Total pages in book: 144
Estimated words: 130761 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 654(@200wpm)___ 523(@250wpm)___ 436(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 130761 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 654(@200wpm)___ 523(@250wpm)___ 436(@300wpm)
“You do?”
“I remember the moment the shot was taken.”
I stared at the picture, as did Zane. I reached into the pocket of my cut and pulled out what I wanted him to have. When I looked at Zane, he was already watching me. And he’d seen what was in my hands. “Ain’t sure if you’d want them.” I felt the cold metal in my hands. “It’s a fucked-up situation we got. And ain’t sure if you’d want anything of his like this. I just wondered, because he was your dad—”
“I want them,” Zane said quickly.
I nodded and dropped the dog tags into his hands. The kid had me fucking choked up. His eyes watered as he ran his fingers over Dev’s name and number. “I’m . . . I’m proud of him, you know?” He ignored the tear that rolled down his face. “I’m proud of what he did for our country.”
I nodded, because I couldn’t fucking speak.
“I’m proud of you both.” He lifted his eyes to mine. “I get it didn’t end well. But . . . but Claire told me how proud Mom was of you both, you and Dad. And I remember her saying that what you were doing was important. That you were both brave.”
“He’d be proud of you too, you know?” I said.
Zane smiled. “You think?”
“I know it. You were his life.”
Zane’s head dropped, and I threw my arm around his shoulders. “And you got me now. I ain’t your dad, but I’m your uncle, and I’m here whenever you need me.”
‘I know,” Zane said, and I led him outside.
Ash was straight over. “Zane, you shoot?” he asked. The two fuckers had hit it off from the minute Zane came to the compound two days ago. Knew they would. Good kids, the fucking pair of them.
“Nah, my aunt didn’t let me. Always wanted to though,” Zane said.
Ash looked at me. “AK’ll show you how, won’t you?” Zane looked up at me hopefully.
“Sure.”
“Now?” Ash said. “You gotta show Zane the target you can hit in the trees.” Ash turned to Zane. “Your uncle can fucking shoot. Never seen anything like it.”
“Can you?” Zane asked, and I saw the fucking pride in his eyes. “Show me, I mean. I know you’re good. Sniper and shit.”
“Sure,” I said. “Ash?” He looked up. “Talk a minute?” Ash’s eyebrows pulled down in confusion. “Zane, give us a few?”
Vike walked past just at that moment. “Zane! You can help me decide which tits I like better on these porn stars. It’s like fucking Sophie’s Choice!” He threw his arm around Zane’s neck and led him away.
I walked to the side of the cabin, taking a bottle of Jack from one of the tables. When Ash and I were alone, I said, “I ain’t had much time to speak to you over the past few weeks.” I took two shot glasses from my cut and poured out the Jack. I handed one to Ash. “But I’m gonna tell you what my brother said to me when I got my first kill.” Ash raised his eyebrows. “It gets easier,” I said, hearing fucking Dev’s voice in my head. “From this moment on, it becomes second nature and don’t bother you as much. I promise.”
“I know.” Ash lowered his eyes.
“You do?”
He shrugged. “Flame sat me down afterwards and talked to me.” He gestured to the bourbon. “He gave me a shot too.” He smirked. “Told me you did the same to him when he got his first kill.”
“I did.” I remembered.
Ash nodded. “He reminds me of you sometimes. I think . . . I think in some ways he models himself on you.” I was shocked, fucking rooted to the spot. “You mean a lot to him.”
“He means a lot to me too,” I said. “As do you, you little shit.” Ash laughed at me. “Speaking of, I’m getting some plans drawn up to get another bedroom in my cabin. Then you can come back home.” He’d been staying with Flame since Sapphira had moved in. Ash went silent, then looked away. “What?”
“AK . . . Flame has asked me to move in with him and Maddie.”
My eyebrows shot up in surprise. “When?”
“A while ago.”
“And?”
A smile pulled on his lips. “I said yes.”
I blinked, not sure I could believe it. “You good with it?”
“Yeah,” he said with a sigh. “I want to. Since I’ve been staying there . . . he’s been good with me. Different. I . . . Better than I could have imagined.” He shrugged. “I like it.”
“Well, fuck, kid,” I said.
“AK?” he said. “I . . . I just wanna say thanks. For everything you’ve done since . . . you know, I came here. I . . .” He rocked on his feet. “You’re my brother too. Like Flame. And I . . . I just wanted you to know that I’m grateful.” I swore these fucking teenagers were gonna give me a fucking heart attack. Turning me into a weeping fucking pussy.