Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 92067 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92067 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
“Skull, Beth needs you. She’s not taking care of herself. She’s a mess. I haven’t seen Carlos, but I have Gabby, and man, she’s drowning in guilt because you’re blaming her even more than she’s already blaming herself.”
“I can’t look at Gabby.”
“Fucking hell, Skull. I remember the last time we had this conversation, and it wasn’t true then and it isn’t now. None of this shit was Gabby’s fault.”
“I know that!” I huff. “I needed to blame anyone but me. I spouted bullshit that really didn’t mean anything because I love her. I’ll always love her, no matter what bullshit goes down. Instead of telling her that, I couldn’t handle what I was feeling. I needed someone—anyone—to blame. So, I threw it all on my daughter, and she heard me. I never meant for her to hear that shit. I saw the pain on her face that day, Dragon, just like you. What I said destroyed her. Then, to know she’d been raped. My precious daughter violated. She needed me and what did I do, Dragon? I broke her. She broke right in front of my eyes, and I just let her walk away. My family doesn’t need me. I’m the last thing any of them need.”
“That right there is bullshit. Your wife is slowly killing herself. Carlos is going through the motions and then there’s Gabby. She’s being so strong, Skull. The girl has more grit than I would have ever thought possible.”
“You almost sound like you like her, hermano, when we both know you never did.”
“I didn’t. You’re right. I’ve since changed my mind. Which is a good thing since she’s going to be family.”
“I’m glad—” I shake my head, thinking I really need to give up drinking. “What did you say?”
“My son has claimed Gabby as his old lady.”
I frown. “I think I am too drunk for this conversation. Dom is with Bull’s daughter. I will not allow my hija to tie herself to a man who loves another.”
“It’s not Dom,” Dragon says, his face blurry to me, but still displaying the cocky bastard he is.
“There’s no way in fucking hell I will let her wind up with T, either. He’s completely wrapped up in his woman. It would crush my daughter’s heart.”
“It’s not T.”
I frown. “Isn’t King married?”
“Divorced.”
“No fucking way. Your son is too old for my daughter.”
“Not your call to make. Besides, it’s too late.”
“The hell it is.”
“It is. King announced he was moving to Denver with Gabby.”
“Denver?” I growl. The thought of Gabby being that far from home is unacceptable. I need my family close so I can make sure they’re safe. If she’s so far away, I won’t be able to make sure she stays safe. I’ll never be able to find a way to beg her to forgive me.
“Yep. Denver. They’ll be moving there after the baby is born, I imagine.”
“Gabby wouldn’t want to live in Denver. It’s cold there in the winter. She hates the cold. Plus, she panics about driving in the snow,” I grumble. “And King? Another one of your damn sons. How did you let this happen?”
“Not like I was there, Skull. I didn’t find out until King told me they were having a baby.”
“Well, he should back off. She needs time to heal.” I stop talking as I turn to look at Dragon. He’s looking at me with that damn smirk on his face. “Did you say my hija is pregnant?”
“With my son’s child,” he confirms.
It hits me like a ton of bricks. She tried to trap Dom with a pregnancy and now there’s King. Cristo! This is not going to happen. She will come home, and her mother and I will help her raise the child, but she is not tying herself to that family. Apparently, my daughter never learns, but I will put a stop to this shit.
I push myself up. It takes three tries before I give up trying to stand. I look at Dragon, who is standing now—something he did in one try after I started moving. He’s laughing and not bothering to hide it. I reach out my hand. “Help me the fuck up,” I snap. “I need to stop my daughter from making the worst mistake of her life.”
“Now we’re on the same page. You’ll talk her out of moving to Denver?”
“You’re damn straight,” I snap. Dragon laughs as he helps me to stand. I have to hold on to him when the room spins. I reach out and grab his stomach when it feels like my legs are going to give out on me.
“Skull?”
“Yeah?” I mumble, trying to not give in to the urge to puke.
“I’d appreciate it if you would stop holding onto me like you’re getting ready to lay a kiss on me.”
“I’m not doing that. I’d never do that. I’d have to be a hell of a lot drunker than I am right now,” I growl.