Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 133975 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 670(@200wpm)___ 536(@250wpm)___ 447(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133975 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 670(@200wpm)___ 536(@250wpm)___ 447(@300wpm)
She had dried off her body and was looking around for her clothes. Her head jerked up alertly. “What does that mean?”
“You’re my woman, Lyric, can we at least agree on that?”
She bit her lip and gave the slightest nod, but he could tell she didn’t really believe him.
“Out loud. Say it out loud. I need the words.”
Lyric gave him that little moue with her lips that always made him crazy. “Yes. We can agree on that, but—”
“You can stop there and just for a few minutes, let me take that in. If there’s one thing I know about you, it’s that once you give your word, you’ll do everything in your power to keep it.”
Before she could voice all the reasons why they couldn’t be together, even though she’d just admitted she belonged to him, he went into the bedroom and opened a drawer. “Lana went shopping for you. She owns a fashion label, really popular, so she knows sizes and clothes. I told her what you liked to wear, and she brought a few things for you. You don’t like anything, we’ll exchange it.”
She leaned on the doorjamb, regarding him with her vivid green eyes. “You didn’t tell me what you meant when you said Miles was easy pickings.”
“I told you I’m in a club, Wildfire. Torpedo Ink. I know you’ve been ill, but catch up.”
“I’m well aware you’re in a club. What does that have to do with Miles?”
“You’re my woman. He and his friends attacked you. That makes it club business because you’re mine. They attacked me. That makes it club business because I’m Torpedo Ink.”
Keys handed her the stack of clothes. “Shirt, underwear, jeans. I don’t know how she found vintage blue the way you like them, but she managed.”
Lyric took the clothes and moved back into the bathroom out of his sight. He followed her. They weren’t going to have distance between them. Not again. She flicked him a quick glance under her long lashes and faint color stole up her cheeks, but she slid on the tiny black lace panties and matching bra.
“Don’t like you covering up, but that is some seriously sexy underwear. I’m going to be thinking about you looking like this for the rest of the day.”
She gave him that flash of a smile that lit up his world and pulled on the jeans. “Your friend Lana managed to get the perfect fit for me, which, trust me, is extremely difficult.” She smoothed her hand down the thighs of the ice-blue denim. “This pair of jeans is even softer than my old ones.”
“Lana has a good eye.”
She pulled the blue ombre tank over her head. “You had to tell her what I like because she’s never met me.”
“I pay very close attention to every detail when it comes to you. I know your preferences.”
Her smile stayed a little longer. “Well, you’ll have to thank her. I like the clothes.”
“You’ll have a chance to meet her soon enough and tell her yourself.” He led the way through the bedroom, down the hall to the kitchen.
The silence behind him told him she wasn’t looking forward to the meeting. She still didn’t believe they were going to stay together. He could see that clearly in the way her gaze avoided his.
“Torpedo Ink owns a few buildings in Caspar. I thought, if you feel like getting out of here for a short period of time, we could take the bike, get some air, and you could look over a couple of the spaces that are empty.”
He went straight to the refrigerator and peered inside. The women in Torpedo Ink had been ensuring there was plenty of food from the first moment Keys had returned with Lyric. They weren’t the only ones. Preacher was very good friends with Hannah Drake Harrington, a local woman who was extraordinary at mixing homeopathic medicines. Hannah just happened to be the wife of Jonas Harrington, the local sheriff. Hannah had sent baskets of food, medicine and oils to help with Lyric’s recovery.
Keys stood in front of the open refrigerator staring at the contents when it hit him. He had a family. Solid. Steady. He counted on them. He hadn’t thought that he did, but when he was in trouble, he knew they would come. From the time they were young children, eighteen of them, the core of Torpedo Ink, had killed to stay alive.
“What is it, Keys?” Lyric’s soft voice slipped inside. Wrapped around his heart.
Keys indicated the contents of the refrigerator. “This. Look at this. I always associated the strong bonds I have with Torpedo Ink with violence. But it’s so much more than that. I knew they’d come for us because that’s what we do. I knew Steele would heal you because he’s that good, and we’ve always helped each other with our gifts. But this…” Again, he gestured toward the contents.