Total pages in book: 41
Estimated words: 37111 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 186(@200wpm)___ 148(@250wpm)___ 124(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37111 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 186(@200wpm)___ 148(@250wpm)___ 124(@300wpm)
“Right.” She snorted as she settled herself back against the pillows at the headboard. The covers were around her hips, covering her so she sat there in my big shirt. The neckline slipped down over one shoulder, but she didn’t seem to notice. The sleeves came past her elbows. “I wasn’t around my stepdad’s club much, but one thing I know about MCs is that you never show weakness. No way Sword accepts any kind of reprimand without protest. Not when he believes he’s in the right. If my mother manipulated him the same way she does everyone else, he’ll firmly believe he was in the right.”
“Maybe you’d be right if it had been your mother he’d strangled. But he didn’t. He strangled you. You’d never met him before, right?”
“No. I hadn’t.” One tear slipped from her cheek, and it nearly gutted me. I could already tell I hated her tears. She’d been holding back for the most part, but she needed to let it out. The problem was, when she did, it was going to be a special kind of hell for me. And it might make me unleash on Sword quicker than I should.
“You’re not your mother, Chloe. Doesn’t matter if you look like her or not. You’re not your mother. Sword knew that. He knows he fucked up.”
She swiped at her cheek, dashing away the tear. “Whatever.”
I sat on the bed next to her. When she didn’t immediately turn back to me, I reached for her chin, gently turning her head toward me with my fingers. “Look at me, Chloe. Really listen to me.” When she met my gaze, her eyes swimming with tears, her chin quivering, I felt like I’d been punched in the balls. “Fuck.” I shook my head a little, trying to shake off the need to kill my brother. “Sword will be taken care of. Yes, he’s our brother. He’s a long-time member of Bones with a high position in the club. You might think his transgressions won’t matter, but his status as Enforcer of Bones makes them even worse. He’s the one who’s supposed to prevent shit like that from happening. If it does, he’s the one who’s supposed to punish the transgressors. Cain will bring it up in Church and Sword will be punished. His punishment will not only match the crime, but his position in the club will make that punishment even worse.”
She shrugged, trying to look away, but I wouldn’t let her. “It doesn’t matter, Deadeye. It’s done. It’s over. I’m fine. I just want…” She took a shuddering breath. “I just…”
That was all I could stand. I pulled Chloe into my arms and held her close. She didn’t even try to push away. Just wrapped her arms around me and clung, her face pressed into my bare chest while she sobbed like her heart was breaking.
I just let her cry it out. I’d known this was coming, but the reality was so much worse than I’d expected. Each tear, each heart-wrenching sob, hardened my resolve to kill Sword. When she finally pulled away and just primal-screamed, I realized her grief was way more than she’d ever let on. This woman had truly thought her daddy would save her and was now faced with a reality where her daddy might just be the monster she should run away from instead of toward.
“I swear to you, Chloe, I’ll fix this.” I found myself giving her reassurances I had no idea if I could follow through with, but I damn sure intended to try. Starting with taking my grievances to Church.
It took her a while to get it all out, but I stayed with her through it all. When she’d finally worn herself out, she lay with her head on my chest, clinging to me like I was her lifeline. It took a little bit, but she finally drifted off to sleep. When she did, I rolled us over to spoon her. She went willingly, settling against me before she was still. Once her breathing was deep and even, I carefully extracted myself, tucking the covers around her securely.
I dressed quickly, keeping an eye on Chloe. If she woke, I’d get her back to sleep before I left her, because I wasn’t taking a chance on her trying to bail again. Or, more importantly, her being here miserable without me. She didn’t wake, thankfully. Poor thing had to be exhausted. I doubt she’d slept much since she’d left her home.
Leaving quietly, I found Sword outside our room looking grim as he met my gaze. “You heard?” If he did, then he knew what was coming. No man worth anything could have listened to Chloe grieving and not been affected.
“I did.”
I nodded and turned to head down the hall, knowing Sword would follow. Goose would have an eye on Chloe so she couldn’t leave without me knowing exactly when she left and which way she went, but I was hoping she’d give me a chance to prove I’d protect and defend her like she deserved.