Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 44899 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 224(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44899 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 224(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Tonio Miles stood as we entered, unfolding his tall frame from one of the leather armchairs. Unlike me, he looked completely unruffled, not a hair out of place, his dark suit perfectly tailored to his broad shoulders, his dark beard neatly trimmed. He looked exactly like what he was, a man of power, a man accustomed to getting what he wanted.
Across the room, a massive biker with hair and shoulders like a bull nodded at Sully. “Tonio, this is Sully. Sully, Antonio Miles.” His green eyes flicked to me, assessing. “I assume you’re Darby.”
I nodded, putting my shoulders back. “I am.”
He stuck his hand out. “I’m Knuckles. President of Kiss of Death.” I started not to take it, but I didn’t want to insult the guy. He’d let Sully take me in and I was grateful. I’d give them the benefit of the doubt. “I’ll leave you three to talk.” He looked pointedly at Sully. “You good here, brother?”
Sully nodded once. “We’re good.”
Knuckles departed, leaving an awkward tension in the room. Tonio’s dark eyes, so much like my own, swept over me, cataloging each visible injury with what looked disconcertingly like genuine concern. And a whole lot of anger.
“Darby,” he said, my name sounding formal. He cleared his throat. “Sully. Thank you for taking care of business earlier. I’m in your debt.”
Sully shrugged but said nothing. He retained his hold on my hand. Knight hurried into the room and paused as he caught sight of us.
“Dude! What the fuck, man?”
My hand tightened on Sully’s. I wasn’t sure why Knight was upset but he was storming our direction.
“It’s not like you to be careless in looking for someone who means something to you, Tonio.” Knight marched up to Tonio, jabbing a finger in his chest. “You tell us and have us find her. Better yet, you tell us the second you found her so we can protect her when she’s not at your place. That way you avoid her running to begin with.”
“Don’t you presume to tell me how to take care of my family, Knight.” Tonio’s tone was deadly and his gaze not exactly what I’d call friendly.
“Don’t do stupid shit and I won’t!” Knight heaved a sigh. “I get you wanted to erase her identity as much as you could so she’d be protected, but you kept me from finding her. And more importantly, you caused my friend here significant emotional anguish when I couldn’t find his girl.”
I bit my lip and glanced up at Sully. If looks could kill, Knight might be dead. Or maybe he was looking that way at my father. No. It was definitely Knight.
“I did not have emotional anguish, Knight.”
“Please, man. You were at Throttle more than Mike. And he works there.” Knight turned his attention back to Tonio. “This is part of what you pay us for.”
“For fuck’s sake, Knight!” Tonio snarled. “I fucked up. Okay? I panicked when I couldn’t find her!”
“She’s a grown-ass woman!”
Tonio slammed his hand on the bar before getting into Knight’s face. “She’s my daughter!” he roared. “She will always be in danger! Of course, I panicked when I couldn’t find her!” Tonio actually did look more than a bit unnerved. Even now, he kept glancing at me as if to reassure himself I was still there. Finally, he scrubbed a hand over his face and sighed. “I’ve only known about her for three months. When I found out I dragged her back to Nashville.” He snuck another glance at me. Did his face flush? “Might have been overzealous in the dragging.”
“You think?” I’d barked out the question before I could stop. “I had no idea who was after me. All I knew was everywhere I stopped, some goon would try to kidnap me!”
“Darby, that was never my intent.” Tonio actually looked pained. I knew he hadn’t meant to scare me. The goons in question had always told me that, but Goddamnit, I didn’t want to get to know the bastard.
“I guess my mother never bothered to tell you about me before she OD’d when I was seven.” I couldn’t keep the bitterness from my voice. “Now you want to play family after I’ve spent my entire life without one?”
I felt Sully shift beside me, processing this information. I wondered if he’d pull away now, realizing exactly what kind of complication I represented. Because Tonio Miles wasn’t just any father. He was second in command of one of the most powerful crime families in the South. Hell, some said he had as much power as his father, Seth. Seth was the official head, but the way it had been explained to me was that Seth was transitioning Tonio Miles to run the family so Seth could retire. The point was, Miles was a man not many people would cross. And he could crush Sully and his entire club without breaking a sweat if he chose to.