Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 36564 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 146(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36564 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 146(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
“You might be surprised. She’s not had an easy time of it, but she’s resilient. She’s learning Spanish from Elena. Venus has been teaching her Russian. Also, I talked to Chief the other day. He helped us get her out. Took a likin’ to that girl.”
That surprised me. “Chief? I mean, the guy’s pretty amiable and never refuses to help when he’s needed, but doesn’t he pretty much keep to himself?”
“Yep. But he’s been coming to see Annie. To watch out for her. I think he comes here to talk to her when the diner isn’t busy.” He leaned back in the booth, one leg stretched out away from the table and one arm laid over the back of the booth. “He’s teaching her his language. Says she’s a fast learner.”
“Why me? You must know at least a dozen guys who’d be good for her. I’m way too fuckin’ old for her.”
“Yep. I could think of at least eight off the top of my head. Unfortunately for you, Venus thinks you’re the one she needs.” When I opened my mouth to question why, Piston held up his hand to wave me off. “I have no idea why, so don’t ask. I just do what she tells me to do. Go where she tells me to go.”
“You do hear how pathetic you sound, right?”
“Fuck you too.” He grinned just as Annie stepped up to our table, her little order pad in hand.
“Hi, Piston.” She gave the older man a warm, genuine smile. “Is Venus coming?”
“Not today, sweetheart. But she said to give you her love.”
That seemed to please Annie more than it should have. Her smile got impossibly wider and she looked so happy it was almost painful. “Tell her thank you. And she has my love too. I can never thank you guys enough.” She ducked her head, tucking a long, silky-looking lock behind her ear.
“Honey, you never have to thank us. Though if you really wanted to do something for us, I have a suggestion.”
“Anything, Piston.” She actually looked excited.
“You see this guy?” When her gaze flitted to mine with an uncertain look, Piston continued, “He’s in charge of security for our club.”
“Grim Road. Right?”
“That’s right. I think you met him earlier today?”
“Yes.” She gave me a shy smile. “Dominic.”
“Annie and I are old friends now,” I said, pretending we hadn’t just been talking about her. “Piston tells me you’re learning a few different languages.”
“Oh, yes!” Sweet God, the girl actually bounced on her toes in excitement. There was this strange combination of child and woman about her. Like everything was brand-new and fun, and she was eager to partake. “I’m learning Spanish from Elena, Russian from Venus, and Chief is teaching me Navajo. That one’s hard, but so much fun! Chief said I’m picking it up pretty well since I’ve only been learning a couple of weeks.”
“Look, Annie,” Piston continued. “I haven’t told Dom everything. But, given your situation, me and Venus would feel better if you went to stay at the Grim Road compound instead of at the motel. Marge has done a fantastic job since she bought it, but you’re still alone, even with all the extra security she had installed. Would you be willing to go back with Dom? He’s got an extra bedroom in his home inside the compound.”
She gave me a hesitant look before answering Piston. “Do you really think it’s necessary? I don’t want to be more of a bother.”
“Necessary? Probably not. I’d just rather be safe than sorry. Give Crush and Byte time to look into that camp and make sure they don’t decide to come after you.”
“I don’t think they will,” she whispered. She’d grown pale as Piston talked. I’d noticed it and was pretty sure Piston noticed it too. “Not after what I did.”
Piston raised a hand. “Honey, anything you did was deserved by whomever you did it to. What do you say? It will make me worry less.”
I raised an eyebrow at Piston, who might as well have said, “Take pity on an old man, will you?” Yeah. I couldn’t wait to tell Venus about this.
“You promise you have room, Dom? I don’t want to take up space you need or be in your way.”
“Just me in a two-bed, two-bath house. We can see as little or as much of each other as we like and have as much privacy as each of us needs. You’d be doing me a favor, actually. I’ve got a dog and a cat. They both like being inside, but I’m not leaving them in the house when I’m not there. If I get tied up and can’t get home, I don’t want ‘em stuck in there. If you stay there, you can let them in and out as they want.”
Annie’s eyes got wide and round, her mouth forming an “O” of surprise. “You have a cat?”