Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 59767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 299(@200wpm)___ 239(@250wpm)___ 199(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59767 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 299(@200wpm)___ 239(@250wpm)___ 199(@300wpm)
“So, we don’t know shit,” I growl. The words are sour in my mouth. I clench my jaw until my teeth ache. I pull my fist back and punch an oak tree that’s planted beside where I’m standing. Bark cracks under my knuckles. It’s a useless thing to do but right now, I have so much anger inside of me, I have to release it somehow. The hit sends a harsh shot of pain up my arm, helping me to focus—at least a little. “Keep someone here in case the assholes come back,” I demand. “I want a man on the house at all times. I’m going to ride back to the club—see what Scorpion can pull from the Ring and what else we can squeeze out of the department. If those bastards think they can come into our town and hurt my old lady and her grandmother, they better think again. I’m going to find out and when I do, I’m going to end them.”
Cowboy answers without hesitation. “You got it, Prez.”
I walk back to my bike, swinging a leg over it and sitting down. The familiar feel of the leather grounds me. The engine rumbles to life like something waking up angry. I give my men a last look, then head out. As I pull away, I’m hoping like hell Scorpion finds something on that damn camera. Right now, it’s the only shot we have.
25 GEORGIA
The conference room at the club smells like coffee and sweat. Normally that would bother me, but today it makes me feel safe. I’m here with Griffin and his men. He won’t let anything happen to me. I sit at the long table with my hands wrapped around a to-go cup of coffee. I’m hoping the warmth will somehow get to the bone chilling fear I felt when they told me Nana’s house was destroyed and she was in the hospital. I still panic, thinking what could have happened if Cowboy hadn’t gotten to Nana in time. I push those thoughts away as I look at Scorpion who is across from me. He’s working on a laptop trying to access mine and Nana’s online doorbell account. Cowboy and C are leaning against the wall watching closely, too. Actually, most of Griffin’s club is here. I thought I wouldn’t fit into Griffin’s lifestyle, but it truly feels like the club has accepted me and that still blows my mind.
“Okay, Brushes, what’s your login email?”
For the first time tonight, my lips jerk trying to spread into a smile “It’s under Nana’s email. Hot Gramma 69. It’s a Gmail domain,” I reveal.
Scorpion’s eyebrows lift, C lets out a loud belly laugh. “God, I love that woman,” he says. “If only she was thirty years younger.”
“I’m not sure that even you could handle her back then C,” I warn good-naturedly.
“Probably not, but damn it would have been fun to try,” he says, sounding put out.
“Password?” Scorpion asks.
“Pedro Pascal, then add 1-2-3 with an explanation mark at the end.” The words spill out of me with a ridiculous little laugh caught in the throat. I can feel everyone’s eyes on me.
Grifter picks that moment to step into the doorway, black leather like a second skin, hair still smelling like smoke. He watches me for a heartbeat before picking me up and then sitting in my chair and adjusting me into his lap. I like being in his arms, so I don’t argue—although it’s all I can do to keep my coffee from spilling. Thank God there’s a lid on the cup. Griffin buries his head in my neck breathing me in, before placing a small kiss on the curve of my neck. “That’s a weird password,” he says, amused and half-disgusted.
I shrug. “He’s really hot. Nana and I watch everything he’s in.” When I look up at him, he sends me a put-out glare. “You’re not allowed to think any man is hot but me,” he grumbles.
I roll my eyes. “I’m too tired to deal with you tonight, Griff.” He frowns at me, even as I curl into him. “You’re just being silly,” I mutter.
“You’re mine, not some asshole named Pedro,” he murmurs. His thumb begins brushing against my hand. I press my forehead to his chest and breathe, listening to the slow, steady beat that is always a kind of home.
“I’m yours,” I agree, letting him comfort me.
Scorpion finishes typing and clicks. “Okay. I’m in. Here we go.” The computer connects with the television on the wall and all eyes move to it. Even the men who have been in the background move closer.
“How’s Nana?” Grifter asks, while we wait for Scorpion to key up tonight’s footage.
“She’s sleeping,” I say. “They gave her meds at the hospital to calm her. She’s shaken up and mad as a wet hen, but she’s okay.” My voice catches and I press my mouth to his shirt because saying it aloud is hard—it’s almost like reliving it again. I could have lost her tonight and a world without Nana is something I never want to fathom.