Total pages in book: 143
Estimated words: 141464 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 707(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 472(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 141464 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 707(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 472(@300wpm)
“Agreed,” Rock says. “Too many Kings prowling around could be interpreted as disrespectful.”
Wrath’s gaze narrows on Rock. “You need to be there.”
Rock slides a slow, sarcastic eye roll Wrath’s way. “I didn’t say otherwise.”
“I’m sitting it out,” Z says.
“Same,” Grinder adds. “I knew of Whisper back in the day but only met him a couple times.”
Dex lifts his hand. “I’ll be there. Vapor’s planning to stop by too. At least for a few minutes.”
“Makes sense.” Wrath nods.
Bricks glances at Wrath, then Dex. “I’ll hold things down at CB. I knew Whisper but not that well.”
“I’m with Bricks,” Ravage adds.
“Sparky, we all know how you feel about funerals,” Wrath says. “You can stay home.”
“Thanks, big guy.” Sparky bobs his head up and down, then mutters, “Wasn’t planning to tangle with those dark spirits.”
Teller nods to Wrath. “Charlotte and I have to be there.”
Wrath flashes a crooked grin Murphy’s way. “Whisper hated your ass, so you’re free to stay home.”
“Oh no,” Murphy cries in a dramatic falsetto, “whatever will I do with myself?”
“Probably try to make another baby,” Ravage mutters loud enough for everyone to hear.
Ignoring Rav’s comment, Wrath focuses on Teller. “You hear anything from Charlotte’s uncle? Is Merlin coming?”
Merlin—what a piece of shit. If he bothers to show up, I’d have no problem helping Teller load that dude into the crematorium after the service.
“Haven’t heard anything, yet.” Teller pulls an annoyed face. “But either way, we’re going. Whisper did right by Charlotte. She wants to be there to say goodbye and pay her respects.”
Finally, Wrath’s gaze lands on me. “I assume you’ll be there to look out for your girl.”
My blood freezes. Wasn’t expecting to be called out. “Yeah, of course. Ulfric extended an invite when I ran into him.”
“Let me have a minute with you after church.”
What the fuck’d I do now?
When Wrath moves on, I glance at Rooster. He shrugs and mouths, I don’t know.
I’m on edge for the rest of the meeting, which thankfully doesn’t last much longer.
After church wraps and Rock says we can go, I’m ready to bolt with everyone else. There’s no way to leave the room without passing by Wrath’s seat, though. Rock stays put, Z moves down and stands behind Wrath’s chair.
Great, another obstacle.
I stand and push my chair in.
Wrath points at Murphy’s now-empty chair. “Park it.”
“What’s going on?” Rooster asks.
Wrath flicks an exasperated glance at him. “For fuck’s sake. Nothing’s wrong. I just want to talk to your boy. That all right with you?”
“I’m not his boy,” I growl. “What the fuck?”
Wrath glances at Rock, then cranes his neck to look at Z still hovering behind him. “I don’t need an audience.”
“My road captain, my business,” Z says.
Somehow that doesn’t give me the warm fuzzies.
Rock leans back, arms draped over the sides of his chair like a king settling in to enjoy the show.
“What’s on your mind, Wrath?” I finally say in a let’s get this over with tone.
“I went to visit Cedarwood’s today.” He pauses, waiting for my reaction.
I lock down my emotions and expression. “Yeah? Why?”
“Getting a layout of the place for the funeral. Margot walked me through their plans.”
My breath catches in my throat hearing my girl’s name coming out of someone else’s mouth.
“Jake came with me,” he adds.
All my frozen blood starts to simmer. Jake’s reputation with women is worse than mine was. He’s sneaky and charming. Margot’s too smart to fall for that, though, right? “Yeah, and?”
“Nothing. Just thought I should mention it.” He pauses. “Oh, and she asked if you were okay since she hasn’t heard from you in a few days.”
Teller slowly turns and glares at me.
I swallow hard. “She did?”
“Yup. She tried to play it cool, but she seemed worried.”
She really does deserve better than me.
“I, uh, had some personal stuff come up I’ve been dealing with. I’ll call her,” I say with all the calm I can harness. “Thanks.”
“Okay. Just checking.” Wrath pauses. “What personal thing?”
I lift my gaze to Z and raise my eyebrows. You really gonna let him interrogate me like this?
“It’s cool, bro.” Z slaps Wrath’s shoulder. “Let it go.”
“Everything okay?” Rock asks. At least he sounds concerned, not just nosy like Wrath.
Fuck it. They’re all gonna find out anyway. “Yeah, my half-brother showed up outta nowhere looking for me.”
For a few seconds, no one says a word. Like they’re all trying to figure out what to do with that information.
“Half-brother?” Wrath asks. “I thought you only had a younger sister?”
Since I originally patched-in to our Washington charter, no one in New York really dug deep into my past. Hell, even Washington never asked a lot of questions. I was friends with the nephew of a friend of the club. Uncle Boone’s word that I could be trusted was all they needed back then.
Only Rooster knows the goriest details of my childhood. He’s of course the one who started the rumor that I killed my father and scattered his bones all over the place, which led to my road name and helped create the unhinged, don’t-fuck-with-me reputation I still enjoy today.