Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
She waved her hand in the air, dismissing my comment. “Whatever. I’m just saying. I trust Deacon with Apple more than I trust Wylde with you. Why? Because Deacon has proven he likes Apple for more than a one-time fuck. Wylde hasn’t done the same with you.”
“My God, Lemon! Can you please tone it down?”
She shrugged. “Just saying.”
I was about to scold Lemon more when there was a knock at the door. “We’ll talk about this later.”
“Won’t change my mind,” Lemon muttered.
Grinding my teeth, I went to the door. When I opened it, there was Wylde. There was a scowl on his face as he looked past me to the girls sitting at the table. Apple had her head down, working studiously, but Lemon glared openly at him. He returned the glare.
“We need to talk.”
“Of course.” I backed out of the doorway to let him inside, but he shook his head.
“In my office.”
“I’m coming too,” Lemon said, standing so suddenly she almost knocked her chair over.
“No,” Wylde snapped. His voice was so authoritative, even Lemon responded. The girl sat back down in her chair abruptly, as if he’d shoved her back. “This is between me and Danica. The two of you need to concentrate on getting your schoolwork done.”
“Wylde,” I said, putting my hand on his arm.
He looked down at me and his expression softened. He sighed and looked back at Lemon. “Please.”
“We have a right to know what’s going on too.”
“Lemon, stay with me.” Apple looked from her sister to me and Wylde.
Lemon scowled at us but subsided. “Fine. But I want to know everything when you get back, Dani.”
“She always this bossy?” Wylde ignored Lemon and spoke directly to me.
“Yes,” Lemon said before I could answer. “She’s always this bossy. Why don’t you ask her if you want to know something about her?”
“Because she’s a little brat and I don’t like talking to her? That good enough reason?” Wylde still looked at me.
I rolled my eyes. “You’re as bad as she is.” I stepped out into the hall and pulled Wylde along with me as I closed the door. As I did, I saw him purse his lips. The gleam in his eyes said he was trying not to smile. “You’re goading her on purpose? Why would you do that?”
He shrugged. “It’s fun. What better reason?” His grin was positively wicked. “Come on.” Wylde snagged my hand and tugged me down the hall back to his office.
Once inside, he ushered me to a couch and sat beside me. He opened his mouth to say something, but Sting, Iris, and Deacon entered shortly thereafter.
“Don’t you believe in knocking?” Wylde scowled. He wasn’t looking at Sting, but Deacon.
The big man said nothing, but Iris sighed. “Really, Wylde. The door was open.”
“Ain’t talkin’ to you, Iris. You’re welcome anytime you want.” He nodded to Deacon. “Him, on the other hand…”
“Good God, Wylde,” Sting snarled. “Can’t you lay off trying to rub people the wrong way for just a little bit? You’re not going to ruffle Deacon.”
Instantly, Wylde’s demeanor changed. He grinned broadly and put his arm around my shoulders. “Whatever you say, boss man.”
Sting shook his head, sitting on the other couch in the office and tugging Iris to sit in his lap. Deacon sat on the other end from them and waited silently.
“Give me the rundown,” Sting said. “What happened and how is it being handled?”
“Apparently, the owner of the hobby shop Danica brought her sisters to is a relative of Jordan. The footage was erased from a computer at the store minutes before the police were called.”
“Nice. Who called the police?”
“Came from a phone in the store’s name. I hacked into the nine-one-one system, and there was no call placed for shoplifting at or around a reasonable time. Turns out, those two officers were friends of the store owner. There was a call placed by a phone registered to the store to one of the officers’ personal cell.”
“So they didn’t go through the normal channels to call this in.” Sting played with his beard next to his lower lip.
“Nope.”
Raven appeared in the doorway looking much different than he had when I’d seen him before. Now, he was in a tight white T-shirt and jeans with motorcycle boots. Before, his dark brown hair had been pulled back and tied at his neck. Now, it was wild and hanging past his shoulders. He still had the neat stubble, but it added to the messy look. Also, I noticed tattoos just peeking out from under his shirt.
“Which was another reason I was able to get Dani out as soon as I did. They knew they fucked up. I have a feeling they’ll have to answer for it tomorrow.”
“Yeah.” Wylde grinned. “Especially since I sent the whole incident to the local media.” He blew a bubble like he didn’t have a care in the world.