Total pages in book: 139
Estimated words: 133511 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 668(@200wpm)___ 534(@250wpm)___ 445(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133511 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 668(@200wpm)___ 534(@250wpm)___ 445(@300wpm)
“No,” I said, shaking my head. “We should go. I want to see everyone—be around people.”
“Are you sure?” he asked. “This is a lot to take in. Nobody would blame you.”
“It’s not about them blaming me,” I replied slowly. “But hearing something like this—it’s a lot to process. She was my mom, my family . . . But Loni’s kind of my mom, too. And now we have a new family. Not just you and me and Izzy, but the rest of them. I really think I’d rather be around our people tonight.”
Leaning over, he kissed me.
“All right,” he said. “But if you need some space, let me know.”
I smiled.
“I will. I think I’m fine, though. Really. You’re my family now. I still miss my mom and I always will, but I’ll get through it. And I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
I would be okay. We would be okay.
And we’d live happily ever after.
For real.
AUTHOR’S NOTE: This bonus epilogue takes place in Hallies Falls, on the day following Painter’s confrontation with Marsh in Ellensburg.
BONUS EPILOGUE
TINKER
“Are you sitting down?” My best friend, Carrie, sounded breathless over the phone. “Do you have wine? I have news. Big news.”
My hand halted, wineglass inches from my mouth. Damn, she knew me far too well . . . You’re getting predictable with old age.
“Yes, I’m sitting on the porch with my wine, just like every Sunday afternoon,” I admitted. “Just half a bottle, though. It’s been a shitty week—I’ve earned it. Am I going to need more?”
“Maybe,” she said, her voice far too serious. Uh oh. “You know your sexy tenant? The one who’s been doing all that work around the building, and mowing the lawn without his shirt?”
“I’m aware,” I replied dryly, taking another sip of wine. “I’m the one who invited you over to watch him with me, remember?”
It wasn’t something I was proud of, but I’d developed quite the weakness for my newest tenant, Cooper Romero. He’d been living in the unit directly behind my house, which fronted one side of the C-shaped apartment building my parents had owned my entire life. He was gorgeous, friendly, nice, and had a girlfriend who was not only hotter than hell, she was probably fifteen years younger than me. Seeing as I pegged him at my own age or slightly older, I obviously wasn’t his type.
Didn’t mean I couldn’t enjoy the view.
“Well, something big happened down in Ellensburg yesterday, at the car show. You know he’s been hanging out with the motorcycle club a lot, right?”
“Yes, I’d noticed,” I said, my voice turning sour. I wasn’t a fan of the club, at least not in recent years. They’d always been a part of the town, but lately they’d gotten out of hand. People were scared of them these days, and with good reason.
“Well, they got in some kind of big fight and tore up a bar. Then the cops arrested all of them. Not just the guys in the club, but anyone with them, and Cooper was right in the thick of it.”
“What?” I asked, sitting up. Cooper didn’t seem like the violent type. I mean, he was big and tough and all that, but he was always so gentle with me. I’d thought the time he was spending with the Nighthawks was just because of his girlfriend, Talia.
Their president was an asshole and a bully, and his sister—the hated girlfriend, and yes, I’m saying that out of petty jealousy—was flat-out mean. She’d caught me staring at him a while back and threatened me. Like, seriously threatened me. With a knife.
Said she’d cut me if I touched her man.
Despite all that, I’d held out hope for Cooper. I mean, he was definitely a biker, but he’d been fantastic about doing work around the place in exchange for reduced rent. Reliable. Friendly, even. We’d had a few dinners together, watched a movie one evening. I’d have thought he was interested in me if Talia wasn’t spending four or five nights a week at his place.
Screwing the skinny little witch was bad enough, but this business of getting arrested . . . that was a bigger deal.
“Guess I didn’t know him as well as I thought,” I admitted, stomach churning. “Although anyone can get caught up in a bar fight. Just because they arrested him doesn’t mean—”
“There were drugs,” she added, and I heard genuine regret in her voice. “Lots of drugs. Meth, apparently. I guess a bunch of the guys were carrying it.”
I coughed. “Meth?”
“Yup,” she said. “They aren’t saying what’ll happen to them, but it’s not good. This might be the end of the club here in Hallies Falls. I wonder if he has drugs in his apartment. You should go check—if he’s dealing, you need him out of there. You can’t trust a guy just because he’s hot and mows the lawn without a shirt.”