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)
“Mother, you need to leave.”
If there was a God, I wished he would just shoot me now, because that absolutely could not be Chloe coming up behind me. Sting gave me a raised eyebrow and tried to hide his smile. I saw it anyway.
“Looks like Warlock ain’t the only one havin’ woman troubles.” Cain sighed. “She embarrasses you like Bev’s doing Warlock, you’re on your own, brother.” I wasn’t, really, but Cain had to say something.
“I’m not here to embarrass anyone.” Chloe stayed behind me, taking my left hand in hers and putting her other hand on my back. She was still visible to Warlock and Bev, but I was still solidly between her and the other couple. “I just know my mother. She won’t leave until she has what she wants. And she wants me.” Chloe gripped my hand tighter, not letting go. “I’m not going, of course.” I glanced down at her, and she smiled up at me.
“Chloe’s my ol’ lady.” I raised my chin and put my shoulders back proudly. “She’s staying with me.”
“I see.” That from Sting. He addressed Chloe then. “You’re good with that plan? You want to stay with this guy?”
“I am. He’s been good to me. The club, too.”
“Bet your first meeting with your father was more than a little awkward. He on board with you staying here?” Bev’s words were hateful. Like she knew exactly the number she’d done on Sword and knew he’d hate Chloe on sight. Which he kind of had.
“It was, thanks to the fact you never told him I existed.”
Warlock glanced sharply at Bev. “You said he nearly beat you to death when he found out you were carrying his child.
Bev shrugged. “Water under the bridge. All that matters now is bringing Chloe home so she can be a proper woman to Sting. Your son and president of Iron Tzars.”
“I never agreed to that, Bev,” Sting said softly. “I was seeing where you went with the scheme, but I was never giving in to your demands simply because you demanded them. I’d considered taking her only to make sure she was safe and away from your influence. Fortunately, Chloe knows her own mind. She wanted nothing to do with any of it, so she fled.” Sting grinned at Chloe. “I admire you for that, though I wish you’d talked to me in private and told me you weren’t on board with your mother’s plan. I’d have seen you safely away from her.”
“I wasn’t sure how that would work. Last thing I wanted to do was end up in a worse situation, but --” She clamped her mouth shut and looked up at me, wide-eyed. Yeah. She didn’t want to out what had happened when she’d first met Sword. I wasn’t sure why, but I hoped it might be to protect the other man. Or Bones. I got the feeling Sting might not take kindly to the way Sword had treated Chloe at that first meeting.
Sting looked from Chloe to me. “Problem?”
“Not now. Suffice it to say things didn’t go off smoothly in the beginning. But, as you can see, Chloe is content to be here. She’s my woman, and I’ll take care of her.”
“Chloe, come to me! Now! Stop this foolishness and come home.” Bev held out her hand to Chloe like she fully expected Chloe to take it.
“I’m not going anywhere, Mom.”
“Of course, you are. Right this instant.”
Chloe stiffened. I glanced down at her, and her eyes flashed with anger. “I don’t know what scheme you have planned, but you can count me out of it. I’ve been your pawn my entire life. Me and Warlock. I tried to keep my distance from him because I knew that if we formed any kind of relationship, you’d just use it against us both. He’s a good person, Mother. You had a man who really loved you, and you’ve driven him to this. He’s leaving a life he loves because he let you manipulate him. Just like you do everyone in your life. Like you did Sword. Like you did me.” She shook her head, stepping away from me slightly and taking a step forward. My hackles rose slightly, but I knew she had to do this herself. Whether I liked it or not. “I’m done. You’re not going to use me to get to Sting or the club.” She tilted her head. “That’s it, isn’t it? You’re after the club. Iron Tzars.”
Sting’s gaze snapped to Chloe. As did Cain’s. “Explain,” Sting snapped.
“Sword said she worked for the CIA or something when he knew her. Wanted information about Argent Tech.” Data delivered the information as if he saw where Chloe was going with this. The man probably knew everything the Tzars were into, including stuff he hadn’t disclosed to us because it wasn’t important information at the time.