Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 34187 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34187 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 171(@200wpm)___ 137(@250wpm)___ 114(@300wpm)
If I’d expected some kind of male bonding reunion or something, I’d have been disappointed. Instead, the guys put me and Xavier between them and hurried us inside and didn’t stop until we were on the second floor in the middle of the big, open room. Then everyone started talking at once.
“Holy shit, man!”
“Talk about a welcome home.”
“‘Bout time you got your ass home, Xavier.”
Several of the guys clapped Xavier on the back. A couple of them gave me respectful nods and introduced themselves. Then four women pushed their way through the gang of men catching up with Xavier.
“Don’t mind them.” A slender woman with light brown curls smiled and held out her hand. “I’m Hannah. Knuckles is my husband. These are Pippa, Carrie, and Violet.”
“Welcome to the jungle, honey.” Violet gave me a quick hug. “We put a care package together until you can get anything you’re missing. We all know about life on the run or making a quick exit.”
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t want to put anyone else in danger, especially not people I’d never met.”
“Don’t you dare be sorry,” Pippa said, a fierce, almost pained expression on her face. “These guys are a tight bunch. You mean something to Xavier, so they have a driving need to help Xavier protect you.”
“Sounds like something out of a fairy tale.” I could feel tears pricking the back of my eyes. All my life I’d been weak. I let my parents push me around. I stayed with Paul after he hit me more than once and didn’t try to leave until the night Xavier found me. I absolutely would not show weakness in front of these women by crying now. But, Goddamnit! What Pippa described sounded like my most fervent dreams!
“Takes some getting used to,” Violet said with a soft smile. “I’m still learning.”
I ducked my head. “Thank you for coming to meet me here. All the testosterone is a bit overwhelming.”
Carrie laughed, her smile bright and beautiful. “I had about the same reaction. Though, to be fair, I freaked them out more than they freaked me out. Long story, but I watched the movie Carrie the other night with Riot like everyone kept telling me to, and I finally understood why poor Chains is afraid of me.”
A thought occurred to me. “I don’t wish ill will on anyone, but please tell me you at least looked like you had blood all over you.”
Carrie laughed gleefully. “I totally did! When Chains found out my mother’s name was Margaret, he started sprinkling holy water over mine and Riot’s door.”
OK, there was no way to contain my laughter. “That’s a story I’ve got to hear soon.”
“Once you get settled in and get some rest, we’ll take you to Oasis Number Two, drink too many margaritas, and we’ll tell you about it.” Hannah handed me a phone as she spoke. “This is yours while you’re here. The guys want us to use clean phones when calling or texting inside the compound. Everyone here has been to prison. Knuckles knows every single one of them personally, or they don’t get in.”
Hannah continued with the explanation. “Knuckles has extreme pull with local law enforcement. He prefers not to leave any openings if he can help it.”
“All our numbers are programmed in” -- Pippa handed me the phone -- “as well as Xavier’s new number. You can reach out to any of us if you need anything at all, or if you’re uncomfortable with anything. Especially the guys. They absolutely will not do anything you don’t want, but that’s not to say they won’t flirt their asses off. If someone won’t back off, you call one of us or Xavier. We’ll shut them down for you.”
All I could do was move my gaze from woman to woman, trying to see if they were playing me. The only thing I saw was complete sincerity. They meant every word. “Is this place even real?”
“Oh, honey.” Violet gave me a sympathetic smile. “I know exactly what you mean. My advice is to just roll with it. I promise you this is the real deal. I can honestly say they’ve been the best role models for my son. Way better than his own father.” A shadow crossed her face, but she smiled, pushing through whatever memory had dampened her mood.
“Xavier saved me.” I whispered. “My husband would have killed me, but Xavier made sure he never hurt me again. Just like he promised that night when he…” I took a breath before letting it out and slumping while I smiled up at Carrie, needing to change the subject before I said too much. Or, worse, cried. “What and where is Oasis Number Two?”
“Oasis Number Two is where we’ve started going since they had to give Oasis Number One a thorough cleaning. Long story, but trust me when I tell you the son of a bitch deserved it.”