Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 80982 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80982 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
As we headed inside, I should’ve been questioning my decision to stay. I should’ve asked myself why in the hell I was putting myself in the middle of another club’s fight. But I didn’t.
All I felt was certainty.
Somewhere between the diner, the warning, and the look in Preacher’s eyes, I knew this was where I needed to be.
The prospect was a tall, lanky kid with nervous energy and an eager grin, and he wasted no time getting me down to my room. Once we reached the end of the hall, he pushed one of the doors open and announced, “This one should be good.”
We stepped inside, and like the spare rooms back at home, it was just a basic room with a bed, a small dresser, a TV, and an attached private bathroom. It was better than what I was used to, so I dropped my bags on the floor and said, “This will do.”
“Good deal.” The kid inhaled a quick breath before adding, “Name’s Smitty, by the way. If you need anything, just holler. Towels. Food. You name it, and ah… we can run your dirty clothes through the wash, too, if you’re interested.”
“They got you boys washing clothes now?”
“Ah, hell, no,” Smitty scoffed. “They got club girls who handle all that crap. And the cooking, too. I’m just letting you know it’s an option.”
“Then, yeah.” I kicked off my boots. “I’ll get a load together.”
“Cool. Get settled, and seriously, if you need anything…”
“I’ll let you know.”
With that, he ducked out, closing the door behind him. The room went quiet, and my exhaustion started to seep in. I felt like my bones were made of lead as I started to take off my clothes. I tossed them into a pile, along with my other dirty clothes, and headed into the bathroom.
I stepped inside the shower, and the hot water cascading down my aching muscles was damn near holy. I washed twice just to feel human again, then stood there until the mirror fogged and the entire room was filled with steam.
I finally got out and dried off, and when I returned to the bedroom, the first thing I noticed was the empty spot where my dirty clothes had been. Smitty must’ve come back, and when he did, he brought food and some drinks, leaving them on the dresser for me.
Nice touch.
Unnecessary, but nice.
I made it to the bed, barely, and the second my head hit the pillow, I was out. And I mean out. There were no worries or dreams. Just deep, dark sleep, the kind that pulls you under and doesn’t let you up until you’re ready to face the world again.
I didn’t wake up until the next morning. It was rare for me to sleep like that, but I wasn’t complaining. I needed it, and I felt like a new man as I got out of bed and put on some fresh clothes.
I opened the door, and as I stepped into the hall, I could hear voices talking in a low, concerned tone. They were still piecing together the threat and planning their counterattack. It was a lot. They had the club, their families, to protect, and the last thing they needed was an outsider hovering around while they hashed things out.
So, I decided to make myself scarce and headed out to my bike.
Once outside, I saw several brothers coming and going, but I didn’t speak. I just kept my head down and kept moving. When I reached my bike, I threw my leg over the seat, fired her up, and rolled through the gate, like I had someplace to be.
I didn’t.
In fact, I had no idea where I was going. Not until the diner came into view. It was the same place I’d stopped at the day before. I told myself I’d come back because the breakfast had been so damn good.
Hell, they had the best eggs I’d eaten in months, and the toast wasn’t half bad either.
But that wasn’t it.
There was another reason, a stupid one, but I was too thick-headed to admit it. I cursed myself as I pulled into the same parking spot and killed the engine. “You’re making a mistake with this shit, and you know it.”
I knew it was true, but I killed the engine and headed inside anyway.
The bell above the door chimed, exactly the way it had the morning before, and the air was heavy with the scent of bacon and coffee. I made my way to the back and claimed the same booth I’d sat in before, and it wasn’t long before my waitress appeared, sporting the same exhausted expression. “What can I get you?”
“Three eggs, bacon, grits with cheese, and toast. Don’t care what kind. And coffee. Lots of coffee.”
“Coming right up.”
As soon as she walked away, I glanced around the diner, searching for any sign of the beautiful woman or her two boys, but they were nowhere to be found.