Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 79261 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79261 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 396(@200wpm)___ 317(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
“I hate that my shitty decisions are makin’ you question your role in my life. If anythin’, I wanted to be just like you.”
He sighed deeply, pausing for a moment to gather his thoughts. “I always knew you were gettin’ your hands dirty. I just didn’t think you’d go that far down the rabbit hole.”
“Just to be clear, the rabbit hole is about the only thing I didn’t involve myself in.”
He knew I meant trafficking.
“What am I goin’ to tell your mother? You know I can’t keep shit from her. You’ve put me in a tight spot.”
“I know, and I’m sorry for that. I can’t change the past. I honestly don’t have many answers for you other than I got addicted to the thrill of it all. In my mind, I guess I thought I was legacy or some shit. It started off as one thing, and when I got away with it, it became another thing all on its own. I guess I got addicted to the lifestyle. It was never about the money although I do have a shit ton of it. I invested it wisely, and I’m set for life.”
“That’s good to hear.”
“I feel like I’ve finally found what I’ve been missin’, and maybe that was the point of all this. To find her.”
“That’s one fucked-up love story.”
“Takes one to know one.”
He chuckled, aware I was right.
“She’s a pretty girl. She young enough to be your daughter?”
“Not unless I had her when I was sixteen.”
“Hmm…” he hummed. “I guess a younger woman is in our blood.”
“Touche.”
We had a bond that I didn’t want to give up. I was done with the illegal bullshit. Especially the bloodshed.
“What I’m tryin’ to say is that I may not have been born into that world, but it still felt like I had to be part of it. Now I know more than anythin’ that family is the most important thing.”
Meaning every last word.
SLOAN
“Oh my God!” I recognized Luke’s sister, Harley. “My brother finally brought a girl home, and she’s gorgeous.” She pulled me into a tight embrace.
His family had a way of making you feel so comfortable and loved. It was as if I stepped into an episode of Pleasantville. Everyone was beyond welcoming. No one made me feel like an outsider or a stranger. I felt like I’d known them my entire life.
Being around his loved ones made me realize how much I wish that my childhood would have been like this. I could have actually experienced the love of both my parents, who were still madly in love with each other like Luke’s mom and dad.
I watched the way he looked at her. It was the same way his son looked at me. It was crazy how much Luke and his father looked alike. They were the spitting image of one another. I definitely could tell they were father and son.
The longer I was around his family, the more I began to understand why Luke was so affectionate. I think I saw his mom give him at least fifteen hugs throughout the day. She was captivated by her son, and it was a beautiful thing to see. Their devotion was special, and I knew their dynamic was genuine.
I felt at ease as I was introduced to everyone. Trying to keep track of each of their names. However, my saving grace was that a lot of the men were wearing leather vests with their names already stitched on them. Along with the club’s name, End of the Road.
I laughed so hard when I read the back of a little girl’s vest, engraved with Property of my daddy.
“I love your heart sunglasses,” I said to Harley.
She cheekily smiled, only looking at her husband, Jackson, who was standing beside her. “They’re my Jackson blockers.”
He tugged her in for a kiss, and I smiled.
There had to be a story there…
His mom chimed in, “How’s it been with my son?”
My eyebrows rose. “Now that’s a loaded question if I’ve ever heard one.”
“He’s always been his daddy’s son.”
I smiled again. “I’m starting to see that.”
“I could never for the life of me control that boy. He’s exactly like his father, and sometimes I feel like he might be worse.”
She knew more than she led on.
I spent the rest of the afternoon hanging out with everyone, shooting the shit, immediately feeling as if I was one of them. It was nice to feel like I was a part of their group and their family; I need that for my soul. Never having it to begin with.
“Sloan!” Skyler, his uncle Noah’s wife, shouted from her raft floating around the pool and a cocktail in hand. Shaking her free arm, she tried to get my attention.
“Keep bouncin’ those tits, and watch how fast I burn that bikini!” Noah hollered.