Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 125517 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 628(@200wpm)___ 502(@250wpm)___ 418(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 125517 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 628(@200wpm)___ 502(@250wpm)___ 418(@300wpm)
Carter didn’t bother to smile. Doom didn’t take it personally. His father-in-law didn’t have much to smile about anymore. His illness had become worse in the last three months since Tink and he got married.
He had asked Tink to marry him before he let her near Wizard’s air conditioner. Not wanting to take any chances that one of the brothers would steal her away from him, he used her parents’ health to convince her to marry him in a private ceremony with them and Blue. Tink’s mother had passed away a month later.
Living with Tink’s family hadn’t been the adjustment he had expected. Blue and he got along well, and before Tink’s mother passed, he enjoyed spending the night watching television with her as she reminisced about Tink’s and Blue’s childhoods.
“I feel good. I might do some piddling around the house today.”
“Might have trouble finding something to fix; Tink was trying to find something yesterday.”
Carter gave her a baleful look.
“Sorry, Dad,” she apologized.
Kissing her despite the irritated glare she gave him for telling on her, he decided it was a good time to leave.
“I’m going to head on to the club. I’ll be back in an hour.”
“Take your time. We can get Dad back inside by ourselves.”
Getting on his bike, Doom noticed Carter staring at him wistfully.
When he arrived at the club, he headed straight to Wizard’s room. He didn’t have to knock since the door stood wide open, Wizard sprawled naked with Celeste lying partially over him and Kat curled to his side. All of them were blissfully asleep.
“Wake up, brother. We have shit to do!”
“Fuck off,” Wizard groaned.
“Can’t today. Get your ass out of bed. We’re going for a ride.”
* * *
Tink and Carter were still sitting outside when he returned.
Tink stood up when row after row of motorcycles started lining up in the street.
Getting off his bike, Doom walked up the driveway to where Carter was sitting. “You up to a ride, old man?”
Carter’s eyes filled with tears. “Hell yeah.”
“Dad…” Tink gave her dad a concerned look before throwing him a reprimanding glare. “I don’t think that’s a good idea—”
“He can wear his portable oxygen. I checked to make sure it’s safe. He’s going to ride with me.”
Seeing how happy her dad was, she caved. “I’m coming too.”
“Thought you would. You and Blue can follow in the car.”
Doom saw her disappointment that she wouldn’t be riding on a motorcycle, but Carter was riding with him, and Tink’s ass wasn’t getting on another brother’s bike.
He rolled Carter’s wheelchair down the driveway, then helped him onto the bike. Then, pulling out a specialty backpack designed to carry the portable oxygen, Doom placed it inside and helped Carter slide it on his back.
“You ready?” Doom asked.
“Been ready.” Carter adjusted the nasal tubing more comfortably. As he gawked at all the bikes, Doom saw him go misty-eyed again. “They’re all veterans?”
“Every last one of them.” Doom pointed at the two bikers who would ride next to them. “Rhodes and Nashville were in the Marines.”
“I haven’t been on a motorcycle since I sold mine.”
“That’s what Tink told me. I’ll make sure not to go too fast, so you won’t fall off,” Doom teased him.
Carter’s happy expression deflated, believing he was serious.
“Brother, I’m joking. I’ve got you. Tink is going to have a hell of time catching up.” He stared his motorcycle, then signaled to Wizard that they were ready.
“Brothers!” Wizard bellowed out. “Let’s ride!”
The motorcycles kept to the speed limit until they hit the road leading to the club then gradually picked up speed. As they reached the club, the bikers all parked to go inside. Doom didn’t miss the disappointment on Carter’s face when he got off.
“I thought we’d grab a beer.”
Joy lit his father-in-law’s face.
Lifting Carter into his arms, Doom carried him inside to place him on a stool at the bar.
“Kat, give this Marine a beer.” Doom sat down next to Carter.
Kat had just placed the beer down when Tink and Blue walked through the door. Motioning for Blue, Doom stood up and let son and father sit together.
Going behind the bar, he poured a beer from the tap then set it down in front of Blue. “Enjoy a beer with your old man.”
Blue stared down at the beer then back at him. Doom knew the composed expression on Blue’s face was a façade. He could see the depths of anguish Blue was hiding from his father.
“Thanks, Doom,” he said in a thick voice.
Pouring himself a beer, he stood, listening as Carter talked about a road trip he had taken when he was eighteen.
He was lifting the beer to his mouth when feminine arms slid around his waist from behind, and he could feel Tink pressing her body against his back.
“I love you.”
Unlike her brother, Tink wasn’t able to keep her tears at bay, using his body to hide the emotions she didn’t want her dad to see.