Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 28300 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 142(@200wpm)___ 113(@250wpm)___ 94(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 28300 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 142(@200wpm)___ 113(@250wpm)___ 94(@300wpm)
****
Tabitha was pissed off.
Daisy was avoiding her, and Rachel, well, she was also not very talkative. They stood at the kitchen counter peeling potatoes. As part of the agreement for the whole Christmas dinner hosting, they all had jobs to do.
Devil had come to her and asked for her help. He didn’t want Lexie hosting another Christmas this year. He wanted her to have more time to rest, so, he had accepted the invitation to Fort Wills.
The kids were at least having a blast. Skye, Nathan, and Jade were all blending in well. This was what she loved about being part of an MC, the family. The unity.
“Can I ask you a question?” Rachel asked.
“Sure, go ahead.” She was Nash and Sophia’s eldest.
“How did you know that Simon was the one?”
Tabitha laughed. “You’re joking, right? You saw Simon and us together. It wasn’t one of those split-second decisions. He’s been mine since we were kids.”
“Yeah, I know, but, er, did you ever have any doubts? You know, when he disappeared?”
“None,” Tabitha said.
“Right, of course, right.”
Tabitha turned toward Rachel and frowned. “Why?”
“No reason.”
She was about to ask more questions when Adam came into the kitchen carrying a large sack of potatoes.
“Sorry to do this to you ladies,” he said, placing them on the floor. “I don’t think you have to peel the whole bag, and this is just for dinner tonight. A full house, or so I’m told.”
Rachel had gone silent and immediately looked away, which had Tabitha suspicious.
No, there was no way.
Adam smiled, tapped them both on the shoulders, and left.
“You have a crush on Adam?” Tabitha asked.
“It’s nothing.”
“Rachel, you do know he’s older than you.”
“Shut up. It’s fine. It is nothing. Absolutely nothing. It’s not like he ever sees me. I need to use the bathroom.” Rachel dropped the potato she’d been peeling and wiped her hand on the towel.
What was going on with The Skulls? Tabitha felt so far out of the loop.
****
Later that night, after Angel had helped to settle everyone who had arrived, she stood in her bathroom doorway, looking at Lash. “Come on, say it,” she said.
“I’m not going to say anything.”
“You hate this.”
Lash held up his hands and shook his head. “I don’t hate anything. Everyone is here. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”
Angel finished with the moisturizing cream for her hands and walked to the bed, sliding in beside Lash. “You’re sure?”
“Don’t get me wrong, having them here is crazy and it’s a risk, but it’s what you wanted.”
“Why is it a risk?”
“That many guys. Do you know how many fights I’m going to have to break up?”
“First of all. Not everyone is here, and second, they’re grown men.”
“Which is going to make it worse.”
She sighed. “You love it. I can tell.”
“A house full of bikers, or you alone on a magical beach, I don’t know. I think I’d take you, us, alone.”
She rolled her eyes. “We wouldn’t be alone.”
“We’ve got some prospects, babe. Trust me, I’d have some of the guys on babysitting duty, and you and I would be alone.”
Angel was tempted to let him have his little fantasy, but she knew her husband. “Okay, so you would allow for us to be alone, just the two of us, for Christmas. You wouldn’t get to see our babies opening their presents, or enjoying a feast, hanging out, getting completely bloated on too much cake and chocolate?” Lash loved his Christmases with his kids and family. She knew it was always important to him.
He cupped her cheek. “You know what I think?”
“What do you think?”
“That you have the best ideas.”
She burst out laughing. “Is that how you’re going to save yourself?”
“I wasn’t thinking about everything else.”
“So, you’re happy they’re here?”
He groaned. “Okay, maybe happy is too strong of a word. I’m not sad that they’re here, but you, know, I’m waiting to see what happens.”
Angel pressed a kiss to his lips. “Why don’t we stop worrying so much? This is going to be an amazing Christmas.”
She stared into his eyes and waited to see what he’d say.
“You’re right.”
“Are you just agreeing with me so that I’ll shut up?”
“No, I’m agreeing with you because you’re right, and they’re family. Chaos Bleeds is family. Tiny told me today that Ned isn’t going to make it.”
“Ned’s sick?”
Ned Walker was Eva’s dad, but he also ran an illegal fighting ring. Angel liked the older man, but he wasn’t fond of the direction the clubs had taken. She didn’t know the full details, but she was aware that Ned was responsible for the drug and gun runs the club used to take. Lash had put a stop to it. As had Devil.
“No. That dude is fucking immortal. He’s not coming back. Sticking around Butch and the club.”
“How do Tiny and Eva feel about that?” she asked.