Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 79504 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79504 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
“There’s more,” Briar huffs, and I already know whatever it is, he isn’t happy about. “Professor has a release date.”
A smile begins to take form at the mention of my closest friend, my enforcer, while I was locked away at Cedar Junction.
“You don’t have to look so smug.”
“Your jealousy is showing,” I taunt.
His eyes narrow into tiny blue slits. “I’m not jealous.”
I scoff. Of course, he is. He didn’t understand the quick bond Professor and I made in prison. He’s never been, so he doesn’t have a fucking clue what that life is all about. I wish every day I could forget the things I did, the men I killed, the crew I ran while I was locked away. The only thing I want to remember is Professor and the countless times that man had my back.
“Do you trust him around Molly? Candi?”
My laugh falls from my mouth.
“Exactly,” he mutters.
“Still sound jealous,” I return.
“I’ve been in this club for ten fucking years. I stayed loyal and served under your dad while you were gone for almost two years of that.”
“Thanks for the loyalty, Brother.” What the fuck else does the man want?
“You promised him the VP patch.”
So that’s what this is about.
“I offered it to him before I offered it to you. Told him it was his when he got out.”
“What?”
“He turned it down.” I shrug. Easy fix. “He doesn’t want it.”
“No wonder you can’t see what’s right in front of you,” he seethes as he jumps to his feet. “Candi doesn’t even have a chance with you if you can’t see how fucked up that is.”
He doesn’t say another word as he walks off the porch and disappears toward the garage.
The situation with Professor isn’t fucked up. I promised that man a piece of this club in exchange for his protection, and I never break my promises. It doesn’t matter that I was nineteen, and honestly never saw myself leading the club. I always thought my destiny would stop at the end of my father’s gun, yet, here we are.
Briar understands loyalty. He’s the most loyal man I know, but him being pissed at me is perfect, considering everything else in my life is fucked up.
Chapter 30
Candi
“Trouble in paradise?” Molly asks as she loops her arm through mine on the way into the mall.
The parking lot is nearly empty, only a few cars dotting the pavement. I expect nothing else since it’s a weekday and most people are either in school or at work. Smalls walks behind us, and I know anything I say will be overheard. I’m not one to just spill my guts anyway, but he’s definitely a deterrent.
“Don’t want to talk about it,” I grumble.
“I’m your best friend,” she whines.
“Tell me about Briar,” I challenge.
When she stiffens at my side, I know both subjects will be dropped.
“That’s off-limits, and you know it,” she hisses with her head close to my ear. “You, on the other hand, put your business on display in front of everyone last night.”
You don’t even know the half of it.
She has a point, but the guilt I anticipated settling in my gut, doesn’t weigh me down today.
“Let’s just say I know exactly where I stand with your brother.” In a long line with every other woman at the clubhouse.
“He cares for you. I’ve never seen him with anyone the way he is with you.”
I snort in the most unladylike fashion. “Tell that to the girl I found sucking him off last night right after he fucked me.”
“Oh shit,” she whispers, shock raising her eyebrows high.
“Yeah,” I mutter before changing the subject. “Why are we here again?”
“I busted the screen on my phone.” She holds up the evidence and points to the store a little ways in. “I’m hoping they can fix it for me.”
Smalls grunts behind us, and a smile forms on Molly’s lips as she turns to look at him over her shoulder.
“I know Boston could fix it. I asked him, and he’s out of screens for this model.”
Smalls grunts again. How fucking weird. The guy is massive, a literal wall between us and everything at our backs, but I’ve never heard his voice. I always assumed he was mute, but the grunt tells me something in his throat works. He’s the definition of silent but deadly. His head tilts when I look at him in a questioning gesture.
“I’ve got to pee,” I tell him.
His head nods down the short hall on the other side of the store Molly is heading. I take it as his permission and walk away preparing my speech in my head if the big guy tries to follow me in the restroom. When I look over my shoulder I see him standing, bulky arms crossed over his barrel chest. His eyes are darting between me and the storefront where Molly is. Satisfied that he’ll stay there and not insist on holding my hand while I pee, I pull open the heavy door and enter.