Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 60676 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 303(@200wpm)___ 243(@250wpm)___ 202(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 60676 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 303(@200wpm)___ 243(@250wpm)___ 202(@300wpm)
My body jerks like I’ve been punched.
Slowly, inch by inch, I slide my jacket off. Without it, I feel naked, bare, no longer protected by the one thing I have always had. I toss it at him, and he catches it in his hand, passing it back to Cade who takes it. His eyes radiate confusion, because part of him wants to back me up, I know it. He won’t do it, but that doesn’t mean the feeling ain’t there.
“Remove that patch and return it to him,” Jackson orders, his eyes never leaving mine.
Cade nods, leaving the room.
“You want the right to wear that patch, you fuckin’ earn it. The next move you make against my club will be a personal attack on me and I’ll deal with you the way I deal with anyone who goes against me.”
I grit my teeth, but deep down, I know I’ve fucked up.
I fucking know it.
Turning, I leave the room, and as I walk past the other guys, I know they’re all watching, staring at my shirt, knowing that I’ve been stripped of something that means the world to me.
Addison is standing by the front door when I walk past her, without a single word, the wound on my arm leaking blood that is running down my arm. I don’t even look at her as I move to my bike. I don’t say a fucking word. I have nothing to say. I need to get the fuck out of here.
“Daddy,” she whispers, and I know Jackson is standing beside her.
“It ain’t none of your business.”
That’s all I hear before I get on my bike and speed out of there.
Fuck.
What have I done?
10 – Ciara
“Idon’t know where he is,” I say, bouncing Mercy on my hip as I pace around the house.
Two days.
It has been two days, and nobody knows where Spike is.
I’ve tried everything, looked everywhere, called until the tears rolled down my cheeks, but nobody has heard from him.
“It’s going to be okay,” Addison assures me, her eyes bloodshot and tired. I know it scares her, too. “He’s just cooling off somewhere.”
“He shot up a heap of drug dealers,” I whisper, turning my face away from Mercy. “He could be dead.”
“Hey now.” Serenity steps up beside me, her eyes gentle. “He’s not dead.”
“You don’t know that.”
Janine stands, walking over and taking Mercy from my arms. “I’ll give her a bottle; you need to eat something.”
I don’t want to eat.
I want to make sure Spike is okay because right now, I can barely breathe.
If something happens to him ...
“Hey,” Addison says, putting a hand on my shoulder. “I know what you’re thinking. Don’t. He’s going to be okay. He’s butt hurt, and he needs time to cool off.”
I force a smile. “I know, but ... he’s never acted like this before. I’m worried something more is going on.”
“Spike likes control. He always has, and he always will. The two men are clashing because they have differing opinions but neither of them are wrong. They’ll come together, work something out, I know it.”
I know she’s right.
But my stress is over the top right now, and I feel like I can’t breathe.
I just need a minute.
“Do you mind watching the kids? I want to go for a drive, clear my head.”
Addi nods. “Of course, take as long as you need.”
I leave the house, driving around aimlessly. I have no idea where he has gone, but part of me feels like it wouldn’t be too far. I think back on before we had kids and where he’d go then. A place pops to my mind, and I shake it out. Surely, he wouldn’t. I mean ... he wouldn’t, right?
Heart jumping into my throat, I turn the car around.
I know exactly where I’m going, I just pray he isn’t there.
It’s the only place I can think he might be—a place that is close with people he knows well. He has friends there, people who would give him a place to stay.
I go to the back entrance as soon as I arrive, taking a deep breath to try and calm myself. I’m probably overreacting. He wouldn’t come here. He wouldn’t risk our relationship like that. Right?
“Ciara.”
Annen, a man that I have met a few times when I’ve been here stands at the back entrance, because, technically, the club doesn’t open for another few hours. Still, he is always here, keeping an eye on who comes in and out. There is always the option for a private show, so I suppose it never really closes.
“Hey, Annen, I’m looking for Spike.”
He brings a cigarette to his mouth and inhales. “Spike made it clear he don’t want to be found.”
He’s here.
I know it.
My heart skips a beat.
Annen won’t let me in without good reason, so I have to use one. “There has been an emergency, I need to see him, Annen. I won’t leave until I do. You know I won’t.”