Total pages in book: 63
Estimated words: 57341 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 287(@200wpm)___ 229(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57341 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 287(@200wpm)___ 229(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
My heart squeezed in my chest for her.
I pulled out my phone, shooting a text to Joey, ignoring Jesup, who was watching me. I didn’t answer to him anymore, and he knew better than to overstep the boundaries that I had set.
River:
Made it.
“A kid?” Jesup asked as I locked my phone, giving him my attention again.
I shrugged. “Red didn’t want his kid, and the mom passed away in childbirth. Adelaide agreed to take care of him and adopt him before I could even form a proper response in my head, so here we are.” I turned and reached into the backseat to grab our duffel bag and the diaper bag.
“You know, I never imagined you as a domesticated kind of man,” Jesup admitted as we walked toward the clubhouse, Sam and Vern following closely behind us. “Never would have pictured you doing half the shit you’ve done, actually.”
I snorted. Yeah, me neither, Jesup.
But I wouldn’t change my decisions.
I stepped into the clubhouse, my eyes instantly landing on Adelaide. She was sitting on the couch against the wall, Zyla sitting beside her as they talked quietly while Axel sucked on his bottle, his blue eyes running over his mother’s face.
“You two can have Adelaide’s old room in the back. Tristan wouldn’t ever let anyone else move into it,” Jesup informed me.
I nodded then strode off down the hall to drop our bags off. I pulled my phone out to read Joey’s message. When it concerned Adelaide, he was quick as fuck to respond.
Joey:
Tell her to hold me with her and to live for you.
I sighed, not bothering to respond. I was still pissed about the shit he had pulled with her, but I was forcing myself to shove it aside. It had calmed her, pretty much breathed life back into her because emotionally, she’d been dying in my arms.
I quickly walked back out into the main area, then hurried over to Adelaide. Zyla got up, letting me have her spot. As soon as I sat down, Adelaide leaned against my side for support, and I wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pressing my lips to her forehead. Unlocking my phone, I showed her Joey’s message. She sighed softly.
“I’m sorry about what he did,” she quietly apologized. She cast her eyes down to her lap. “And I’m sorry for allowing him.”
I tucked my index finger beneath her chin and tilted her beautiful face up to mine. Leaning down, I softly slid my lips along hers. She released a quiet moan, her body leaning further into mine.
“He helps you breathe, darlin’. I might be pissed about what he did, but I can’t hate either of you for it,” I assured her. “Sometimes, you just need both of us to remind you of who you are.”
She frowned up at me. “I just need you.”
I shook my head at her. “You need him, too, darlin’, and that’s okay. He saved your life in numerous ways. I’ll never take that from you, and I’ll always fight to keep him with you.”
She sniffled then, her eyes welling up with tears before she blinked them back. “I love you,” she choked out.
I smoothed my lips over hers again. “And I love you,” I promised. “With every fucking beat of my heart.”
Jesup stepped out of the chapel and pulled his phone down from his ear. “That was Joey,” Jesup informed us. “He’s on his way over here.”
I rolled my eyes as my phone vibrated in my lap.
Joey:
I’m coming to help solve this shit. I may not like Tristan, but Adelaide deserves justice for this shit happening to him. I need to know that you’ll back me up.
River:
As long as it’s for her, I’ll back you up in basically anything.
Adelaide’s phone went off in her lap. I watched as she adjusted her legs so that they were bent, her feet on the couch. She adjusted Axel so he was settled against her thighs. Then, she grabbed her phone, unlocking the screen. I glanced over to see Joey’s name at the top of her message screen.
Brushing my lips to Adelaide’s temple, I looked up at Zyla, letting her have this moment with him. “How have you been?” I asked her.
She shrugged. “Fine, though it’s been a hell of a lot more boring around here without Adelaide to spice things up,” she teased. A small smile tilted my woman’s lips, but I knew it wasn’t because of Zyla.
She was smiling because Joey was reminding her in his own way to keep him with her while she lived for me.
Jesup snorted. “Woman, you’re enough for me to handle, and then some,” he reminded her, drawing her against his side.
“Who shot him?” Adelaide asked out of the blue as she stared down at Axel, who was laying across her lap now, his blue eyes locking on her dark ones.