Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 74270 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74270 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
I can think of three exceptions to the no-touching thing, but I nod. It’s fine. I’ll probably be long gone from here before Dad gets in touch. Hopefully I can find a way home tomorrow after I’ve gotten some sleep. And maybe checked in with Riptide and the others… maybe.
Emily gives the horn a really light tap, and the gates open a moment later. A couple of beefy bikers wave us forward, then signal us to stop.
Emily runs her window down and smiles. “Scrapper. Phoenix. Extra security tonight?”
“After Lightning got shot? Fuck yeah.” The one with a short beard and a raspy voice comes over and leans against the door. “Eagle-eye called Church. The whole territory’s on lockdown.”
“Really? Hero called to tell me to come straight back, but I haven’t heard anything since. I checked on Thunder and Harper before I left. They’re exhausted, but doing a little better now that Lightning’s out of surgery.” She sighs. “God, this might get ugly.”
“It’s been about a year since the shit with Kozlov. I suppose we were due.” He looks past her at me. “Who’s your friend?”
“Scrapper, meet Melody. Melody, this is Scrapper. She had a rough time tonight and needs somewhere safe to crash. Nowhere safer than here. Especially with you boys on watch.”
The other guy, who must be Phoenix, flicks a lazy salute. He has a dark beard and a nose that looks like it was broken at one point and never set. “Doing our best. No one’s gonna bother you here. Go get your beauty rest. Not that either of you need it.”
“Flatterer. Good luck tonight.”
I feel like I just got a surprise ticket to Disneyland. When Dad told me about his role in the Devil’s Brigade, I found out it was where he was living when he wasn’t with us, but he’s never told me much about it. And when I asked if I could see, he basically told me to fuck off. Maybe that should’ve been my first sign that something was up when Red brought me to the rally. But if not Dad, then who would care if I went? I don’t have enough brain right now to figure anything out. Maybe after I’ve had a chance to sleep.
It’s a little disappointing to get here at night when it’s hard to see, but Emily pulls around the side of the big warehouse in the courtyard. There’s an immense number of parked motorcycles that reflect our headlights as she finds a spot to put her car.
She turns the car off. “We’re here. I know you’re not here with much, but I should have plenty for you to borrow. You’re taller than me, but I can find something for you to sleep in and I’ll throw your stuff in the wash to get the blood and dirt off your clothes.”
I look down self-consciously. My shirt might be black, but it’s dirty and stained, and there are red spatters on my jeans, in addition to ground-in dirt and grass stains. And on top of all that, I’m still missing a sock. “I’m going to owe you so much by the time I leave.”
“Don’t worry about it. I mean it. Come on, let’s get inside. The kids should be asleep, so just step quietly.” She smiles and leads me to a row of houses that look like they could be anywhere. There’s a dirt bike leaning against the wall, and a smaller one next to it with rainbow streamers on the handlebars.
Kids? In a biker compound? Dad made it sound like families were basically forbidden from having anything to do with the MC. Obviously, that’s not the case here. It makes me wonder if it was him that forbade it, or the club.
When we enter, not one, but two big bikers are waiting for her. One of them has a sleeping girl draped over his shoulder. She can’t be much more than five or six years old. He holds her gently, slowly stroking her back. His hair has a purple streak through it and his grin is roguish as he leans in to kiss Emily hello. The height difference makes it a little awkward, especially with the girl on his shoulder, but they’ve obviously had a lot of practice. “Welcome home, babe.”
And then she turns straight to the other, who looks as broad and solid as a tree, and gives him the same treatment. I blink, really not understanding what’s going on here. I mean, okay, I kinda had sex with three bikers earlier—or at least started to—but to see it in a domestic situation like this, with a kid and what looks like mostly normal family life?
I have so many questions, and none of them seem like something I can just blurt out.
She looks at the guy with the purple streak. “Why isn’t Chloe in bed?”