Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 34926 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 175(@200wpm)___ 140(@250wpm)___ 116(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34926 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 175(@200wpm)___ 140(@250wpm)___ 116(@300wpm)
With a sigh, Cotton closed her eyes and nodded. “I can do that.” Had I imagined her wince? “It’s the least I can do for Cain and Pops giving me the job at the Boneyard in the first place. Guess I’m doing exactly what I don’t like people doing to me.” That got my attention. But now wasn’t the time to call her out on it.
Once we were walking toward the clubhouse, I snagged Cotton’s hand. I thought she’d tug it away, but instead, she clung tightly. I could feel a slight trembling in her hand and her palm was slightly sweaty. There had to be more to this than simple nerves. This girl was scared. Of us? But if she was that afraid of us, why work at the Boneyard?
I was pondering this as I gave her a covert glance. Her head was up. Her chin out. To outward appearances, she was walking calmly beside me. There was a purpose to her gait but also a hint of… something? Defiance didn’t seem to be the correct term. She wasn’t defiant, but not resigned. It was like anywhere she was going was her own decision and no one was going to make it for her. Even if she wanted to be anywhere other than where she was. It was time to get to the bottom of this.
Cain stepped from the hallway into the great room, Angel at his side with her hand in his. They glanced around the room until Angel spotted me. She threw up her hand and smiled in greeting as we approached.
“It’s good to see you, Chase.” She addressed Cotton with the same welcoming smile. “You must be Cotton. I’m so glad to finally meet you. I’ve seen you at the Boneyard but haven’t had the chance to speak with you. You’re always working so hard I hate to distract you.”
“You’re doing a fantastic job, Cotton. We’re glad to have you with us.” Cain could be abrasive on the best of days, but he was gentle with Cotton. That got my back up when I should have been grateful. I knew that one harsh word in the wrong direction and Cotton would bolt.
“Thank you,” she said softly, not looking up at either Cain or Angel.
“Can we go to your office?” I asked.
Cain nodded and jerked his head in that direction, but not before a pointed look at mine and Cotton’s joined hands. He didn’t say anything but raised an eyebrow. I just shook my head slightly and followed him down the hall.
Once inside the quiet confines of Cain’s office, he sat behind his desk and pulled Angel onto his lap. The woman protested slightly, but when his arms came around her, Angel’s expression softened, and she allowed the intimate contact with her husband.
“Now. What can we do for you?” Despite the fact that his woman was curled in his lap, Cain’s demeanor was all business.
Cotton snatched her hand from mine and her eyes got wide in panic. She looked ready to bolt.
“Don’t worry,” Angel said to Cotton. “You’re safe here.”
“I know that, but…” She trailed off, looking at Cain, then ducking her head. Frustration and shame radiated from her like a neon sign.
“I told you I didn’t keep secrets from my woman,” Cain reminded them. “Other than Angel and Pops, no one in this club knows anything you didn’t tell them.”
Cotton closed her eyes, one errant tear tracking down her cheek. I wanted to pull her to me and kiss away that tear, but there was no way she’d allow that. Hell, there was no way I should feel that way, but this woman pulled at something inside me. I had no hope of resisting her. Maybe she was what I needed in my life to atone for my sins in the past. Quieting her demons might take the edge off my guilt. But, really, what right did I have to pull her into my problems and use her for my own ends? No. It was more than that, but I wasn’t ready to admit it just yet. Not even to myself.
“I had some trouble at the bar tonight.” Cotton spoke the words softly and not looking up from where her hands now twisted in her lap.
“Are you OK?” Cain asked? This time, his voice had the edge I’d come to expect from the older man. Cotton’s face tightened, but that was the only indication she registered the change in his tone.
“Yes.”
Cain looked at me for confirmation. I stretched out my legs, crossing them at the ankles and putting my arm over the back of the couch behind Cotton’s shoulders. My thumb grazed over her shoulder gently several times before I answered.
“I suspect she may have some bruising on her arm where Butch grabbed her, but I intervened before things went too badly.”