Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 93698 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 468(@200wpm)___ 375(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 93698 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 468(@200wpm)___ 375(@250wpm)___ 312(@300wpm)
“For fuck’s sake,” he muttered and shook his head. “I lay it out, you gonna seriously consider it?”
“Yes. Just to be clear, you said no rent?” That alone would be a huge plus. Along with no upstairs tenants making a bunch of noise.
“No.”
“You have no plans to live with us?” She stared at him when he hesitated. “Right?” she prodded. “The cabin would only be for me and Ledger? You wouldn’t be worming your way into our space?”
His mouth twisted. “Right.”
Riiiiiight.
Her lips didn’t twist but they certainly flattened out. “Let’s make a deal. I’ll give the cabin serious consideration if you tell me the whole truth.”
“Ain’t much to tell.”
She folded her arms across her chest and lifted a single eyebrow. “Tell me what you know. Or are worried about.”
He sucked on his teeth for a second as he considered her demand. Finally, he asked, “Remember the Deadly Demons?”
She thought back. “I think so.”
“Didn’t fuck with us directly, but before they were wiped out, they were slowly creepin’ north. My old man was keepin’ a close eye on them.”
“Didn’t some members of a federal task force go undercover with your club because of them?”
“Yeah. But we try not to talk ‘bout that bullshit partnership. Anyway, ‘nother club’s takin’ over their territory.”
“Is this other club dangerous?” Did her voice just crack?
“Ain’t sayin’ that. Just makin’ sure all our bases are bein’ covered. Anytime another club wants to increase their territory near us, we gotta take it seriously. The fuck if we want to be unprepared and have shit go sideways.”
“Shit like what the Warriors pulled.”
Him tipping his head confirmed it, but then, so did his next words. “Same shit we’re tryin’ to avoid.”
“They did some really awful things, Zeke,” she whispered, her chest getting tighter.
“No shit. And they fuckin’ paid for it.”
“But not until after they did a lot of damage,” she reminded him.
“Reason I wanna be prepared, babe.”
While that was all fine and good, it didn’t relieve her worry. In fact, she would now have to seriously consider moving her and Ledger to the offered cabin.
Admittedly, living near Vi and Indie—and eventually Scarlet, once she was done with her military service—along with being surrounded by the Shadows, would be a lot safer than where she lived now.
The other option would be to move back to Chicago, but she had no family or job there and it would take Ledger away from the man he now knew as his father.
Ledger was excited that Zeke was now in his life. To rip him away from his biological father, his uncle and cousins, as well as both sets of grandparents wouldn’t be fair to their son.
He deserved to be surrounded and loved by family, too.
She closed her eyes and considered everything. She was damned if she did and damned if she didn’t.
So far, Zeke’s interactions with Ledger had shown he had the potential to be a good father. He’d made some newbie mistakes, but that was to be expected.
Taking Ledger away from him again would be wrong. Not to mention selfish.
Zeke wanting them to move somewhere safer was proof he cared.
But again, a risk wouldn’t exist in the first place if he wasn’t the president of a damn motorcycle club.
She was so damn torn.
She could only hope he was being overly cautious and this other club wouldn’t be a real threat.
Using her hips to spin her around, Zeke leaned back against the kitchen counter and pulled her into him.
“Zeke…” When she tried to half-heartedly pull away, he dug his fingers in deeper to hold her there.
His fingers weren’t the only thing digging against her.
Someone thought he was getting something more than conversation tonight.
“Think he’s asleep?” he murmured, sending a wave of goosebumps over her skin.
Her eyes sliced over to the clock on the microwave. “I’d say so. He falls asleep pretty quickly.” She purposely added, “So, if you were looking forward to reading him a bedtime story, you’re too late.”
“Got stories but ain’t for bedtime.”
“Then I’d prefer you stick to Dr. Seuss.”
“Kid don’t need to hear ‘bout moldy eggs and ham.”
“Moldy…” She couldn’t stop the laughter that erupted from her. “They aren’t green because of mold.”
Lord, did his lopsided smile heat up her insides.
She wished she didn’t find him attractive.
His blue eyes were heated when he announced with a low, grumbly voice, “Wanna eat your pussy.”
That same pussy clenched. But she needed to resist him. While she had no choice but to let him be involved with Ledger, when it came to herself, she really didn’t need to get entangled with him again.
She was currently seeing a decent guy. While it might be new and not serious, it could eventually turn into something worth holding on to.
In reality, Glen could end up being a much better father figure than Zeke. If anything, his normalcy might counteract Zeke’s biker ways and teach Ledger how to be a decent human.