Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 28170 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 141(@200wpm)___ 113(@250wpm)___ 94(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 28170 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 141(@200wpm)___ 113(@250wpm)___ 94(@300wpm)
“I knew it,” Letti said, but started laughing. My stomach squeezed at her smile, and the weight I’d been wearing on my chest since we entered here lessened some.
I wanted this for Tank.
I wanted this for us.
Lois stood up beside us as Styx got off his seat and pushed her off his lap. He was about to walk off when she pulled him back for a kiss. Styx pushed her away again after a second, then signed something to her. Lois’s face fell slightly, and she watched him walk across the bar to Ky, who was all up in another woman who was looking at him with stars in her eyes.
Lois threw on her smile again and sat down. She took a shot then looked my way. “So, Beauty. Are you from Texas?”
I nodded. “Near Waco.”
Lois nudged her head in Tank’s direction. “You been together long?”
“’Bout six months now.” I looked at Tank, who was talking to Bull and Bone.
Marie shuffled her chair closer. “There’s been talk.”
“What kind of talk?”
Marie inched closer still. Her voice was low and raspy, I guessed through years of smoking. She had an oxygen tube up her nose. When she lit up another smoke, I figured nothing was gonna stop her living her life. “’Bout your man. ’Bout making him a Hangmen prospect.”
My heart started pounding. It was what he wanted. So damn much. “Who said that?”
Marie gave me a smug smile. “Pillow talk. Through the years Bone has got a little loose lipped.” She laughed. “We’re too old to give a fuck about Reaper’s threats.”
I laughed too.
“You want that?” Letti asked, eyes locked on me. I guessed she was trying to get a true read on my reaction.
I nodded. “Yeah. He’s been lost. He needs a brotherhood to hold him down . . . as well as me.”
“It’s a hard life,” Lois said as she looked across the bar at Styx.
“Are you his old lady?” She wasn’t wearing a “Property of Styx” cut.
Lois whipped her head to me. All I saw was sadness on her face. “No . . . one day, maybe. When he finally wakes up and lets me in.” She sighed. “I’ve known him his entire life. Loved him for as long as I can remember.” She crossed her arms. Like it would protect her from something, some kind of inner pain. “But he’s always loved someone else. Since he was a kid.” She laughed, but there was no humor there. “Can’t compete with a dream girl.”
I had no fucking idea what she was talking about. Letti rolled her eyes like she was sick of hearing it, and Marie looked plain bored as fuck. But I couldn’t help feel for the woman. I put my hand on hers and squeezed it for a second.
She squeezed it back.
“So what do you do?” Letti had poured more drink. I was gonna have to learn how to handle my liquor in this place.
I shook my head, wincing as the whiskey went down. I really wanted a fucking wine cooler. I wiped my mouth, careful of my red lipstick. “Waitressing now.” I shrugged. “I was a pageant queen up until about six months ago.” Letti raised an eyebrow. “Let’s not talk about that,” I said. Tank put his hand on my leg and I held his hand. “I always wanted to do retail,” I said. “I love clothes. I mean, what bitch doesn’t love shopping?”
“Me,” Letti said.
“Okay, what bitch besides Letti doesn’t love shopping?”
Marie nodded. “You good with numbers and shit?”
I shrugged. “I was good at math at school, I suppose. I like people. Love clothes.” I smiled. “Especially if they’re made of leather.”
“I got a store,” Marie said. “Sells biker shit. Lots of fuckin’ leather.” I stilled and stared at Marie. “I got a job if you want one.” She pointed to her oxygen tank beside her. “I’m not as fit as I used to be and need a good sales girl.”
“You serious?”
“As a heart attack.”
“I’d love a job.”
Marie lit up another smoke. “It’s called Ride. It’s not far from here. We sell biker shit, and also Hangmen merch for the hangers-on.”
My gut squeezed as I realized she was serious. That she was offering me something I’d always wanted. Something I wanted to do, not something I was being forced to do, or had to do just to get by. “Thank you . . . I . . . I don’t know what to say.”
Marie pointed to Tank. “He’ll hopefully be one of us soon. Which means you will be. Gotta keep all our businesses in the family.”
Family. As fucked-up as this place was, I guessed it was one.
I hadn’t realized Letti had got up until a bottle of wine was put down in front of me. “Might be shit. I found it in the back of the cellar. No fucking idea how old it is. No other asshole I know drinks that prissy shit.”