Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 117494 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 587(@200wpm)___ 470(@250wpm)___ 392(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117494 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 587(@200wpm)___ 470(@250wpm)___ 392(@300wpm)
I followed him over to the table and pulled on my sleeping shorts. I had no bra, but we were kinda past that. I leaned against the doorframe as he went through his guns.
Guns. On the table.
How was that a normal thing?
He acted like this was a daily occurrence. Instead of choosing what kind of eggs he wanted for breakfast, he picked what type of gun to take—oh, never mind. He was taking them all.
After checking the ammo, he started putting guns into their holsters all over him. His cut was the last thing he put on. He’d placed it beside his guns on the table.
Another reminder of our differences. My mouth went dry.
I blinked a few times, but the image of Shane in all his biker glory wasn’t one I’d ever forget. I bit my bottom lip. I didn’t know if I liked this look or not. Or if I really liked it.
But the fear was real. The guns were real.
I decided then and there. I did not like this. Not one bit.
“Shane.”
He paused, looking up from his phone now.
I met his eyes. “I waited. What is going on?”
He nodded, as if coming to a decision. “I can’t tell you everything. I just can’t. But we work with some powerful and dangerous men. One of those guys came to town, and tonight, we have to go see him. Everyone is here to keep you safe. That’s why I brought you in. I didn’t want to risk anyone finding out about you and have you not guarded. I know what I’m saying is scary, but right now, I need you to stay put. Don’t tell anyone where you are. Got me?”
I tensed, but I kept remembering how he’d held me this morning. For some reason, that pushed its way to the forefront. I didn’t know what to think about that either.
I nodded. “Can I leave this apartment? I need coffee.”
He cracked a grin. “Yeah. Tell them you’re mine if anyone gives you a problem. There’ll be some old ladies here too. I think they were asked to look out for you.”
Old ladies. I had a bit of a moment, because that term was no longer just a word from a documentary. It was real, and alive, and in my face. This was the biker world.
He came over, a hand at my hip, and leaned in. His lips met mine in a soft graze. Tingles spread through me at the touch, and I bit my lip when he straightened.
He touched my lip with his finger. “I’ll be back. Keep your phone on you. I’ll be in touch.”
I nodded, and then he was gone.
I slid down to the floor, right where I was, and leaned forward, catching my head in my hands.
What had I gotten myself into?
I started to call my dad, but nope.
I couldn’t. Just couldn’t.
I didn’t want to get his viewpoint on an old lady or not.
21
SHANE
The rest of the guys were situated. Crow wasn’t too happy to be outnumbered, but he also knew he couldn’t say anything about it. Still, I was catching his eye more and more. Suspicion was building, and there’d be a talk brought to the table pretty soon. I could feel it, like an annoying itch.
I did understand his perspective. This was his charter, his area, and we were firmly moving in.
“Ghost.”
I was grinning before I even turned around, because damn, I had missed this man.
My brother. My best friend. My partner in so many godforsaken situations. Boise was his biker name, and he was my other half—as much as I had one at this point. We called him Boise because of a simple conversation we’d once had.
Where are you from? Boise.
What’s your name? Boise.
You ride a lot? Boise.
So his biker name was Boise. One time he’d said he was Shoshone, but he didn’t talk much about his tribal family. I respected that, and once he became a Red Demon, he became my right-hand man. It had felt weird to be here without him, so seeing him coming my way, that long-ass dark hair swinging in the wind, I just shook my head and couldn’t hold back the smile.
“It’s been too damn long.”
He hit me hard, and I wrapped my arms around him. None of that masculine bullshit here; we were hugging tight and pounding each other on the back.
I clasped him on the back of his head. “Missed you.”
He hugged me tight one last time. “You too, brother. You too.”
He stepped back, and we laughed, holding onto each other’s arms a moment before we separated fully.
“I thought you’d stay back with Prez,” I told him.
His face twitched, and he almost snorted. “I hear Estrada is here and you think I’m staying to guard an ailing man? You loco.”
“Yeah. Maybe.” Still, the club came first. Boise took that seriously, so for him to choose my side instead of Max’s said a lot.