Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 134654 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 673(@200wpm)___ 539(@250wpm)___ 449(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 134654 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 673(@200wpm)___ 539(@250wpm)___ 449(@300wpm)
Everyone’s lives would take some adjusting but the future would only be on the up.
You still haven’t told Cleo.
My back tensed. I’d been a pussy not to tell her, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t give her yet another family and tear it away from her so soon.
“Be my pleasure.”
Slipping into the driver’s seat, I had the honor of driving the mastermind home.
Pulling up to the Clubhouse, my heart lurched in my chest. This place, with its crumbling brick veneer and rusty barbed wire looked derelict and unwelcoming—exactly how it appeared when I first arrived four years ago. I’d kept the outside charm but renovated the inside.
Just like I did with the brothers.
On the outside, they still looked terrifying but on the inside they were loyal and acclimatized to business rather than battles.
I’d overhauled their thoughts and minds and given them peace instead of war.
I’d done all that at the beck and call of one man who’d saved me.
Regardless of what happened in the future, I would always be proud of that.
Waving at the entrance, I said, “Shall we?”
Wallstreet grinned, tugging his lapels. “Can’t wait.”
Crunching forward in my boots, I reached for the door handle.
“Wait, Killian.” Wallstreet came forward, putting his hand on my shoulder. “You’re still okay with this?” His eyes shone. “You’ve outdone yourself, my boy. I couldn’t have asked for a better pupil or friend. You’ve done everything I ever asked. You’ve amassed a fortune, kept my Club intact, and begun what I’d tried to do before I was locked up.” His voice cracked. “You’ve been a fucking savior.”
Shit, I’d never seen Wallstreet show so much emotion. “Hey, man. It’s fine.” Patting his arm, I chuckled. “After all, the student is only as good as the teacher.”
Wallstreet shook his head, dropping his hand. “Killian, I saw in you something special that not many people have. You would’ve excelled at anything you put your hand to. Have you ever thought that it might not have been fair of me to ask this of you? To give you a Club—knowing all along that it wasn’t yours? Or playing on your obsession for more and making you go after the biggest power in history?” He looked at his feet. “I often had doubts. Wondering if I had any right to drive you so hard.”
I cocked my head. He was right. He’d been hard on me, always pushing, never letting me fail. But then again, without him … I wouldn’t have been anyone.
Clutching the doorknob, I smiled. “Without you, Cyrus, I would still be locked up or dead. There was no way I would’ve survived a life of imprisonment and nightmares of Cleo gone—I would never have been free.”
Wallstreet ran a hand through his white hair. “That might be the case, but I don’t think I ever told you thank you.” His gaze glittered. “Thank you, Killian, for your hard work and sacrifice. Thank you for being a trusted friend. I’ll never take it for granted.”
Holy shit.
I grinned. “And thank you for saving my life.” Cracking the door, I said, “I think a celebration is in order, don’t you? For both of us.”
Wallstreet clapped his hands. “I like your—”
“Surprise!”
The celebration hit us the second we stepped foot into Pure Corruption. The women had decorated the space with gay-ass streamers and balloons, while the men had restocked the bar and already guzzled their way to a good buzz.
Wallstreet raised his hands like a returning conqueror, his lined face crinkling in joy. “Fuck, it’s good to be back.”
Cleo stood beside Molly, her arms crossed but a smile teasing her lips.
“I’ll leave you to mingle.” I patted Wallstreet’s shoulder and darted through the crowd to my woman. The moment I was close enough, I gathered her in a quick hug. “Hello.”
She giggled. “Hi yourself.”
Nuzzling my nose into her hair, I whispered, “You good?”
She nodded, leaning into my embrace. “I’m great now that you’re back.” Pulling away, her eyes fell on Wallstreet. Once again the cold dislike she wore when they met at Florida State clouded her face. “So the pioneer has returned.”
Turning to face the seething mass of brothers, we didn’t speak as we watched the spectacle of back slaps, hugs, and loudly broadcast reminiscing between Wallstreet and the older members of Pure Corruption.
I nodded. “Their leader is back.”
“No.” Cleo tensed. “Their leader is you.”
Wrong, Buttercup.
I knew I should’ve had the balls to tell her before this.
I was only temporary.
I always knew Cleo wouldn’t accept Wallstreet’s return happily. She’d made no secret that she was wary of him. I understood her need to keep her distance, but at the same time, Wallstreet wasn’t Rubix. He wasn’t cruel—only ambitious.
And I could deal with ambitious because that curse infected me, too.
Matchsticks appeared, bearing gifts in the form of beer for me and a daiquiri for Cleo. “Good to see the old bloke out of the slammer.”