Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 77106 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77106 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
With the rate Huck was adding to the club, I figured it was only a matter of time before there were some plans for expansion to the clubhouse. He’d built his own home off to the side. But with another two prospects and the sounds of more on the horizon, it was going to start to feel cramped for those of us who didn’t move on and settle down.
“Not much to do out this way, right?”
“Hence why we party here. But there’s a new bar down in town we are gonna check out tonight, see if we can find some pretty to bring back here.”
“Sounds good to me. Been a long time since we had any time off to party.” Caymen’s gaze slid over toward where his brother was sitting on one of the chaise lounges next to Velle. The easy smile that had been on Dixon’s face a moment ago had fallen. “What’s his deal?”
“Velle… he has a talent for reading people. Huck likes it for the club. But some of us who don’t like anyone prodding around in our brains might want to be a little more careful around him. Got bomb-ass taste in music, though.”
“And what about him?” he asked, nodding his chin toward York.
“York used to bury bodies for the mob up in New York. Came down this way to take care of his grandfather. Got interested in the club. He’s good people. More on the serious side. But always up for a good time.”
“And him?” Caymen asked, looking over at Kylo.
“Did solo work for a long time until someone nearly punched his ticket for him. Came to join here not long after that. He’s not as serious as York and won’t shrink you like Velle. He’s the bird’s favorite person. Don’t take it personally.”
“And what about you?”
“What about me?”
“What should I know about you? What might the other fucks say about you?”
“Me, I’m a Boy Scout,” I said, getting a snort out of him.
“Yeah, that Fuck You ink is real mature and grounded. And what’s the tat for?” he asked, nodding toward the tattoo that equaled thirteen notches.
Bodies.
They stood for bodies.
Ones in the ground.
Ones on my soul.
“A warning,” I told him, shrugging.
“Fair. I’m gonna go tap my brother out,” Caymen said, catching a look from his brother that clearly brought out his protective side.
As Caymen walked over to talk to Velle, I grabbed another beer and handed it to Dixon as he made his way back.
“He’s intense,” I said.
“I wasn’t expecting that,” Dixon admitted, taking a swig that nearly drained the beer in one sip.
“Confess your biggest secrets?” I teased.
“Damn near. Coast, right?”
“Right,” I agreed. “I believe I was told you were, what was the word?”
“Crazy?” Coast asked.
“Unhinged,” Dixon corrected.
“Probably more accurate. Your brother’s not gonna give Velle shit, is he?”
“Nah. That’d be like trying to get a rock to talk. You guys planning on anything fun tonight?”
“Hitting the bar to find some girls to bring back here to party.”
“Sounds good to me. Need some light and fun after that. Feels like the guy reached into my head and rearranged some shit.”
“He won’t pry so much once you’re in. We’re just supposed to report back to Huck our first impressions of you two. Velle was trying to get as much info as he could.”
“I’m afraid he might know me better than anyone else ever has. In fifteen minutes. So, tell me about this bar.”
“Can’t. It’s new. Haven’t been there yet.”
“So, I’m hearing it will be packed. More choices. I’m gonna go take up Huck on his offer to tour the place. Tour?” he called to Caymen, who immediately got up and walked away from Velle.
“So, what’d all your head-shrinking squeeze out?” I asked when Velle made his way over toward me.
“Shitty parents. Hard times. Foster care. That part sounded mixed: some good experiences, some bad. My only real concern is that their loyalty to each other would be stronger than their loyalty to the club.”
“Didn’t think of that,” I admitted, but judging by the way Dixon gave his older brother a lifeline to get away from Velle, it did kind of suggest that their bond might always come first.
“I mean, it wouldn’t be a problem, per se, so long as they aren’t lying to the club about shit. I mean, Seeley, Levee, and Alaric had a tighter bond with each other than the rest of us too. It’s normal for some relationships to be tighter than others. Though it’s not quite as normal for someone not to have any deep bonds with anyone,” he added.
I could feel his gaze boring into my face.
Then I went right ahead and ignored it.
“This is a weird way to ask me to Eiffel Tower some girl with you, man,” I said.
I got a snort out of Velle. But he was shaking his head too.