Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 129980 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129980 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
“Sabelia,” Maestro greeted while Savage nodded at her.
The woman was tiny, like a little pixie—or a woodland fairy—with her wealth of shiny black hair and eyes that should have been too big for her face. When he’d first met her, she never smiled, and with her long black hair and small features, at times she appeared witchy to him. Now, seeing her smiling and hearing the welcome in her voice, he understood that she knew she had a safe home with Hannah and Torpedo Ink. He realized that had changed Sabelia, giving her happiness and perhaps some peace. That showed in her laughter and lighter expression.
“Anywhere is fine.” Sabelia motioned toward the tables. She sent Savage a wry smile. “I know you’re not fond of tea. Do you want your usual coffee?”
Savage gave her a thumbs-up as he headed toward what all the Torpedo Ink members considered a prime table. The table gave them the advantage of seeing the windows and the door, and they could keep an eye on the back exit without being seen. Everyone else wanted tables by the windows, but they didn’t care to present a target to anyone looking in. They stayed alive by being careful.
Kasimir “Preacher” Popov sauntered in as if he owned the place. Preacher was Lana’s older birth brother. He had very curly hair and wore it on the longer side. He was the club’s chemistry man. He had other well-developed gifts as well. He worked at the roadhouse as the head bartender and manager of the bar. Hannah Harrington was working with him to teach him more about the natural products and what they could do. There may have been a little magic mixed in, but if so, Maestro didn’t want to know about it.
Preacher greeted Savage and Maestro, and rubbed his knuckle on top of Sabelia’s head as he swept past her to go behind the counter. “I’ll make my drink this morning, Sabelia.”
“Good morning to you too,” Sabelia said. “I don’t recall Hannah hiring you to work here, but if she did, that makes me your boss.”
Preacher gave a little dramatic shudder. “You’re already bossy as hell. I’m not stupid enough to allow you free rein to boss me around.”
Sabelia arched a winged black brow. “I work for you at the Torpedo Ink Roadhouse. Does that mean I’m braver than you? Because you’re sounding a bit like a coward.”
“You’re looking to get yourself in trouble, little girl. Keep it up and you’ll find yourself over my knee.” Preacher sounded perfectly amicable.
She narrowed her eyes at him. “Try it and you’ll have the cops knocking on your door.”
Preacher laughed, his eyes lighting up, indicating he felt genuine amusement. “That’s an empty threat if I ever heard one. You despise law enforcement.”
She tilted her chin. “I don’t despise them,” she clarified, “but I don’t trust them. So, no, I wouldn’t call the cops, but your favorite truck would be filled with frogs. Slimy ones. Toads. Big giant toads.”
Preacher threw back his head and laughed aloud. “That isn’t an empty threat, but it still might be worth the pleasure I’d get from spanking your ass.”
Sabelia stuck her nose in the air. “I’m ignoring you this morning. Everything was quite pleasant until you came along. I refuse to change my good mood just because you’re a blight on society and the bane of my existence.”
“You two need to get a room,” Savage suggested.
“I don’t need a room,” Preacher said. “I’ll lock the doors so she doesn’t get embarrassed when her customers come in.”
Sabelia’s pale skin flushed red. “You two aren’t funny at all. For your information, Savage, Preacher thinks of me as a baby.”
“An obnoxious baby,” Preacher confirmed.
“Maestro?” Determinedly, Sabelia turned to him. “What are you looking for this morning?” she asked.
“Clarity,” he answered honestly. “Tranquility. You make the blend of tea for me, Sabelia. And three of your orange cranberry scones.”
Sabelia laughed softly. “I don’t see how any of you can put away that many scones and look the way you do. If I ate like that, you’d have to roll me out of here.”
Preacher came around the counter and smacked Sabelia on her ass. She yelped and spun around, glaring at him. He glared right back.
“We had an agreement. You weren’t to talk or think negative things about yourself anymore. No liquor and no ugly thoughts.”
She rolled her eyes. “Fine, but you keep your hands to yourself, or I’m retaliating by practicing with Hannah on your truck.”
Preacher didn’t appear impressed. He made his way back behind the counter. “The agreement stated there could be no retaliation if you were punished for either of those two things. You always keep your word.”
Sabelia’s breath hissed out in a long slow exhale. “I think I’m going to need to drink whatever kind of tea I make for Maestro for my own tranquility.”