Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 142728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 714(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 142728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 714(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
“Yes, my Emily,” I snap.
The table goes silent.
I shift in my seat, not thrilled that my personal life’s been opened up at the table like a book for everyone to read and highlight their favorite passages. I glance at Rock, hoping for some mercy. But he tilts his head, as if he’s waiting with his own emotional highlighter.
“I think we’re all here to discuss something more important than my love life,” I grumble.
“Dex has a loooove life, everyone!” Stash shouts. “Holy shit!”
“I thought he was already engaged,” Hoot smirks. “To his hand.”
“Har fucking har.” I flip my middle finger at him.
“This was totally worth coming up here for church tonight,” Bricks says.
Birch perks up. “She’s the quiet chick who wears the long dresses? Serena’s friend?”
“For fuck’s sake,” Wrath snarls. “Can you guys gossip later? We actually have real shit to discuss.”
“Thank you,” I mutter.
“Sorry,” Murphy mouths from across the table.
“Is Serenity the one who hit on Grinder?” Teller asks.
“Oh, fuck.” Ravage cackles like a deranged woodpecker. “That was some funny shit.”
“A brother’s adjustment to life on the outside isn’t entertainment,” Rock says. “Have some fucking respect.”
That wipes the amusement off Rav’s face. “You’re right. Sorry.”
How Rock’s managed to put up with our bullshit for all these years without blowing a hole in one of us is beyond me.
“Yes, that’s the one.” I close my eyes and laugh. “Although, after the other night, Emily has decided Serenity’s name should be Agitation forever more.”
Rock chokes on a laugh. “So, she handled herself okay?”
“Yeah.” I shoot a glare down the table at Sparky. “Willow was kinda rude to her. I had to remind her of her place.”
Sparky’s eyes bug. “Why are you telling me? She’s your employee.”
“I think Willow’s just tryin’ to look out for you, bro,” Stash says quietly, throwing a scared puppy look my way.
“Well, I’m a big boy. I can take care of myself.”
Wrath scratches his beard like he’s thinking through something, which is unnerving on its own. Wrath usually doesn’t hesitate to say what’s on his mind. “I can’t believe I’m going to ask this, but why’d you have your girl visit CB before the clubhouse?”
I roll my head his way and nail him with a you-should-be-ashamed-of-yourself stare. “Seriously?”
He shrugs.
I glance at Rock who tilts his head as if he’s also interested in the answer.
“Fuck. It wasn’t intentional.” I lift my chin at Rock. “I told you she wasn’t jazzed to find out I manage a strip club.”
“Not exactly every woman’s dream,” Teller says.
“Thanks, Professor Wiseass.” I grit my teeth, hating to do this in front of everyone. “I told her she could stop in and visit whenever she wanted.” I aim my glare at Rock since he hasn’t attempted to steer us back on track. “I wanted her to understand that no matter when she shows up, she’ll never find me getting blow jobs in the broom closet or bending someone over my desk.”
Rock clenches his jaw, but a grudging sort of respect tilts the corners of his mouth. Were his pre-Hope antics a shitty thing to throw in my president’s face? Sure. But if he’d put an end to this whole conversation a few minutes ago, I wouldn’t have had to stoop so low.
“Wait.” Ravage raises his hand to get my attention. “How come no one ever told me closet blow jobs and desk sex are an option?”
“They’re not,” I growl.
“I mean, it was never an option,” Wrath says with a shit-eating grin. “But some folks think the rules don’t apply to them.”
Rock side-eyes his best friend. “I really miss Z sometimes.”
“I think we all do,” Murphy agrees.
“All right.” Rock sits up. “We’ve gotten a bit into the weeds here.”
“A bit?” Hoot walks his fingers over the table in front of him. “Prez, we’ve stomped over the weeds, through the garden, and fallen into a pit of quicksand.”
“Thanks for drawing us a map,” Rock says in his least thankful tone.
“Loco,” Wrath prompts, attempting to corral us again. “What’s crawled up his ass?”
“And why doesn’t he want us to meet at the whorehouse?” Rav asks.
“Do you have to call it that?” Sparky moans.
“Whore-dorms?” Rav shrugs.
“Whoredom.” Bitch and Hoot snicker and smack each other like they came up with something clever.
“I liked it better when you two sat down there and kept your mouths shut,” Wrath says, pointing a finger at Hoot and Birch.
“Same,” a couple of us mutter.
“Loco specifically asked for Dex to attend,” Rock says, ignoring everyone else. “So I assume it’s about one of his girls. It was the ‘business in Ironworks’ that threw me.”
“Why didn’t you lead with that?” I ask.
He glares at Murphy, then Wrath. “Someone derailed us.”
“I was concerned for my brother,” Murphy protests, throwing a hand in my direction.
“I’m just nosy,” Wrath says without a hint of give-a-fuck.
Rock nods. “Truest thing you’ve ever said, brother.”