Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 132031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 660(@200wpm)___ 528(@250wpm)___ 440(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 660(@200wpm)___ 528(@250wpm)___ 440(@300wpm)
“I’m sorry,” Dev said as he booted the kickstand into place and dismounted the bike. “I know I freaked everyone out and the blame’s all on me.” The biker was full of remorse as he came straight toward Cash.
Cash threw out his arm, not allowing Dev to pass. They were having this conversation right there, whether Dev liked it or not. Instead of bypassing Cash, Dev walked straight into him, cupping a hand around his neck, drawing Cash forward. It startled him as Dev pressed his lips against Cash’s closed mouth. It wasn’t a chaste simple kiss, nor a deep passion-filled kiss. It was a sampling of something sweet and possessive that Cash didn’t participate in but allowed to happen.
He refused to be led by his dick for another second.
But the crazy organ inside his chest disavowed that declaration.
His cock did too. Treasonous bastard.
They double-teamed him. His rational brain against his heart and that hardening appendage that he was about to cut off for life. The steady growing organ behind his fly slowed at the thought of never being satisfied again. Good.
“Don’t be too mad at me,” Dev whispered against his cheek. Cinnamon on Dev’s breath caught him by surprise. Maybe the biker had prepared to talk so closely to him. “I was at the jailhouse with Keyes.”
His cock completely deflated at the lie Dev tried to use. His resolve built faster than any other time before. Dev was going into witness protection. “No, you weren’t. We had people there, watching for you. You can’t lie to me like that anymore. I’m done.”
Dev chuckled as if Cash’s threat level was nothing more than a tremor registering as a one on the Richter scale. He stayed in Cash’s personal space. “I promise you, baby, that’s where I was. You aren’t ever gonna find me unless I wanna be found, and I wanna be found by you. I have a new deal to make. Come upstairs with me. Let’s talk about it in private. Just me and you.” Dev’s eyes slid to Cash’s lips where he bent and placed another lighter kiss.
Dev threaded their fingers together as Cash shook his head no and refused the handhold. “I’m tired of the games.”
“Me too.” This time, Dev did walk around Cash, keeping an eye on him to make sure he followed.
Shanna and Joe waited in the inside hallway, each holding up a wall as they hung back. Their frustration at Dev’s disappearance was apparent in their glaring gazes. Dev did something remarkable, shocking Cash. He apologized to each of them as he passed by, promising to do better in the future.
The pieces of their lives were shifting again.
Shanna raised her brow at Cash, who shrugged, “Stay here, be ready. He’s not going to like the next few minutes. Shoot him if he tries to run.” He followed Dev up the stairs, speaking loud enough for Dev to hear.
Every member of the team deserved an explanation. Something more than Cash falling at Dev’s feet, begging for whatever crumbs Dev was willing to give him.
Dev didn’t stop his forward momentum until he came to his bedroom. Cash stood in the doorway, watching as Dev went for each of the cameras inside the room. There were two. He gathered them then dropped both to the floor and stomped on each one with his heavy work boot. They crushed easily under the weight.
“Goddammit,” Cash swore, knowing several thousands of dollars had just been destroyed. He threw his hands in the air. He loved a crazy man who he was going to have to send away. Honestly, he wasn’t sure there was a place far enough away to hide Dev, to keep him safe. He was a menace to himself.
“You’re too volatile. Witness pro—”
Dev cut him off, talking louder than Cash. “We don’t need those cameras anymore. You take care of Keyes for me. Get him out of this and out of the club for that matter. And when this ends, I keep my kids and everything else we talked about before with their birth records, then I’ll give my oath to find your problems in the club. I’ll be all in for your operation. No more games. I’ll handle it.”
A flush rose over his skin, an angry heat spread through his body, swallowing him whole. “You’ve already said you were all in.”
“Did I?” Dev answered, tilting his head as if assessing the situation. “That assumption was on you. Truthfully? I never agreed, no matter what I implied. Not fully. I was ridin’ the line, tryin’ to find a way out.”
Cash’s stomach turned. If he’d had anything to eat today, he might actually have thrown up. Realization crashed against the frustration, leaving a blessed numbness behind. From this point forward, he refused to hold back a single word.
“I’ve given you everything you’ve asked for, and everything I am as a man, and you’ve been fucking with me? Are you serious?”