Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 119011 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 595(@200wpm)___ 476(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119011 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 595(@200wpm)___ 476(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
Dad shook his head. “But isn’t that like… almost incest?”
“No,” Zolt said in a decisive tone. “Look, Hank. I’m not saying I’m a perfect man, but—“
“Shut up,” Dad said, but this time, he poked Zolt’s chest instead of throwing punches, so Leo supposed that was progress. “I would have never let my daughter date someone like you! Leo, for God’s sake, if you absolutely need to fuck men, why not choose someone less—“
“Is the word you wanna use ‘promiscuous’?” Zolt asked, his face grim.
Dad bared his teeth. “The word is ‘man whore’.”
Leo shook his head. “Seriously? I think I know what I’m doing. He’s perfectly capable of sticking to one person, because he’s done it since he and I got together, so I think I’ve got it covered.”
“Christ, spare me the details.”
Jack walked in, but frowned as he sat down, immediately aware of the tension. “What’s up? Any news about the Jackals?”
Dad hissed, standing straight in the middle of the table and raising his arms like a prophet about to preach to his believers. “The news is Leo is now gay. He’ll marry Zolt, impregnate Mona, and they’ll all have one baby together. We are finally entering modern times here in Hawk Springs! Fuck!”
Leo dragged his hand down his face. “Thanks, Dad. Wouldn’t have put it better myself.”
Jack’s eyebrows went up high. “Wait. This is for real? You two are fucking? I always thought you were on the softer side, but—”
Leo tensed. “But what? Zolt looks soft to you too? Get a grip, Jack! And I’m not gay, I’m bi!”
Mike chose that moment to enter the room, huffing as if he’d been running so fast it was the speed that left his growing beard messy. “Wait, what?”
Leo could’ve cried with exhaustion. Would he have to come out separately to every single member of his family?
Zolt’s arms slid around Leo and pulled him in, until he was enveloped in their tight fit. “We’re a couple, Jack. That’s all there is to it. I get it if you don’t like it, but don’t make it even harder on Leo than it already is!”
Mike raised his hands and took a step back. “Whoa! Leo? I told you not to get drunk around him.”
Jack laughed. “What? He fucked you too?”
Mike snorted. “Nope, but he sure tried.”
Leo could’ve either exploded or collapsed any second now, but the venomous glares Dad was sending Zolt made him hyperaware. “Mike? How about you never talk about that again?”
Mike sat at the table. “I’m just trying to understand the situation. There are so many things I’d like to know. Who—?”
“No,” Leo said.
Mike rolled his eyes. “But I just—”
“No!”
Zolt huffed, his arms tightening around Leo as if he wanted to protect him from all the questions. “Besides, not all gay men have anal se—”
“But you do. You told me you do,” Mike said, his grin widening as if he’d just found out about another way to fuck with them. He could be an annoying shit sometimes, but at least he wasn’t outright opposed to the idea of Leo dating a man, so Leo would tentatively consider him an ally. He’d need those once Uncle Kurt and Kane found out. None of the old guard would be as accepting either.
Rain was the last one to enter after a barrage of shocked expressions and uncomfortable comments, but Leo would stand his ground. Zolt held him as if he wanted to protect Leo, but the reality was that in the clubhouse, it was Leo who needed to be Zolt’s shield.
Rain hesitated as she reached her chair, almost knocking it over because she wasn’t paying attention to where she was going. “Wha—?”
Dad huffed and slammed the door shut. “You can have an LGBT rights chat after this meeting. Right now, we need to talk business.”
Leo took a deep breath and stepped up to the table, leaving Zolt to stand against the wall. “The Jackals want war. They’ve threatened Zolt this morning, and there was talk of an attack on us within the next few days. We have to strike first.” And not just because the Jackal Brothers were the natural enemies of the Smokeys. Leo wanted to strangle every single one of those motherfuckers for what they’d done to Zolt earlier. He’d been ready to burst in there at any moment but kept hidden because his appearance might have put Zolt at even greater risk. Having to keep quiet and listen to those unwashed fuckers tormenting the man he loved had been the worst few minutes of Leo’s life.
Kane shook his head, which looked like a red mop without the thick layer of gel he usually styled his hair with. “Since when are you this decisive? Looks like all Leo needed was some dick to straighten him out.”
Fortunately, no one laughed, and Uncle Kurt, Kane’s dad, slapped the back of his head.