Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 81285 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81285 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 271(@300wpm)
His arms wound tight around me, inching me even closer as his tongue found its way into my mouth.
He was rough, tough, and sexy as hell. And my God, he could kiss like it was nobody’s business. I was holding on by a thread, and just as I was becoming completely lost in his touch, he pulled back, quickly breaking our embrace as he rasped, “I love you, too.”
29
GOOSE
The clubhouse was quiet, especially for a Friday afternoon. It was the kind of quiet that settled in after a storm when everybody was still looking over their shoulder, even when they knew the fight was done. It had been weeks since the robbery, and things still felt off.
No one said it, but everyone knew something had shifted, and things hadn’t quite settled back into place yet. But it was coming. We were moving forward and making plans.
I leaned forward and studied the papers that were laid out in front of me. It was the proposal for the new club, and it was a lot to take in. I was trying to make sense of it all while I listened to Creed and Memphis yammer on about all the possibilities.
“East Village is always an option. Or even Riverdale. I don’t think we’ll get much pushback there, but I think our best option would be down on the Riverfront. We could even try securing some property down past the casino. It’s already a popular area, and it would give us plenty of room to build.”
“It’s a flood zone,” Memphis argued.
“Only the lower part,” Creed answered. “And we can always work around that.”
He had a good point. It was a popular area, and it would be close to everything that mattered. Memphis seemed skeptical as he asked, “And what’s Sergei gonna think about us encroaching on his sweet spot?”
“We’ll help his business as much as he will help ours.”
I took a slow pull from my beer, listening more than talking. That had become more the norm over the past few weeks. Listening. Watching. Trying to piece together how everything had gone so wrong without me seeing it coming.
We’d done our homework. Shep and the cops tracked down the names of the men who’d tried to rob us. Everyone except Davis had ties to the Rebel Coyotes. I had no doubt that Davis was behind all of it. I’m sure he did some sweet talking and got them to go rogue.
I’m sure he made the whole thing seem like a breeze.
It would be an easy way for them to get their kickback and an opportunity to dish out a little sweet revenge.
The Coyotes’ president hadn’t wasted any time reaching out to Preacher. As soon as he got word of what happened, he reached out to Prez directly. He made it clear to him that his boys had acted on their own. He felt ashamed and embarrassed that he hadn’t had a better handle on them.
Regardless, he hoped that we could all put this behind us and let grievances die where they fell. He hoped we could find a way to exist in the same city without blood running through the streets.
Preach made no promises.
But he respected the call.
We all did, and in the end, he agreed to no retaliation. At least, not for now. That didn’t mean we would forgive and forget. We wouldn’t forget a damn thing. I certainly wouldn’t.
I was pulled from my thoughts when Creed looked over to me and asked, “What do you think?”
“I think it’s a lot to take on, but we can do it.”
“That’s it?” Memphis grumbled.
“What do you want from me, man?”
“I want you to pull your head out of your ass and be Goose again.” Memphis let out a breath. “Is it me? You still blaming me for being the one…”
“We’ve been through that,” I interrupted. “I don’t blame you for shit. You did what you had to do.”
“I did, but that doesn’t change the fact that I was the one who pulled the trigger.”
“I would’ve done the same fucking thing, brother. You gotta let that shit go.”
“And so do you.”
“I’m trying.”
“Try harder,” Memphis snapped. “Hell, I never thought I’d say this, but I miss the old Goose. Our Goose. The one who always had the smart-assed remarks and goofy comebacks. Hell, even the pestering. This hum-drum bullshit has to go.”
“You miss me fucking with you?”
“Yeah, it surprised the hell out of me, too.”
“Sadist.”
“Maybe, just a tad.”
“Need me to tell Tallie to break out the whips and chains?”
“Easy, smartass.” Memphis smiled. “Just needed to know you were still in there.”
I was still far from being back to my old self, but with each day that passed, the weight on my shoulders seemed a little lighter. I owed that to my brothers. They’d been by my side every step of the way. Even Preach had tried to ease my mind on the whole situation.