Total pages in book: 139
Estimated words: 132892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 664(@200wpm)___ 532(@250wpm)___ 443(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 664(@200wpm)___ 532(@250wpm)___ 443(@300wpm)
“I want to kill your ex-husband,” I told her, dead serious. She blinked.
“Me, too,” she whispered slowly. “But she’d still be gone. That part of my life is over, even if he doesn’t realize it. I’m never going back because there’s nothing left for me there.”
“You don’t need to,” I replied, rubbing a thumb down along her cheek, wiping away one of her tears. “You have a life here.”
“Right,” she said bitterly. “Because Hallies Falls is so fucking great. My dad’s losing his mind, I’m stuck with an apartment building I can’t even take care of, and everyone thinks I’m a slut.”
“Jesus, listen to yourself,” I said, frustrated that she couldn’t see the reality of the situation. “Tinker, a couple of small-minded cunts think you’re a slut. Fine. Small-minded cunts are always looking for someone to judge. You’re doing a public service by giving them something to talk about. Everyone else in town thinks you’re the shit—you should’ve seen how impressed they were when you took down that bitch in the grocery store. Open your eyes and you’ll see it. And yeah, maybe your dad is losing it. He still loves you and you love him, and you have each other. And for fuck’s sake, I’m taking care of the apartment building for you so stop worrying already, okay? Why don’t you try living in the moment, instead of focusing on everything that’s wrong?”
Her eyes narrowed.
“Living in the moment won’t bring back my daughter.”
“Neither will hating everything on principle.”
“I think you should leave.”
“I’m not leaving,” I said, surprised at how strong the words came out. Hearing her tear herself down like that actively pissed me off. “And I’m not Brandon. I didn’t lie to you as a joke. I don’t have any kids because I take that shit very seriously. If I brought a child into this world, I’d damned well take care of it. You grew up in a great place, Tinker. Your parents loved you, you have friends, the works. I didn’t. Foster care. Dad died in prison and Mom OD’d when I was sixteen. If it wasn’t for the Reapers I’d have fallen apart, but they took me in like a lost puppy. I understand what it means not to have parents. I’d never do that to a child. Hate me all you want, but don’t give me your hate for your ex, too. That’s all his and he deserves it.”
I closed my mouth, startled by how much I’d said. She cocked her head at me.
“You’re right,” she said slowly. “You aren’t him. But that doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten what you did.”
It was a big concession.
“We’ll work on it,” I said, reaching out to touch her cheek. “Starting tonight. I’m taking you out for dinner.”
She snorted. “You mean like a date?”
“Yeah, exactly like a date. We’ll talk and get to know each other. Maybe go out to the clubhouse afterward and you can meet some of my brothers from Coeur d’Alene.”
“Not sure I’m ready for that.”
“There’s a party tomorrow night,” I said. “A bunch of the old ladies are coming to town.”
She frowned. “That seems a little random.”
I sighed, shaking my head. “It’s complicated. We’re making some changes in the club structure. It’s about rebuilding relationships, and having the girls here will help with that. Ultimately the club is for the men, but having all the women on board helps with that a lot. We want the local girls to understand what they’re part of. Let them bond with the old ladies, you know?”
“Why do you call them old ladies?” she asked, wrinkling her nose.
“Fuck if I know,” I admitted. “It’s just what they’re called. They’re our women—our property.”
“I’m not sure which part of that offends me more, the old or the property.”
“They’re both terms of respect,” I said firmly. “If a woman’s your old lady, it means you trust her. Not just with your life, but with all your brothers’ lives, too. Property is the same way—it’s about making it clear to everyone that you’re under our protection. They fuck with you, the Reapers will make them pay. Women in our world consider it an honor.”
“That’s bullshit,” she said, eyes sparking. Good. She’d seemed so defeated when she’d talked about her daughter, but now she was coming back. Here was the woman who kept fighting—exactly what I wanted to see.
“Only if you consider ‘old’ an insult,” I replied. “You saying that being old is a bad thing? You know, in the Reapers the older guys mentor the younger ones. Out in the regular world, people stick to their own age groups, but in the MC world everyone is together. You might want to reconsider before making a snap judgment.”
Tinker narrowed her eyes. “And property?”
I sighed. “I think you need to see it to understand. Give me a chance, okay? Get to know my people and you’ll see what I’m talking about. It’s different, but it’s good. We’re a family.”