Total pages in book: 162
Estimated words: 158872 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 794(@200wpm)___ 635(@250wpm)___ 530(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 158872 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 794(@200wpm)___ 635(@250wpm)___ 530(@300wpm)
I spot Wrath, the club’s enforcer, in a back corner of the room with his wife. He lifts a hand and waves. The movement draws the attention of the redhead next to him. Hope flashes a bright, welcoming smile. For a second, she disappears in the crowd, then emerges holding the hand of a little girl who looks like her tiny carbon copy.
“Hi, Griff.” Hope’s warm voice carries above the rest of the noise. Rock moves closer and slips a protective arm around her waist. Her green eyes shift to Remy. “It’s nice to have you guys up here finally.”
“Hi!” the little girl chirps, waving her hands at us.
I smile at the little girl. “Grace, right?” I say to Hope, praying that’s her kid’s name.
She nods.
Rock leans down and picks up his daughter. “Mommy’s got work to do.” He kisses her cheek. “You’re with me.”
Grace beams at him.
“We don’t have to right now,” I protest.
Somewhere deeper in the clubhouse, a baby lets a scream rip. Then, another one adds to the noise. My eyes widen and I search the room.
“Let’s go check on your cousins,” Rock says to his daughter.
“Bye, Momma!” Grace waves to all of us. Hope waves back and watches her husband head up the long staircase to our left.
Grinder takes Rock’s place, holding out a hand for Remy to shake, then me. “Good to see you two up here.”
Have we been invited before and declined or something? Remy and I share a look. He must be getting that wandering-sheep-returning-to-the-flock vibe I’m picking up.
“Do you mind if I borrow him?” Hope says to Remy, resting her hand on my shoulder.
Remy flashes a flirty smile. “As long as you return him.”
Hope’s lips purse likes she’s fighting off laughter.
Wrath somehow sneaks up behind Remy and wraps one of his tattooed, tree-trunk arms around Remy’s neck, capturing him in a rear chokehold. “Ruthless. Just the man I was looking for.”
“Why?” Remy gasps and tucks his chin.
Hope flicks an exasperated glance at Wrath. “Please don’t toss our guests around like chew toys.”
“Funny you should say that, Cinderella.” Wrath reaches over and rubs his big hand over Hope’s head, and she bats him away. “We got one of those attack suits to train the dogs. Z needs someone to wear it, and Ruthless looks like the right size.”
“Wait, what?” Remy pivots, shifting his weight to his back foot, and throws his elbow back.
Wrath dodges the blow to his gut easily, and releases Remy. “Nice move.”
“Thanks.” Remy shakes it off and takes a deep breath.
“You done terrorizing the kid?” Grinder punches Wrath’s arm.
“Yes, Grumpy…I mean, Grinder.” Wrath grins.
I duck my head and swallow my laughter.
Hope lets out a heavy sigh. “Come on.” She gestures to an open door to our right. “Be nice,” she says over her shoulder to Wrath.
“I’ll let him get into the protective gear before we release the dogs,” Wrath promises.
“That’s not what I meant,” Hope mutters, shaking her head. “We’re going to borrow the guys’ office.” She pushes the heavy wooden door open and motions for me to go in first. A desk rests against each wall of the office, leaving the middle of the room mostly open. A dog bed rests in one corner and a filing cabinet in another. A laptop and some folders or books sit on each one. Hope pulls out the chair at the largest desk. A yellow legal pad rests on top of a smaller laptop. This must be where the officers meet before “church.”
She drops into the thickly padded executive chair and nods to a green leather chair across from her. “Take Murphy’s seat.”
“Dex doesn’t get a desk?” I guess.
She shrugs. “I think the garages are his domain.”
I nod, but damn, maybe I shouldn’t have said that.
“So, Teller said you need to have a will drafted?” Hope prompts.
“I don’t have much.” I spread my hands in front of me. “This is probably pointless.”
“Not at all.” Hope reaches over and rests her soft, warm hand over mine. “It’s smart to think ahead. Just in case.”
“Thanks.” I don’t get the sense she’s humoring me.
For some reason, I’m nervous. My leg won’t stop bouncing. My gaze keeps straying to the closed door.
“This is confidential,” she assures me.
“Remy already knows. It’s not really a big deal.”
“Well, that’s your decision. But on my end, nothing you say in here leaves this room.” She glances toward the door. “Rock understands that.”
I relax into the chair and pull out the list I scribbled earlier.
“All right.” Hope picks up her pen and legal pad. “So, tell me what made you decide to do this now?”
I tell her about the reality show, surprised Teller didn’t mention it. She listens and jots a few notes. When I mention the contracts, non-disclosure agreements, and psych exam, she sets her pen down. Concern glints in her eyes.