diablo scowled, looking at me in disgust. He was right. I had a horrible case of feeling sorry for myself. “Take the second chance offered you. While I don’t condone the way you handled yourself with Ms. Martin, the fact that you took responsibility for her yourself tells me what I need to know about your character. Your woman never loved you. Not the way you loved her. Your mistake was in staying with her when you knew that, not only did she not love you, but was using you to get inside your club.”