Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 38829 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 194(@200wpm)___ 155(@250wpm)___ 129(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 38829 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 194(@200wpm)___ 155(@250wpm)___ 129(@300wpm)
So, if my brothers want to feel pity for Olivia, let them. It’s not going to change my mind. She’ll pay for her role in my brother’s death. I don’t care how big or small that role was. She had a hand in taking everything from me, and I won’t rest until I pay her back in kind.
Olivia sealed her own fate.
Viper holds his hands up as if in defeat. I shake my head. “Would you like to know what’s going on in the club?” he finally asks.
“Hangman has been keeping me in the loop,” I respond. I may not be ready to assume the helm just yet, but I’ve always kept a close eye on the club. Bear created our club partly so he could move closer to me. We made the Cherokee chapter of the Saints Outlaws one of the toughest around—and succeeded. No one wants to go against us. With the latest allies from Virginia in the Demon Chasers, as well as the Savage Brothers, we’re stronger than ever.
“With our allies, sure, but what about our men?” he asks.
Confused, I stare at him. “What do you mean?”
“Hangman told you we’ve got a Devil’s Chaser member there looking to take over Ranger’s position?”
“He did. None of our boys want the position?”
“Gravel thought about it. The other boys don’t really want the responsibility.”
“Why did Gravel back out?”
“His old lady, Sheila, didn’t really want him to. You know how she is. For years, that bitch has used Gravel’s dick to suck the life out of him.”
I laugh, but I don’t argue. Sheila is a piece of work. I guess that hasn’t changed since I’ve been in the slammer. “I’ll need to meet with him. What’s his name again?”
“King. He’s solid. I don’t really have shit to say bad about him. His current president doesn’t want to lose him, but I guess the guy has been going through some shit. He and his old lady split up. From what I hear, it got kind of nasty.”
“I’ll meet with him sometime next week. Is there anything else I should know?”
“Not really. The club misses you, though. Do you think you could spare time from your big plan of vengeance and drop by for the bonfire this weekend?”
“We’ll see. I have a few things to see to.”
He stands up, exhaling in what can only be described as an annoyed breath. “Be careful, Blade. You might get what you want at a huge cost.”
I snort. “Whatever. Talk to you later.”
Viper nods and walks away. I let him go, then laugh. I love my club and the loyalty they have to me and one another. They have no clue what lengths I will go to just to avenge my brother. I’ll do anything, and I won’t regret it.
Not at all.
4 OLIVIA
I stare at the woman in the mirror, and I don’t recognize myself anymore. I’ve let my hair go to its natural color, more honey brown than anything. It would probably look good if I put forth any effort, but there’s no point. The dark circles under my eyes are only more evidence of the fact that I don’t sleep anymore. The hell of the last few years won’t allow that. My eyes look dead, which works because that’s how I feel—how most of me wishes I was. I’m tired. So tired that it has seeped down into my bones, leaving scars and a sadness that will never leave.
“It’s going to be okay, Livy.” I turn to look at Winnie. She’s perched on my bed, dressed in her black slacks and white dress shirt. She has her dark black hair in a high ponytail, and her neutral makeup is impeccable. I envy the easy finesse she has in styling. She always looks chic, in control, and most of all effortlessly gorgeous—my total opposite. If she weren’t my best friend and the one person in this whole world that is keeping me from losing myself in the abyss, I would hate her. Winnie makes that impossible. For two years, she has held my hand, pulled me out of the darkness enough so I could breathe, and held me while I cried. I’d be dead without her. Sometimes I don’t know whether to curse her or thank her for that small fact. “Don’t look at me like that,” she huffs. “I know it doesn’t seem like it right now, but it will be. A year ago, there’s no way you could do this. Hell, I’m not even sure you could have a month ago.”
I take a shaky breath and stare down at my bare feet. I’m in a navy blue wrap-around maxi dress. My hair is up in a bun, and small diamond studs are in my ears. I have matching ballet flats to put on. It’s plain, but the long sleeves and long length of the dress give me comfort. Besides, I don’t care how I look anymore. That’s the least important thing in my life. I have on a base cover of blending powder on my face and neck, some light lip gloss, and that’s it. I didn’t even bother with mascara or anything else. There’s no point. I’d rather not look like a raccoon at the funeral.