Total pages in book: 59
Estimated words: 75754 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75754 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 379(@200wpm)___ 303(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
I looked down at Ruthie’s averted eyes, and realized that I did, in fact, have something good on my hands.
Something I planned to take care of indefinitely.
Whether she wanted me to or not.
Chapter 7
There’s a chance this is vodka.
-Coffee Cup
Sterling
I walked into the bar of Halligans and Handcuffs, Ruthie’s hand in mine, and came to a sudden halt directly inside the door.
“What?” I asked the men standing there like they’d seen a ghost.
Kettle, Silas, Torren, Loki, Trance, Sebastian, and Dixie were all standing there by the bar, frozen to the spot and staring at me.
Then, my brothers surrounded me.
The men I counted as men of my blood even when they weren’t.
The men who were genuinely happy that I was back.
Which made me feel bad.
I should’ve told them I was okay three days ago.
But I’d only thought about getting home. Then I’d only thought about Ruthie’s hot voodoo pussy.
“Shit, Kraken,” Dixie exclaimed. “Where the fuck have you been?”
I smiled as nonchalantly as I could, hoping beyond hope that he didn’t read in my eyes how bad it’d been. “I can’t tell you much.”
“Because he’s a SEAL and has an oath of secrecy. And he’s sworn to keep silent even if his life is in danger and the people he cares about want to know if he’s okay,” Ruthie grumbled as she pushed through the men that’d crowded in around us.
“So…when did that happen?” Torren asked with a smile on his face.
I grinned. “Last night.”
“Priorities, man. At least you’ve got them!” Torren winked.
I laughed.
It felt good to do that.
I hadn’t been able to do it much this last month and a half.
In fact, it’d been quite solemn while we were there.
My team and I knew how bad it was.
Knew that we’d have to fight for our lives if we wanted to get out of there and ever return home again.
So yeah, smiling and laughing had been at a minimum.
Ruthie walked into the kitchen, and I watched her go, only realizing when I turned around that all eyes were on me.
“So…that’s why you didn’t stay last night,” Silas said from behind me.
I turned slowly, seeing the man I looked up to beyond all others standing directly behind me with his arms crossed over his chest, and a very pissed off look in his eye.
Guess I didn’t get past him like I’d originally thought.
That didn’t surprise me, though.
Silas was a difficult man to read.
I still, to this day, had yet to figure out what he actually did.
I was aware that he owned quite a few businesses, and had his fingers in quite a few pies…but I knew he was more than that.
He had too many resources for him not to be…something.
I was betting he was CIA, but there was a bet going around that said he was a mercenary.
Whatever he was, I didn’t really give a fuck…as long as he was at my back.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I hedged, mimicking his stance.
His eyes narrowed on me, then suddenly he took two giant steps forward and picked me up in a bear hug so tight that I could hardly breathe.
There were exactly four men in this world that could touch me like this.
That was Parker, Cormac, Garrison…and Silas.
And Silas had only done this to me twice.
The first time had been when I’d gotten initiated into the club and I finally received my patch.
The second was now.
And I took it as a sign…one that meant he’d missed me.
“I’m okay,” I told him, slapping him on his back.
“I saw that for myself yesterday, and you look even better today. Which I’m guessing has something to do with that gray eyed, strawberry blonde who has a continuously bad attitude,” Silas said. “And if you hurt her, you know I’ll have to beat the shit out of you, right?”
I snorted.
Yet, I didn’t doubt it whatsoever.
I knew for a fact that he’d be carrying out any and all punishments if I hurt his wife’s best friend, and I respected him for it.
Ruthie needed someone like Silas on her side.
And I was glad she had it.
“I know,” I nodded. “And you have my permission to if I do…”
He slapped his hand down a little harder than he needed to against my shoulder, and stepped back. “How about a round of shots as a celebration for making it home?”
I grinned.
“Sounds like a motherfuckin’ plan.”
Silas nodded, but gestured to a room at my back.
“We’ll do it in church,” he said. “I have some things I want you to know.”
I narrowed my eyes at him.
What did he have to say that he wanted us to go to a place that was sacred to The Dixie Wardens?
Was something wrong?
Had something happened while I was away?
***
Ruthie
I poured ten more shots and placed them each on a simple black tray.
When I’d first started out at Halligans and Handcuffs, I’d been a complete novice when it came to drinks.
Now, long months later, I could practically recite each drink’s alcohol content and exactly what it took to make it.
For instance, I knew that a ‘Sex on The Beach’ was made of one and a half ounces of vodka, half an ounce of peach Schnapps, two ounces of cranberry juice, and two ounces of orange juice.
If you’d ask me what ingredients had been in that when I’d started, I’d have blushed like a goddamned virgin, then stammered my way into ordering you a cocktail that I couldn’t even say the name of to the bartender on duty.
Now, though, as the pretty brunette with pale blue eyes snottily said, “You do know what that is, don’t you? Or have you never experienced something that amazing before?”
Then she’d proceeded to laugh in my face, and turn to hang all over the man that’d been in my bed only hours before, making me scream his name.
“Be nice, Naughty,” Sterling reprimanded gently.
My eyes nearly crossed as I turned on my heels and ordered a ‘Sex on the Beach’ from Zander Cole, our hottie firefighter bartender for the night.
Zander was new, having joined the fire department straight out of college.