Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 23544 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 118(@200wpm)___ 94(@250wpm)___ 78(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23544 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 118(@200wpm)___ 94(@250wpm)___ 78(@300wpm)
Brittany tsks me, but I ignore it and head to my car in the lot. Before I drive away, I glance at the back of the property, wondering if Ruin will be at the bar tonight and if I really don’t care if he shows up.
No, I do.
I care a lot.
Chapter 2
Ruin
* * *
It’s sweltering in Harmony, and I don’t mean the weather. The blue-eyed enchantress at the front desk has my body temperature soaring to levels the Texas sun could never achieve. She has me nearly forgetting my mission.
When I left the Diamond Kings’ ranch early this morning, I told the guys I had business with one of our chapter clubs. The Harmony chapter president, Felix, says he has some information for me about a man I’ve been hunting for a while. The man who killed my father.
Tomorrow I’ll join up with Felix at his club, but tonight I just want a quiet night alone. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a moment to myself. I love the guys in my club—hell, they’re my brothers, and I’d burn heaven down for any of them—but sometimes, it’s tiring keeping the business running. Even more exhausting is always going for the throat of our rival gang, Satan’s Savages.
Roach, their leader, and I go way back, and that motherfucker will get his one day. And I want to be the one handing it to him.
Tonight, though, I just want some peace. One night not to think about shit. A night to just have a drink and wake up well rested for my meeting with Felix in the morning.
I drop my bag in my room and shower before heading to the bar down the street. Going out tonight wasn’t on my agenda, but when I spotted that blue-eyed beauty gazing at me from behind the front desk, I couldn’t help but change my plan. Sounds cheesy, but her smile was what they write love songs about, and I need to get to know her a bit better. A lot better.
In my thirty-eight years of life, I’ve never been this attracted to a woman. But with every word that came out of Dakota’s mouth, I grew harder and harder. Her soft voice soothed the rough part of me.
She looked all professional and shit—classy—dressed in a maroon blouse and black pants. She must be the manager, because her outfit wasn’t the polo and khaki pants of the other girl.
I have a few things I’d love for her to manage.
After my shower, I throw on a clean black t-shirt and fresh jeans. Country line dancing sounds like torture. I’ve never been a man to conform to what a crowd is doing and scootin’ around a floor with a bunch of wannabe cowboys is not even on the list of things to do before I die. Right now, it’s got two items.
* * *
Things To Do Before I Die
Kill the fucker who took my father’s life.
Watch Dakota swivel her hips. Preferably on my face.
It’s a quick ride to the Eager Beaver, a sprawling wooden building with a giant neon sign. Cool air and country music greet me when I walk inside the surprisingly tame place. I half-expected a stage and stripper pole, but it’s your typical saloon with worn hardwoods and wood-beam ceilings, even a mechanical bull in the corner. Girls in dresses and guys in cowboy hats mingle around the scattered pub tables.
A few curious glances land on my cut, but it’s not the first time and won’t be the last, so I shrug it off and head to the bar.
“Give me your strongest whiskey and best beer.”
The stocky bartender nods and gets to work on my order as I check my phone for any calls from my men back home. I left everything in the capable hands of my second-in-command, Sinclaire—Sin for short—and without a doubt, my men can handle their president being away, but worry never ends. When I see all is well, I drop my phone in my back pocket and settle on a stool.
“One Blood & Honey, American Ale,” the bartender says, sliding a glass bottle in front of me. “And a shot of Wild Turkey.”
“Thanks, man.” I knock the whiskey back and slam the glass on the bar. “The Eager Beaver always this dead?”
He smiles, polishing a glass with a white cloth. “There’s a crowd later. When the dancing starts.” He glances at my Diamond Kings patch. “You in town visiting the Harmony guys?”
Leave it to the bartender to notice the details. They usually know everyone and everything.
“Yeah,” is my vague answer.
He moves away to help a customer, and while I wait for the main attraction—Dakota—I take a drink of my cold beer and obsess over the information Felix has to tell me. I could run to the Harmony chapter ranch, but I need time. After years of seeking revenge, it’s finally within reach.