Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 132332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 529(@250wpm)___ 441(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 529(@250wpm)___ 441(@300wpm)
“You know.” He waves his arm up and down. “You’re all ultra-alpha and stuff.”
“Ultra-alpha?” I squint at him. “That sounds like the name of a deodorant.”
“You could snap me like a crayon if you wanted to.” He flicks his finger against my arm.
“Believe me, there’ve been days…”
“I don’t know why I’m bothering.” He smirks. “The blood loss must be making me loopy.”
“Hey, I think I understand what you’re saying.” I pat his leg. “I’ll always look out for you.”
“What’s up, Scribbles?” Wrath knocks me out of his way. “You need a lift inside?”
Carter chuckles. “And he could snap you like a twig. So at least there’s balance in the universe.”
I laugh with him, because it’s not a lie. “What’s higher than ultra?”
He shrugs. “Mega?”
Wrath’s gaze shifts between the two of us. “Sparky sneak out here with some of his special brownies for you two, or something?”
“Carter!” Charlotte races down the front steps. “Marcel, where is he?”
I push the door open wider. “Waking up from his nap,” I say.
She reaches my side and throws her arms around me. “Thank you.”
I wrap my arms around her. “Easy,” I groan.
She steps back, eyes widening as they skate over the blood caked into my shirt and pants. “Well, I guess we should start a bonfire.”
Wrath nods as if Charlotte’s his star student. “Sunshine knows the drill.”
“Most of it is my blood,” I explain.
“What happened?” She starts pulling at my shirt. “Ugh.” She turns toward Carter. “Are you okay?”
“Not gonna lie, sis. I’ve been better.” He holds out his foot, showing off his bloody sock. “It hurts.”
“I’m so sorry.” Anguish twists through her apology.
The need to punch Merlin for causing all this suffering singes my knuckles. I scan the parking lot, searching for him. There. He backed his bike against the tall wooden fence that marks off the woods from the clubhouse’s parking area at the top of the driveway.
Must be concerned about making a quick getaway.
He should be.
But I can’t muster any annoyance with him. He stepped up tonight. Handled Whitey’s execution without question. Didn’t even flinch when June explained he’d been played for a fool in front of all of us.
Bianca steps next to Charlotte.
“B, are you all right?” Carter slides out of the truck and the two of them wrap their arms around each other. After a few whispered words, she helps him hobble into the clubhouse.
Charlotte slams the truck doors shut.
Slow boot steps grind over the parking lot. I glance up. Merlin approaches, eyes on Charlotte. The urge to stand between them burns down to my soul but I force myself to stay still. She can handle him. And I’m right here if he steps out of line.
“You gonna let me talk to my niece?” Merlin stops in front of us.
Charlotte squeezes my hand. “I’m standing right here, Uncle Chuck. Talk to me.”
I keep my expression blank.
Merlin blows out a breath. “Suppose it can’t get any worse.” He fixes his eyes on Charlotte’s face. “I kept my promise.”
“You did.” She gives him a tight nod. “Thank you.”
“Would you hate it if I said I’m thinking of sticking around? And that I’d like to see you and Carter more often?”
“Why?” She tilts her head, studying him. “Another MC sees value in Carter, and you need to figure out why?”
Ouch. Pride flows through me. My woman’s shrewd and not afraid to speak her mind.
Merlin blinks as if he hadn’t even realized that was the reason until Charlotte said it. “No. I’ve had a lot of time to think out on the road.”
Bullshit. I hadn’t bothered to tell Charlotte the shitty way Merlin had talked about Carter when he sat at the table with us. Don’t need to. She knows who her uncle is. Whatever epiphany he claims he had while he was out on the road is pure fabrication.
“I’d like to be closer to family.” His gaze shifts to me. “Your club going to let me settle down in Slater?”
Sure, make me look like a controlling asshole trying to keep him away from his niece. “Depends.”
“I’ll still be a nomad as far as my club’s concerned but that’ll be my home base. Nothing more.”
I shrug, not willing to commit until I’ve talked to my club.
Wrath slaps Merlin’s shoulder. “We’ll find you a room if you want to stay here tonight. We have a new clubhouse down in Empire but it’s a long ride after the night we’ve had.”
Merlin glances at the clubhouse. “Yeah, I’d appreciate that.”
“Good.” Wrath steers him away from us. “I’ll go over the rules of the house with you.”
Charlotte bites her lip as Wrath leads her uncle away. “Oh, Chuck’s going to love that,” she whispers.
“You think he was sincere?” I ask.
“Too soon to tell.” She shrugs. “He’s acted remorseful before. I’m sure right now he believes what he’s saying, but Chuck will always look out for Chuck first.”