Total pages in book: 66
Estimated words: 61868 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 309(@200wpm)___ 247(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61868 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 309(@200wpm)___ 247(@250wpm)___ 206(@300wpm)
“Why? Because it’s late?”
“Yeah. Why would anyone in their right mind bring a baby to this hole?”
“Carter’s not exactly winning father-of-the-year, though, is he?”
“We should go inside.”
I tip my head from side to side, releasing tension as the woman in leather is practically carried inside by the man with greedy hands. Do I want to go into that dive? Definitely not. This kind of place makes me feel uncomfortable to my bones, but will I do it for Skye? Absolutely.
As we slide out of the truck, I’m struck by how out of place I feel. Reggie’s bar isn’t like this. It’s for working men to let off steam, not for criminals to network. Men like this are on the edge, ready to fly off the handle for virtually no reason. They take one look at a person and immediately decide if they like them or not.
Me and Finn can handle ourselves but I don’t want to have to. Mostly, I don’t want to draw attention to us now in case it risks our future involvement in this situation.
“We need to keep a low profile.”
Finn nods, sliding his hands into his pockets. He’s wearing a plain blue shirt, and a dark blue baseball cap to shadow his features. I opted for a black sweater and a beanie, which I’ve pulled low over my forehead. My dark beard almost obliterates the rest of my face.
There are two security guards on the door which is unusual for a bar. They give us the once over, maybe because they haven’t seen us before, and this place is mostly visited by regulars. “You’re not going to give us any trouble, are you?” One of them addresses me, slightly shifting to block me from entering.
“We’re just here to have a drink. Maybe find some pussy,” I say, hoping that will be enough to satisfy him. It is, and he moves aside.
“Be careful with the pussy.” He screws his nose up as though he’s smelling something filthy. “A lot of the girls in here have been passed around more times than I can count.”
“Easy pussy’s good as long as it’s clean,” I say with a shrug.
He laughs and nods at us as we pass. “Have a good night.”
When we’re inside, the music hits like a wave. It’s some kind of grunge rock with so much strumming guitar and frantic drumming that my ears feel like they’re vibrating.
The bouncer is right. Most of the girls here look washed up. They’re not even trying to seem enthusiastic about whoever’s lap they’re currently sitting in. I lead us to the bar and order two beers. The barwoman glances between me and Finn with interest. She’s got long black hair that almost reaches her ass and black earlobe stretchers that I could poke a finger through. “First time?” she asks in a husky voice as she hands me the bottle.
“Nah. I’ve been drinking this shit since I was thirteen.” I take a long swig as she laughs, eyeing me with what feels like appreciative eyes.
“You’ve got that sexy lumberjack look about you.” So much for the plain clothes.
Finn takes his beer, shifting a little uneasily on his feet. “Amazing what a beard can do.”
It’s a clever answer that doesn’t give her any information about us. I turn to scan the bar, hoping she’ll get the hint and move on. I don’t see Carter anywhere, but that doesn’t mean he’s not here.
A blonde in a black dress that’s more like a second skin sways past, letting her hand trail over Finn’s arm. She’s at least forty, so she’s almost old enough to be Finn’s momma. The older ones always have a soft spot for Finn, like they want to mother him and fuck him.
“Hey baby,” she says. “You looking for some fun?”
“Not tonight.” Finn shoots her a wide smile. “But maybe some other time.”
She smiles, but it falters quickly, like she realizes that he’s probably not being honest. We both watch her walk away, her ass jiggling with every step. Maybe if we didn’t have Skye at home, she might have been worth a try. But there isn’t a woman in here that measures up to our woman in any way.
“Hey, West. Is that him?” Finn nods towards a door behind the bar. I turn very slowly, only shooting a fleeting glance in that direction.
Carter Reynolds laughs loudly, sending a shiver of unease up my spine. “Yes.”
“There’s a woman with him.”
“What does she look like?”
“She looks like him. Do you think it’s his sister?”
I don’t look because I don’t want to draw attention to us. “It could be. Does she have a baby with her?”
“Hang on.” Finn walks around me, making his way down the bar. I watch as he finds a paper towel and returns. He fake-blows his nose, balls up the tissue, and puts it in his pocket. “There’s a baby in a stroller out the back.”