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)
“The Coffin Nails aren’t like your parents,” Trig said, trying hard to remain patient. El had been through a lot tonight, so it made sense to cut him some slack. And it was true that they’d crossed paths with some unsavory communities back in the day. “They’re cool. You’ll see.”
“Cool? Seriously? How cool is a bunch of bikers with you being gay?”
Trig had to hold back a smile of triumph, because he didn’t want to seem like too much of a smartass. “Our prez is gay. And so is the guy who showed me the tricks that saved your life today,” he said as they stepped out into the corridor.
That must have really caught El by surprise, because he shut up for more than two seconds. “Oh. So… you have other boyfriends?” he muttered.
The food Trig had eaten before the vicious attack in El’s home had turned into ice in his stomach, but he shoved his hands down his pockets and shrugged. “What? They’re not my boyfriends.”
“Okay. Whatever. I’ll go.” El exhaled and pointed to the restrooms on their right. “See you in a bit.”
“El?”
When El glanced his way, Trig gestured to the jacket he’d been holding throughout the procedure at the doctor’s office. He half-expected El to take it, but the menace with a Mohawk turned around and let Trig put it on him, instantly sparking a new kind of yearning. For patches on El’s back stating Property of Trig. But he didn’t have the time to discuss his hopes.
Trig leaned against the wall once El disappeared. He could fix this. Fix that terrible rift in their relationship and bring El back to him. One step at a time. For now though, he needed to make sure they wouldn’t have to deal with the police, and chose Grim’s number.
His mentor was taking his sweet time, but just as Trig was about to call someone else, the line crackled, and the steady, masculine voice spoke his name. “I hope you have a good excuse to not be present at the president’s birthday party,” Grim said loudly, because the rock music playing in the background would have made him unintelligible otherwise.
Trig stalled, cursing under his breath. “El was in trouble. Tooth knows.”
Grim groaned. “Not this again. Either take the guy, or leave him be and move on.”
Trig’s lips stretched into a smile. For the first time, he had a sensible answer to that mantra. “I am taking him, but… um, there was a situation. Lots of paint spilled.”
“His place? How many buckets?” Grim asked, and judging by the change in volume, he was on the move already.
Trig relaxed and nodded at a passing nurse. “Three. And a large box.” Three bodies and a vehicle. “I’ll see you soon.”
“See you, brother. And congrats on your balls dropping,” Grim said and disconnected.
Trig shook his head with a happy chuckle. He bet everyone would know who he was coming home with by the time they arrived, and while he worried El might be standoffish at first, he would surely find his place within the club in due time.
With a little push on the door, he entered the men’s room. “I just spoke to a friend. He’ll have someone deal with the mess.”
The lack of answer didn’t worry him at first, but when he called El’s full name and got no answer, a warning bell rang in his head. He checked the three stalls to find them all empty, but then his attention turned to the open window.
Trig’s heart stopped. Could it be that someone had tracked El down already?
He ran out of the restrooms, already grabbing the car keys—
His keys were missing.
Trig stopped and let out a howl of frustration. If they were gone, El must have stolen them. That guy was like a rabid raccoon with sticky fingers.
Chapter 4 – Trig
There weren’t that many cars parked in front of the small local hospital. When one of them came to life, and its headlights cast a pale glow on the asphalt, Trig dashed forward, flying above the concrete slabs of the walkway in front of the main entrance.
The threat of unwanted attention kept him from shouting after the bastard, but that wouldn’t have stopped El anyway. His face flashed in the side window just as Trig reached the first vehicles in front of the single-storey building, but moments later, all he could see were the rear lights bidding him goodbye.
This was fucking bad, because El wouldn’t be heading back home. Once he reached the highway, he could go to Canada, Mexico, or Alaska for all Trig knew, and he’d be gone from Trig’s life for good.
Trig’s legs moved before his brain could even decide on it. He didn’t know this place well, but his training with Grim weighed heavily towards always staying aware of his surroundings, and he’d memorized the layout of the nearby streets as he’d driven here.