Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 89934 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 450(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 89934 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 450(@200wpm)___ 360(@250wpm)___ 300(@300wpm)
“You want me to give a stab at opening it?” Prior to becoming Caleb’s guardian, he’d dabbled in safe cracking. Spare time was a rarity these days, so he hadn’t indulged in the hobby for months, but he’d love to give this one a go.
“If you don’t mind. I’m sure as fuck not giving it back to that bitch.”
Lock winced. “Yikes. Sounds like there’s a story there.”
His simple reaction made Ty laugh. “Oh, yeah. Not a pretty story, that’s for sure. I’ll fill you in someday. Maybe on a night you’re hoping to have nightmares.”
Lock chuckled. “Looking forward to it.” He studied the safe for a minute. “If you don’t mind me taking this baby home for a few days, I’ll give it a go. Promise I won’t look at what’s inside.”
Ty waved away his concern. “Knock yourself out. I don’t give a shit if you snoop. I trust you.”
The words were spoken in such a casual way Ty didn’t seem to realize their impact. But they hit Lock square in the chest. Since his stint in rehab, he couldn’t shake the constant feeling of being a huge fucking lead weight on his club brothers. Ty mirroring Curly’s words of trust and faith meant the world. If only he could convince himself he wasn’t a drain on his club.
You’re the only person holding a grudge against Lock. That’s where you need to focus your forgiveness and healing.
His therapist’s words, spoken repeatedly, made perfect sense for the first time.
He rolled his eyes. How many times had he told him he was crazy? But as usual, he’d been dead right. But how did he go about forgiving himself when he had to live day in and day out, knowing he’d caused immense pain to the only important people in his life?
Some days, it felt like an impossible task. Punishing himself was easier. More comfortable. It made sense.
He cleared his throat of budding emotion. “Great. I’ll let you know when I get it open.”
“No rush. I’m sure it’s just something that’ll make me hate her even more.”
Lock bit off the desire to ask for clarification. It wasn’t his business, and he’d be wise to avoid the VP’s messy relationship drama for all he was worth.
“Sorry,” Ty said. “Guess I have some unresolved issues.”
A laugh burst from Lock. “Don’t we all, brother?”
They slapped hands, then Lock gathered up the safe and headed back outside to his bike. He strapped it to the rear seat.
Time to get home to his son.
And the woman he could still taste on his tongue.
God, she was fucking delicious.
During the trip home, he forced himself to think of the most revolting images he could conjure up. Anything to keep his mind off Brenna and his cock under control, so he didn’t show up with a tent in his jeans.
Of course, when he opened the door and heard her singing a silly rhyme to his son, all that hard work went out the window. Jesus, all it took was the sound of her voice to make him hard. He pressed the heel of his hand over his cock as though he could force the over-eager organ into submission.
“Oh, hey.” Brenna came walking down the hall with Caleb in her arms. “Daddy’s home.”
His son squealed and tried to launch himself from her arms, making Brenna laugh and Lock’s chest ache again. Goddammit, he might have to see a cardiologist.
“Whoa, easy there, big guy. I’ll hand you over.” She stepped close enough that Lock caught Caleb as he practically dove from her arms.
“Hey, bud,” he said to Caleb, who snuggled right in against his chest.
“I think he’s sleepy. I was about to put him down for a nap.” As she stepped back, he noticed a slight tremor in her hands, which she tried to hide by stuffing them in the pockets of her shorts.
He frowned. “What’s wrong?”
“Hmm?”
Now that he took a second to focus on her, he saw the signs of strain. Anxiety, maybe. Her ear-to-ear grin was fake as fuck. He’s seen her happy. Hell, he’d made her happy with his tongue and his fingers, but also, when they’d talked and joked, she’d radiated happiness.
And this wasn’t it.
“I’m fine.” She smiled, but he didn’t buy it.
“Something happened.” Not a question. He didn’t need her to confirm what he knew, only to tell him what had her freaked out. With Caleb safe in his arms, he wasn’t worried something had happened to his son.
No, this distress was personal to Brenna.
Which led him in one direction.
Oliver.
“What did that motherfucker do?”
She gasped. “What? H-how did you know?”
He raised an eyebrow. “Guess I’ve gotten to know you pretty well.”
Brenna blinked, and for a beat, they stared at each other. Then Caleb let out one of the adorable baby sighs he only made when in the first stages of sleep. Lock glanced down to find his son sound asleep in his arms.