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)
Well, shit. That was simple. And I don’t even have to deal with Grinder’s grumpy ass. Just Teller’s. “Thanks, brother.”
Wrath pushes his chair away from the table, stands, and pats my shoulder. He doesn’t offer any more thoughtful commentary, thank fuck.
“I gave my keys back to the little prince,” Grinder says, lifting his chin in Teller’s direction.
Teller rolls his eyes. “We can stop with the little prince bullshit any time now.”
“I’ll catch you later,” Grinder says.
“Everything all right?” I ask.
“Serena wasn’t feeling too hot this morning. I want to get back to her.”
Aw, shit. “She’s close to her due date, right?”
“Yeah,” he says in that slow, irritable way of his, “that’s why I wanna stop gabbing and get back to her.”
“Go, go.” I thump his back. “Call me if you need something.”
“Keep us in the loop,” Rock says as Grinder hurries out the door.
“Not that it’s a contest, but I want to check on Charlotte,” Teller says, pushing his chair in. “Stop by my place when you get a chance and I’ll give you the keys.”
“Shouldn’t you put like a keypad or something on the place?” Murphy asks.
Teller scowls. “I guess I could. Then I’d have to run out there and change the code every time one of my deviant brothers spent the night there.” He glances my way. “Not you, Dex.”
“Didn’t think you were talking about me.”
Rock catches my eye. “Stick around for a minute.”
What now? “Sure, boss.”
Murphy and Teller leave, tossing insults and jokes at each other the whole way out.
Rock shakes his head as he watches them.
“Things are getting back to normal,” I say. None of us brought it up but we’d all felt the tension between Rock, Teller, and Murphy right before Rock and Teller announced their familial relationship to the rest of the club.
“Feels like it.” The corners of his mouth turn up. “I think Bit-bit’s arrival helped.”
“Hard to be mad at your best friend when he’s your kid’s uncle, I guess.”
He snorts. “Yeah, something like that.” He slaps his palm against the table and sits forward. “Enough about those knuckleheads, you doing okay?”
The answer rolls out of my mouth with ease. “Everything’s good.”
“Moving out to Johnsonville?”
“I don’t know about moving out there. Just looking for a place to crash when I need it.”
“So, you’re good?” he asks again. “Need extra help at Crystal Ball?” He runs his hand over the back of his neck and shifts his gaze toward the door. “Any time off?”
“Nah, things are finally picking up. I hate saying this since he’s pissed me off a few times lately, but Rav’s able to lock his bullshit down and actually be helpful at the club.”
He snorts. “Must be why he’s been extra obnoxious when he’s here.”
“Ahh.” I rub my chin like a great truth has been revealed. “It all makes sense now. I guess I’ll forgive him for giving me shit about Emily.”
His lips quirk for a moment, then he turns serious again. “Besides Crystal Ball, things are going well?” he asks carefully.
What’s with the hesitation? Rock’s usually direct and to the point. And why does he keep asking me the same question in different ways?
“Life is good. No complaints.”
“Think you’ll bring Emily around here soon?” he asks. “I spoke to her at Marcel and Charlotte’s wedding. She’s a lively one.” His lips curve in a fond way.
“Uh, it’s a little soon to make that call, Rock.” I run my hands through my hair. “I’m not quite sure how she feels about the club.”
“Serena must have mentioned—”
“Yeah, about her time with Shadow.”
“I’d love to dig that asshole up, just to slit his throat again myself.” His gaze shifts to the door behind me. “Emily was at Serena’s baby shower. Got to spend time with all the women. Seeing Serena with Grinder hasn’t eased her concerns?”
“She hasn’t really voiced any concerns.” The last thing I need is Rock thinking Emily will cause the club trouble. “But she’s the guardian for her sister, and protective of her.”
“Libby, right? I met her too. Nice girl.”
“She is.”
“When you’re ready to invite them up, let Hope know, so she can be here.” He waves one hand toward the rest of the clubhouse. “She can help you ease them in slowly.”
My throat tightens. This is why the club’s always been my family. Our former president didn’t give a fuck about what was going on in our personal lives. And he enjoyed pushing buttons to get the ol’ ladies and any other women associated with the club to fight each other. Never would’ve occurred to him to have the ol’ ladies look after each other and form their own sisterhood, which in turn benefits the whole club.
“Appreciate that, Rock. I’ll check in with Hope when I’m ready. Pretty sure Wrath dug around in her background when Serena was staying at Emily’s.”