Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 69875 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 349(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69875 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 349(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
It wasn’t about the girl in the end. We became fast friends. All the men here, all my brothers are men I would die for. Rebel being my VP. Racer who’s the youngest Road Captain the club has had. Banks, who handles our money, and Hadrian, also known as Rev, our Chaplain. Our Enforcer, Brute, is a dangerous motherfecker, and Sully who comes and goes because he’s always out doing clean-up. Tye is the newest member, but he’s patched, and I’m proud to have him in the family. He’s our Tech, and he’s feckin’ good at what he does. Those are my men, and I would be lost without them.
“She’s hidin’,” I tell Rebel. “I don’t like when I see secrets in someone’s eyes.”
“Aye? You’ve been staring into her eyes, have ye?” He nudges me with his shoulder, and I’m tempted to knock him the feck out again. Wouldn’t be the first time, and I doubt it will be the last. I glare at him, my mouth tight with frustration. “Feck off,” he throws out. “I know what you’re like. I can tell when someone’s got to ye.”
“She’s not got to me in any way, Rebel,” I tell him. “When there’s a stranger in our home, I must be vigilant. I let down my guard, and shite hits the fan.” There was only one person, a long time ago, I allowed in. And it ended badly. Not even a month into our connection, I would never call it a relationship, I found her with someone else. Not just anyone, but the president of a rival club.
“Not everyone is out to hurt you,” Rebel informs me, his tone soft, gentle, as if he’s talking to a child who’s angry, throwing a tantrum. I look over at him and arch a brow. “I’m serious. I’m not saying you should trust her right off the mark, but ye can’t live yer life alone.”
“Aye, I can. You’re just telling me this because she’s a pretty wee thing. A fox, cunning, wily.”
“There you go.” Rebel shakes his head as he turns to leave. “Now why don’t ye go catch a fox and tame it.”
I listen to his boots walk off down the hallway, and I decide to follow the wee fox. Her dark hair has one lock of deep red that’s only visible when the sun is shining on it.
When I reach the garden, I stop beside her. “Lovely day.” Inwardly, I cringe at the awkward shite people talk about.
“It’s nice. I didn’t expect a garden like this so close to a large city. London is so different,” she tells me. “I’m guessing the centre of the city isn’t far from here?” Those eyes, those feckin’ eyes look right into me as if she’s trying to find a path to my soul. I wonder what she’d do if she found it.
“Aye, it’s about fifteen minutes up the road,” I tell her.
I haven’t been out there in a while. Maybe she wants to go shopping with the girls. I should get Racer to take Callia and Miren into town. They can buy whatever they need. One of the men will have to accompany them. I don’t need Miren runnin’ off.
“I’d like to go sometime. Maybe you could take me?” she offers with hope shining in those blue-grey eyes. They change colour as the sun is hidden by the clouds that have blown over. I can’t spend more time with her. I’m already too feckin’ fascinated by the girl.
“I’ll get one of the brothers to take ye and Callia,” I tell her.
Turning, I go to walk away from her, needing to put space between us. But her hand lands on my arm.
“I understand you don’t like me,” she says then, and I want nothing more than to argue that fact. It’s the complete opposite, but she can’t know how I feel. My need to be close to her, to protect her has taken over, and I don’t know what the feck to do about it.
“What makes ye think I don’t like ye?”
“I can tell. I’ve always been good at reading how people react to me, to situations. It’s not difficult to see you don’t want me here.”
She stares at me. I wonder if she’s willing me silently to disagree. I can’t. As much as I think she’s breathtakingly beautiful, I can’t give her what she needs. If she is innocent, if she is just a victim in Bragan’s games, then the truth will come out. But I can’t trust her.
“My family are my life,” I inform her. “Havin’ ye here doesn’t change that. I’ve helped many a youngen to find their way. It’s nothing new. But I’m careful as to who I let in, who I allow to see the inner workin’s of my world.”
“I understand. I’m not a threat,” she tells me.