Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 43402 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 217(@200wpm)___ 174(@250wpm)___ 145(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43402 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 217(@200wpm)___ 174(@250wpm)___ 145(@300wpm)
“You need my number to walk me outside?” she asks, stubbornly.
“No, I need it to text you later, so I know you’re home safe.”
“Anyone ever tell you that you’re very bossy, Blade Aetos?” she huffs.
“Probably,” I say. “I think I can make you like it, though.”
She gives me her number—slowly, like she’s deciding to trust me as she goes. I type it in, watching her face as the realization hits that we’re suddenly alone and things just tilted. She looks … overwhelmed—slightly dizzy. It’s an intoxicating look on her and I have to force myself to rein in my hunger for her.
I hate like hell that I’m letting her go, but I know she’s not ready for more. For that reason alone, I slowly walk her up the steps. I open her car door. She leans against it like she’s going to say something. I stop it by pressing my lips to hers, giving her a deep kiss. It’s not a kiss meant to stoke her desire, but rather the kind that conveys that tonight mattered—that this is not the end. My hand cups the back of her neck, thumb stretched to feel her pulse. She kisses me back and opens to me enough that I can tell whatever I’m feeling, she’s dealing with it, too. We break apart and she gives me a gentle, nervous smile before getting into the car. I close the door and lean down as she starts the engine and rolls her window down.
“You gave me the best night of my life tonight,” I whisper. The words are heavy between us. They might be stupid, but they are true—very true.
“Yeah, right,” she says, but she doesn’t push me away. “I had fun tonight.”
“I did too,” I agree—although fun seems a lame word for what I’ve felt tonight. “And I can’t wait until tomorrow.”
“Goodnight, Blade,” she whispers.
“Goodnight, Usdi.”
Olivia drives off before I can say anything else. Her taillights shine bright red in the dark of the night. It takes everything I am not to hop in my car and follow after her.
When I make it back inside, Bear is sitting at the kitchen table, elbows planted, like he’s been waiting longer than he actually has.
“You look like a mighty happy man,” he says.
“That’s because I am,” I tell him. My voice is raw and solid with all I’m feeling.
“You do realize Livy will be a very hard woman to claim,” he says, his tone part congratulations, part warning.
I shrug, not concerned at all. “Anything worth having is worth the work—worth fighting for.” It may just sound like words but for me, it’s the truth.
Bear’s face gets harder. I can tell that he’s turned all business now—thoughts of me and Olivia pushed aside. “Did you get the permit applications in?”
“I filed them myself before I came over this evening. You need to just relax and enjoy this, brother. It’s going to work out fine,” I answer. It might be a half-lie, but it’s true enough for tonight. Everything is going exactly as planned and for tonight, I’m ignoring that small voice that has stayed in the back of my head warning me we’re headed for trouble.
We talk club business in low tones while rain begins drumming on the roof. Bear says things are going okay, but names get thrown around with a venom that makes me tighten. “We’re having some problems with the Feral Kings,” he says finally, eyes on me.
I lean forward. “Bear …”
He shrugs like he’s lifting a weight off his chest. “The bastards need to die, brother.”
“When will you stop this crusade to bring the Feral Kings down over that bitch who wasn’t worth it?” I ask. It’s a fucking sore spot that eats me alive. Bear always lets anything to do with Mavis gnaw at him like an ulcer that decays everything inside and around him. It distracts him from living and no matter what I do—what Ayita does—it doesn’t help.
Bear’s hand slams down on the table almost hard enough to make it crumble. “This has nothing to do with Mavis.”
“Sure, Bear, whatever you say,” I scoff.
“I’m telling the truth. That’s not the reason,” he says. “Eyeball is pure evil. That fucking bastard needs to die, Blade. If you knew what I do, you’d feel the same.”
“So, tell me,” I invite, frustration bubbling over.
“I can’t.”
“Why the fuck not?”
“Because we both have roles in this world and yours is to make sure that casino gets off the ground for this town, or our people—our families.”
“And your role?” I huff.
“To keep those that I love safe,” he says, making it sound like a vow.
“What are your plans?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “Nothing big—at least not yet. For now, just concentrate on getting this casino started. I don’t want anything to take that away. This town needs hope and a way to build a future for its children. But after that? I want to annihilate Eyeball,” mentioning the bastard that pulls the strings with the Feral Kings—and the one he holds responsible for Mavis dying. He loved the bitch. I will never understand that. I don’t know how she got her claws into him that deep. Or hell, maybe it’s just him. He’s always felt like he had to take care of those that are weaker than him. It’s why he stepped in to act as my father. It’s what drew him to Mavis to begin with. He holds himself responsible for getting her hooked-on shit because it was under his command the club was running that shit. I shake my head. It’s a twisted path that I’m never going to understand.