Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 79039 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79039 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 263(@300wpm)
“What if you don’t have to see him?” Torch suggests, shocking me because well, it is his son.
“Say what?”
“I’ll personally guarantee that if you take the club back on, BB will stay away,” Skull elaborates.
“I hardly think that’s possible. He is the VP of the club now,” I inform him of something I’m sure he already knows since he took that role from him.
“We’ll make it so that it is possible.” I jerk my head to the side to see where the new voice has come from. That’s when I see King standing there. Hands up in the air like he’s surrendering. I look back at Torch and Skull, my glare accusing—to say the least. In return, they look more than a little guilty, but don’t say a word.
King is a big man. He’s broad and big everywhere. He’s also extremely hot. When Gabby hitched up with him, that girl did good. He’s intimidating, but his deep brown eyes grab your attention immediately. He’s black with rich, dark skin that looks as if it has been kissed by the gods. His body is also covered in ink in a way that makes a girl swoon just looking at him. I can tell he’s older than me and therefore older than Gabby. I’m glad for her. I met the guy she was so hung up on before King. I think his name was Dom. He came in with some of the Savage Brothers MC crew once when one of them had some bike troubles and needed a part. They were in town visiting Skull. It might be unfair, because I only met him once, but I didn’t exactly like him. I felt he was kind of full of himself. Since he was probably older than I was, I figured that didn’t mean great things. It’s clear Gabby traded up this time. Good for her.
“I know you’re used to dealing with Skull and Torch. You have a friendship with them. They view you as part of their family.”
“I—”
“Even if you always insist on keeping your distance,” Skull adds, scoring a hit that inflicts a little bit of damage. Luckily, King isn’t aware of that.
“I don’t do that,” I lie, trying to cover—and recover at the same time.
“Sweetheart, you’ve been to four events out of a thousand that we’ve invited you to in twenty years,” Skull prods gently.
“I stay busy,” I mutter, again lying. I mean, I do stay busy, but that’s not why I don’t show up when he invites me places. I doubt they know why. The only one who truly does is Callum, and he’d never tell another soul.
“I’m stepping into a club here and I don’t have the history everyone else has, Beau. I’m an outsider. The thing is, I’ve found a home. I found family and a group of men that are looking to me to make this club work again. I’ve got to tell you, that’s a really great feeling.” I swallow nervously with King’s words because you can tell he really means them. Shit. “I also have a wife and a baby girl who I love to the marrow of my bones. Gabby likes being back home. She wants to give our daughter a life where she has her entire family around her. I want to give them both that.”
Shit. Shit. Shit.
“I’d like it, too. Hell, I’m even kind of getting used to the asshole who’s running my club these days,” Skull says. I try to contain my grin when King flips him off, but I fail.
Damn it.
“I’ve been through our books dating back years. The club began turning bigger profits when a seventeen-year-old kid took over painting our bikes and shit,” King adds, and I sigh.
I knew that. Dad didn’t bother hiding the pride he felt in me when Skull told him that exact thing and booked him for five more jobs that same week. From that day on, I busted my ass in the garage—while going to vocational school to get a degree in auto body. I immersed myself in my studies, learning various painting techniques. With that experience, plus the fact I’m in high demand—not to mention the awards and magazine articles I’ve been the subject of—I know I’m better now. I try not to get cocky and say I’m the best. I’ve always felt like there’s always someone better than you are. You just have to work harder and strive to make it so that people want you over anyone else. It's been my motto when it comes to work, and it has never steered me wrong.
“What I’m asking is that you finally meet with me. You understand my purpose and that you allow me to form a relationship with you. Sure, it won’t be like the one you have with Skull or Torch, that’s not who we are—or ever will be. Just the same, it can be a solid one built on mutual respect.”