Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 93698 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 468(@200wpm)___ 375(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93698 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 468(@200wpm)___ 375(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
“I need your reassurance, Vi. Otherwise, I won’t be able to sleep at night if I think Zeke will be nothing but a bad example.”
“You know he’ll have his moments, they all do. They’re bikers, after all. If you expect him to turn into a choir boy, you’re expecting too much.”
“I don’t expect him to be perfect. I’m far from that myself. I’m doing the best that I can and would expect the same from him. But I want to be the one in control of their relationship, not him.”
“What if he proves himself to be a great father?”
“If that happens”—and she hoped it did—“then fine, we can do more co-parenting. But he’ll need to prove it first.”
Bikers tended to lean toward being misogynistic and even considered the women in their lives as club property. She did not want that outlook rubbing off on her son. She wanted Ledger to treat girls—and women—with respect.
“It sounds like you’ll give him a shot.”
“Do I really have a choice? If I don’t agree, he’ll get Lily involved.” She didn’t have the money to hire a lawyer of her own to fight him. Even if she did, it could turn ugly. She wanted to shield Ledger from any ugliness. He was such a happy little boy and she didn’t want to dull that shine. “The whole reason I stopped here was so that you’d discourage him from doing that.”
“He’s my family, Ky. So is Ledger. The club has always been family first, whether by blood or by bond.”
“Funny you say that because that’s not true. You forget I know the history between Zeke’s grandfather and father. Hell, between Zak and his brother Axel. So no, it hasn’t always been family first.”
Vi’s lips thinned. “You know how the bikers feel about law enforcement.”
“By blood or by bond,” Kyra quoted. “Apparently, there’s an asterisk next to that, stating those exceptions.”
“You’ve been around enough bikers to know how damn stubborn they can be.”
“You were raised by one.”
Vi finally smiled and chuckled. “Yes, he was the king of a lot of things. None of them worth bragging about.”
“I really missed you, Vi,” Kyra breathed.
Her friend got up and came around the desk. As they hugged, Vi said, “Do you want me with you when you tell Zeke the news?”
Kyra shook her head and pulled in a deep breath. “No. I can handle it.”
Vi pulled away. “Good. But if you need support, I can be there for you. Now, let’s go find Grim and Ledger. I want to officially meet my newest cousin.”
As they headed toward the door, Kyra asked, “When did Leo become Grim?”
“He earned that call name in the Army as an EOD Specialist. He kept it as his road name.”
So, not only was Leo a Shadow, he had also joined the MC.
“EOD?” It sounded familiar but she wasn’t sure about what it was.
“Explosive Ordnance Disposal. Basically, he fucked with explosives. He got out six months ago and I immediately added him to the team.”
“Damn. I was too distracted by all those veins in his arms to see if he still had all his fingers.”
“He distracts me, too, since he’s one of the few men in my immediate orbit that I’m not related to.”
Kyra’s eyebrows rose. “You two haven’t hooked up?”
Vi shrugged. “He’s younger than us.”
“By two years, Vi. That’s nothing!”
“We grew up together.”
“So?”
Vi grinned and bumped shoulders with her. “I’ll say it again: I’ve missed you. I’m glad you’re back.”
Thankfully, it only took minutes for their friendship to fall back into place.
“All I ask is that you don’t say anything to anyone in your orbit until I tell Zeke.”
“Deal. Now, let’s go find Ledger.”
“He’s going to love you.”
“Of course. Who doesn’t?”
It felt good to laugh as they headed out of Vi’s office in search of Leo the hottie and her son.
Chapter Nine
His arm being smacked almost had Zeke spilling his damn beer as he lifted it to his lips. “What the fuck?”
Zane grabbed the stool next to him at the club’s private bar. “What’re you doin’, asshole?”
Zeke lifted his full pint glass. “You blind?”
“No. Need one of those.” Zane called out to the sweet butt standing at the other end of the bar, “Hey, Cherry! Grab me a beer.”
“Hey, Chill,” she greeted in a wispy voice.
“Sounds like someone wants your dick.”
“He’s got a nice one,” Cherry confirmed with a seductive wink as she headed to the beer tap.
“Don’t think you’re that picky,” Zeke told her.
Zane grinned. “She told me mine’s nicer than yours.”
“Mine’s bigger.”
“It wasn’t when we measured them back when I was in fifth grade.”
Cherry scraped her long blood-red nails over Zane’s forearm when she dropped off a full pint glass. “I mean, you can both whip them out and I can be the judge,” she suggested with another wink.
“You’ve already seen them both up close,” Zane reminded her.