Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 67324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 337(@200wpm)___ 269(@250wpm)___ 224(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 337(@200wpm)___ 269(@250wpm)___ 224(@300wpm)
I’ve been called a few things in my life; unique isn’t one of them.
“She’s special alright,” Dax tells him, placing a hand on my shoulder. “She’s strong and smart and more beautiful than most.”
He thinks that about me? From the few times I’ve been here and spent time with him?
I shake my head. God dammit, Waverly, it’s all an act.
“She is most certainly beautiful. The rest I’ll be the judge of. When can I take her?”
Wait. What? Take me?
No.
I don’t think so.
I step back towards Dax without thought. It’s just a reaction. Out of the two evil men in this room right now, I trust Dax more than I trust Peter, who is staring at me like he’s got thoughts in his head that aren’t at all pure.
Dax places a hand on my hip, and pulls me back closer to him, and I’m strangely comforted, mostly because I’m terrified of the man in front of me.
“Actually, I’m keeping this one with me for a while.” Dax speaks in a calm voice, but it’s bold, too. It tells Peter that he’s going to do it, with or without his approval. I’m not entirely sure yet of the man Peter is, but if I’m guessing correctly, I’d say he isn’t going to take that well.
I’m right.
Peter straightens and looks Dax right in the eyes. “You know the rules around here, son. Nobody keeps a woman except me.”
“Rules change,” Dax says, his voice still scarily calm. “She’s goin’ to stay here with me until I decide what to do with her.”
They’re speaking about me like I’m a small puppy incapable of looking after myself. To be fair, that’s the way I come across, but it’s also infuriating to listen to.
“I’d like to take her,” Peter says, his voice growing harder by the second. “She’s exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
He doesn’t even know me—how can he possibly tell I’m what he’s looking for? By looks alone? I’ve barely said two words to the man.
“She’s not your type, Peter,” Dax goes on.
“She’s exactly my type, and you know it.”
“This isn’t up for discussion. If you want to push me, then by all means do so, but you know exactly what I can do when pressed,” Dax warns.
Peter glares at him, and then, as if a light is flipped on in his brain, he smiles and looks at me. “I suppose you probably could use some company for a while. We’ll discuss it again in a few weeks when you’re bored of her, shall we?”
Dax simply nods, and I try hard not to exhale too loudly. I’m that relieved.
“Very well. I have business to tend to. I’ll be back, Dax. We’ll be discussing this further.”
Peter turns and walks out of the room, but the way he said that tells me this is far from over. Whatever it is about me, Peter wants it, and he’s made it very clear he’s going to do whatever he can to get it.
I feel a little unwell, and I’ll need to report this back to Alarick as soon as possible, because the last thing I want to do is get caught up with Peter. There will be no coming back from that.
“I hate to say it,” I murmur, “but I don’t like your friend.”
For a split second, I forget I’m meant to be sweet, broken and a little stupid. My comment has me panicking that Dax is going to wonder where such a statement came from, but instead, he laughs. His hands squeezes my hip and he tells me, “I knew I liked you for a reason.”
I swallow.
I’m not sure if him liking me is a good thing or a bad thing at this point.
But one thing is for sure—it just saved me from falling into the hands of the ultimate monster.
I’ll take that as a win for now.
“I MET AVIANA’S UNCLE,” I tell Alarick, walking into the large shed where all the bikers are currently sitting around a table, discussing things. The old biker, Pedro, who gave me a lift over, finds a seat and sits down. He doesn’t say much, but I’m fairly certain he’s getting a hell of a lot of death stares for letting me in the place.
I’m not meant to be in here, but as soon as I left Dax’s house, I knew I needed to come over to share the news. I couldn’t wait; I didn’t want any detail to be left behind.
“We’re having church right fuckin’ now if you don’t mind,” Mykel mutters.
“Oh, bite it, Mykel. It’s urgent or I wouldn’t be here.”
Someone chuckles.
“Give me ten. We’re about to wrap this up,” Alarick tells me. “I’ll come out after.”
I nod and turn towards the door.
“And Waverly?” Alarick calls.
I glance back.
“Don’t interrupt church again.”
Oh, boy.
Bikers are moody creatures.
I wait outside the shed until all the bikers start filing out. An older man tells me I can go in, and when I return, only Alarick, Cohen, Samson, Kendric, Bohdi and Mykel are sitting at the table, still in their same spots, spread out over the large space. I cross my arms and wait for Alarick to tell me to speak. God knows I don’t want to piss him off even more.