Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 82282 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82282 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
When he left, I went and picked up Hemi’s favorite stuffed chew toy, stuffed it into my bag, and walked out of the house, setting the alarm and locking it behind me.
Trance was already mounted on his bike, and I walked quickly towards him, anxious to get the meeting over with.
The decision to leave Radar at home was a difficult one. Trance had thought it’d be best to keep him at home, just in case. I’d argued that it’d be best for the town to see what a well-behaved dog Radar was, but I was overruled. Overall, it was Trance’s decision, and I wanted him to be comfortable at this meeting.
Once I mounted the bike behind Trance, he handed me my helmet and I strapped it into place. When I wrapped my arms around his chest, Trance took off out of his driveway, heading to the town proper.
We arrived at a quarter ‘til six, and walked inside. Trance and I were flanked by Sebastian and Loki. Behind us was Kettle and Dixie. In front of us was Silas.
I was beyond surprised to see the men of Free as we passed, and I waved to Shiloh as Trance dragged me in his wake. She waved back and gave me a reassuring smile before I lost sight of her. When we reached the front, Trance gestured to a seat that was in the very corner of the room that allowed the largest view of the room and exits.
Which I’d found was normal for Trance. Anytime we went out to eat, he always placed his back to the wall, and made sure he knew where all the exits were. As did his brothers and club members.
Now that I think about it, the men of Free were in the same spot, just in the very back corner giving them a view of the room and a quick exit if needed.
I shook my head. Alphas. They were all the same.
“What’re you shaking your head for?” Trance asked, not trying in the least to keep his voice down.
Most of the town attended, and they all were watching us avidly. As if we were a spectacle to be ogled.
Which made me want to squirm. I hated being the center of attention. It always made me feel like they were judging me. ‘Hey, look at that blind girl, there. She can’t even match her clothes for herself.’
Not that that was much of a problem anymore, but back then it used to be. I’d always hear the whispers, and the not so whisper whispers. They thought they were being conspicuous, but they weren’t.
“The fact that you have to have your back to a wall.” I said quietly.
He lifted his head in understanding. “I like to see what’s coming at me.”
I was intelligent enough to understand that without him telling me, but I’d let him have the illusion that he was telling me something new.
Silas stood in the corner beside my seat, leaning against the wall with one beefy shoulder.
He was pretty awesome looking today.
He was wearing faded blue jeans with a cut off grey t-shirt. His cut was on over the tee, and his beard. My God his beard. There were really no words. It was long, almost to his chest, and braided. The hair tie at the bottom of the braid was red, standing out starkly against the grey.
He had a red bandana covering up his gray close cropped hair, and a pair of wrap around sunglasses that covered up his pale hazel eyes.
He must’ve sensed my perusal because he looked down, caught my stare, and smirked at me.
“What?” He rumbled softly.
I shook my head. “Nothing. I was just thinking I really would hate to talk to you. You come off as unapproachable.”
He nodded in understanding. “That’s the way it’s been for many years. I won’t be stopping now.”
The clanging of the gavel brought my attention to the ‘judge-like table at the front of the room with seven primly dressed individuals. Three women and four men.
The crowd around us quieted, and my eyes locked on the panel of judges who would be deciding Radar’s fate.
***
“All I’m saying is that it would be best for the city of Benton not to have Radar on the payroll anymore.” Eleanor, panelist number seven, said.
My eyes narrowed on the woman that was spouting all of that nonsense.
Without putting much thought into it, I stood and walked to the podium in the middle of the room.
I ignored the growl of disapproval by every single person that was a member of The Dixie Wardens, and stopped when I got to the microphone.
Panelist number seven kept speaking about how horrible it would be if Radar killed someone who was just passing by and what kind of lawsuits that could bring the city when I interrupted her.
“Excuse me,” I cleared my throat.
The seven members, who were all shaking their heads in understanding, stopped what they were doing and regarded me with a range of expressions. Some were annoyed, others were bored, while one was openly hostile. That being panelist number seven.
“I’d like to tell you about Radar if you’ll let me.” I said softly, really working the fragile woman card.
They also didn’t know I wasn’t ‘blind’ anymore. And I wouldn’t be enlightening them.
“And who are you?” Eleanor snarled.
“My name is Vidalia Elise Spurlock. Officer Killian Spurlock is my husband.” I said softly.
Eleanor hissed at the mention of my husband. “And what would you like to enlighten us about, Mrs. Spurlock?”
She said Mrs. Spurlock with so much venom that a normal person would’ve taken a step back. I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction.
“Do you work, ma’am?” I asked her.
She narrowed her eyes at me. “Yes, I do. I’m my husband’s secretary at his law firm that he shares with another partner.”
“If your husband were to ask you to, say...make him some coffee, would you do it?” I asked.
Her head tilted, wondering where I was going with this line of questions, but she inevitably answered, not suspecting the trap. “Yes, sure. I do that every day.”