Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 83244 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83244 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
The ride home should’ve cleared my head, but there weren’t enough miles between the clubhouse and Brooke’s place to shake the feeling I got when I saw that smile on Chains’ face. That dude was evil to his core, and it ran a chill down my spine to think he was the one who’d set his sights on taking down the club.
I’d spent years thinking I didn’t have anything worth protecting. Turned out, I had a club full of brothers I’d lay my life down for without question. The same held true for Brooke and Anslee. Hell, I’d rip out my own heart for either one of them, and that realization both humbled me and terrified me at the same time.
By the time I pulled into Brooke’s street, it was well after dark. I pulled in and parked, and knowing I was about to see my girls, I felt a little lighter as I headed up to the front door. I eased it open and called out, “Brooke?”
“I’m back here.”
I stepped inside, expecting to see Anslee playing on the living room floor and Brooke cleaning up after dinner. Instead, I found a room full of boxes. They lined the walls and were stacked on the tables along with newspaper and packing tape.
Picture frames had been taken down from the wall, leaving pale squares on the walls where they’d hung. “What the hell?”
Brooke looked up from where she was kneeling beside an open box, and she gave me a tired smile. “I’m moving out.”
20
BROOKE
Iwas a wreck the first time Brayden brought me to the Fury clubhouse, and when I walked through the door, it didn’t help matters that they all looked like they were waiting for a fight.
Their faces had been fierce and unforgiving, their voices low and intimidating, and every move they made had an edge that left no doubt these men would do whatever it took to protect the people they loved.
I wasn’t afraid of them. Not really.
I just wasn’t sure I would ever want to spend a Sunday afternoon with them. But Brayden asked me to give them another chance. The second we stepped into that family room, the laughter drowned out everything else. The guys were carrying on and sipping their beers as they argued over the game that was playing on the television. The women were gathered in the back corner in various groups with their little ones, whispering and laughing like they were the best of friends.
I found myself hoping to be part of that little group someday.
Because this didn’t seem like a dangerous motorcycle club. Nothing of the sort. Instead, it was family. A big, boisterous family who always had each other’s backs.
I don’t know what had changed. I could only assume that the concerns they’d had with Raymond, or those photographs were no longer an issue. I asked Brayden about it, but he was quick to say it was handled and that I shouldn't worry.
That was easier said than done, but as I looked around the room at all the smiling faces, I couldn’t help but think that all was right in the world. I glanced over at Brayden, and he was still right next to me with Anslee perched on his hip.
Goose and Grim were talking a mile a minute, and Anslee was listening to every word as she clung to the front of Brayden’s T-shirt, happily babbling at anyone who glanced in her direction. Grim smirked as he looked down at her and said, “It’s a good thing you look like your momma.”
“Hey, now. She looks like me, too,” Brayden complained.
“Don’t know about that.” Grim grimaced. “Maybe the eyes, but that’s about it.”
Like she’d been waiting for her cue, Anslee reached up and grabbed a fistful of Grim’s beard. He let out a little grunt as he whined, “Hey now. Easy on the grip. That shit’s still attached.”
“She’s got my smarts, too.”
“I see that.” Grim carefully untangled her tiny fingers from his beard and shook his head. “Kid’s got a hell of a grip.”
“She’s just keeping you in line,” Goose teased.
“Somebody needs to,” his ol’ lady called out from across the room.
I was still learning everyone’s name, but I was starting to get the hang of it. Or at least, I thought I was. Anslee giggled like she knew exactly what was going on, and I couldn’t help but smile. Watching her with Brayden and seeing how proud he was of her made my heart swell.
If I didn’t know better, I’d say she not only fit into this club world, but she thrived in it. A little girl with dark curls waltzed across the room with a little stuffed rabbit clutched close to her chest. She and the rabbit were adorable, and I wasn’t surprised when they’d both caught Anslee’s attention.
She started rocking against Brayden’s hip as she reached out her hand and said, “Bunny… bunn-nny.”