Total pages in book: 171
Estimated words: 159050 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 795(@200wpm)___ 636(@250wpm)___ 530(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 159050 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 795(@200wpm)___ 636(@250wpm)___ 530(@300wpm)
Beast huffed and his nostrils flared. “No, I don’t want you to step down. But no one else can know about this, and there will be no fucking scientists coming over here this time, understood? This isn’t even out in the grounds, it’s in our clubhouse. It could take years before they let it go after going through every single detail in there.” There was a pause and Beast called Hound back again. “You’ll show it to me tomorrow, okay?”
Knight nodded, still looking at the floor. It was a display of guilt if Elliot ever saw one.
Beast shook his head in the end and gave Knight a few slaps on the back. “Does he need to see a doctor?” he asked, indicating Elliot.
Knight grimaced. “Better not. It’d be fucking clear where he’d gotten the drugs from.”
The dead biker smiled and called the dog over, but all he got was more growls. Would this insanity now be Elliot’s life? Then again, if he was offered William’s devotion in return, maybe it was worth it?
“I’m fine,” Elliot mumbled, hugging himself.
“He needs to sleep it off, I guess. Can’t believe he stole so many sleeping pills,” Knight said, staring at Elliot over his shoulder. The message was loud and clear. Elliot had almost succeeded in killing himself and now needed to be carefully watched. Elliot wasn’t thrilled with this cover-up, but he could suffer many indignities as long as it kept him in William’s home.
Beast glanced between them. “Is he staying with you?”
The question seemed innocent, but Elliot understood the implication. Beast was asking if Elliot and Knight still had something going on, and he wouldn’t stay silent.
“No,” Elliot said before Knight could answer, and in turn, William stroked Elliot’s head.
“That’s right,” William said, “You don’t need that savage in your life. You were made for finer things.”
Knight only glanced at him briefly and shrugged. “You heard him. His room has bars in the windows, so I’m gonna lock him in there and sleep on it.”
“A prisoner in my own house again. How despicable,” William said.
Beast’s forehead wrinkled, but Elliot just shrugged.
“It’s fine with me. I don’t feel so good anyway.”
“He just talked to the freaking statue. So yeah, he needs to cool down,” Knight said and pulled on Elliot’s hand.
“Do we have a decent bed at least?” William asked, joining Elliot at Knight’s side.
“We do,” Elliot whispered and couldn’t help himself, so he squeezed Knight’s warm hand. Despite everything that happened in the cellar, Knight had made up a story to protect him from Beast. Despite the cut, the attack, even the kick in the balls, he didn’t bash Elliot’s head in. That counted for something.
Beast shook his head, and Hound followed him out of the hall. “He’s so out of it. Talk to you tomorrow, Knight. I want to see if there’s anything of interest in those rooms.”
“Yeah, will do. Get back to bed. I need some more sleep as well,” Knight said and walked Elliot to the opposite end of the hall. The wailing of the biker ghost was only a memory now as they started up the stairs, with William following them closely.
“Good God, how drab this place has become in my absence. We need to do something about it, Elliot.”
Elliot didn’t want to speak, to not unnecessarily draw Knight’s attention to the madness that went on beyond his comprehension, but he smiled slightly and nodded. He didn’t know how yet he would make his life with William work, but he would. This was only the first hour. They would find a way.
Chapter 20
Knight really didn’t feel like partying this New Year’s Eve, but business needed to roll, so the end-of-year party was even grander, louder, and more outrageous than the one when Elliot had first infiltrated the clubhouse. They decided to make it an adults-only event, which meant numerous 18+ attractions, including a sex show. Normally, Knight would have possibly considered taking part in the display, as he had nothing to hide from all those thirsty boys and girls, but his energy levels had dropped in recent days, and so he was glad Joker actually hired some porn models to do the honors.
Having done his duty watching over the paying guests, he retreated to the back rooms where a more private event was being held. The two hours of having to watch the huge mass of people for signs of trouble pumped him out, and he was happier than ever to rest his ass in the leather love seat, listening to old school rock and roll with his brothers. Normally, he enjoyed the watch duty to some extent. The element of danger was what attracted their ‘customers’ to the parties, so flirting was in the fine print in his job description. The devil enjoyed his boost of primal energy—or whatever it was that the infernal presence actually fed on—and Knight had his pick of the pretty boys and girls who hit on him, spurred on by alcohol and recreational drugs.