Total pages in book: 44
Estimated words: 40484 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 202(@200wpm)___ 162(@250wpm)___ 135(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40484 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 202(@200wpm)___ 162(@250wpm)___ 135(@300wpm)
El groaned and turned away from him under the pretense of picking trash off the pool table. “I’m not a child. Why would I be someone’s dependent?”
Lucky huffed, staring at him with a deepening frown. “So you’re just in it for biker dick and don’t want any responsibility?”
El rolled his eyes, but the question reminded him of how he’d demanded Trig to give up on his needs for him, and that left a bitter aftertaste in his mouth. “Listen, me and him have history. I’m not some boy he picked up on the side of the road.” Though that was kind of what he’d been years ago. “Maybe he should be my property, huh?” he offered, already knowing it was a dumb thing to say when he had no attachment to the club.
Misha whistled, but his smirk wasn’t mocking. “So you do want the responsibility.”
Lucky exhaled, his nose flaring when he stabbed his gaze into El’s flesh, as if he were able to read his heart. “Listen, Trig's a good man, and he deserves better than being jerked around. If you aren’t sure what you want, let him go, so he can find someone else and stop being so damn hung up on you. But if you stay, you’ll need to be a hundred percent in.”
El dropped the trash bag to the floor. “And you?” He stared at Misha, who glanced at him from behind the strands of hair falling into his face. “Are you Grim’s?”
Misha pouted. “It’s a complicated thing to answer—”
Lucky let out a screech and threw his arms in the air. “It’s not complicated! They’re literally married.”
“Married? To a guy? A biker?” El uttered. He’d been shocked when he found out some of the Coffin Nails were openly gay, but it was one thing to fuck a guy, and another—to get hitched, vows and all. But maybe he wouldn’t be so surprised if he’d taken the time to listen to what Trig had to say about the MC in the first place.
“Grim just wanted to make sure I’d be safe and taken care of if something happened to him,” Misha said in a frosty tone, but pushed his phone down his pocket and looked away with tension around his mouth.
Lucky shook his head. “Don’t listen to him. They’re both weird, and Misha likes to pretend he cares less than he actually does. Point is, life might seem daunting if you go through it on your own. I’ve been there and, just like you, I wanted to run, but there is nothing wrong in letting another person take charge and make sure you’re safe.”
El’s mouth dried. He felt inadequate to deal with the reality he was facing. Lucky was right in principle, but reality remained daunting in its unpredictability. Trig had proved himself trustworthy, but if El decided to rely on him, he could still end up hurt sometime down the line. Putting his trust in a band of outlaws came with an even greater risk of disappointment, but where would El be now if he hadn’t made some dicey choices in the past?
Broken by his parents’ decision to send him off to a facility for troubled youth? Uncertain about his sexuality? Locked in the cage of people’s expectations? It had taken a lot of guts to run away at fifteen, but despite all the hardship, he hadn’t regretted it once.
He’d taken so many risks to strive for happiness. What was one more?
“And what? Live my life as a sugar baby to a biker?” El said to dismiss the concept of being someone’s, though Trig would never see him as anything but his equal. El had no money, few skills, and always caused trouble. What could he offer a badass like Trig other than his companionship?
Lucky grabbed a soapy sponge out of a bucket in the corner and started scrubbing the bar counter. “No. You might not become a member, but you would be expected to take part in club life. The Coffin Nails will support you in return. It’s how mutual benefits work, I can’t believe I have to explain this. Basically, whatever skills you’ve got should be put to use, and you better be as loyal to the MC as you are to your man. Even that sourpuss over there,” he pointed to Misha with the sponge, “spends a lot of time handling the club’s IT issues.”
Misha pushed his glasses up his nose. “I mean, if your password is Coffin_Nailz with a ‘Z’, then you seriously need that help.”
Lucky’s face went slack, and he sucked in air. “You fucker… did you install some spyware on my laptop?”
“That’s not how it works,” Misha said and looked El’s way. “But Lucky isn’t lying. You’re expected to help, attend functions, and support your man. Whatever else you two decide on is only your business. But make a choice, and do it fast, before Trig does something stupid to protect a guy who ends up bailing on him in a week.”