Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 126840 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 634(@200wpm)___ 507(@250wpm)___ 423(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 126840 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 634(@200wpm)___ 507(@250wpm)___ 423(@300wpm)
His dog didn’t know her clothes were gone. He didn’t know her makeup wasn’t rolling around in his bathroom drawers anymore. He didn’t know her earrings weren’t on her nightstand and her shoes weren’t on the floor in the closet for either of them to trip on.
He didn’t know the crystal butterflies she’d put on the shelves by the TV were packed up and had been sent away.
He didn’t know she wasn’t coming back.
He’d get used to it eventually.
“Oof!” Core grunted as Nanook planted his back paws in Core’s thighs and leaped off.
He twisted his neck as Nanook started barking at the front door.
He came back to Core, then he raced again to the door, now not barking.
He was howling.
“Fuck,” Core mumbled and threw his legs over the side of the couch.
He shouldn’t do this. If it was Jehovah’s Witnesses, he probably didn’t have it in him to be cool.
But Nanook kept flipping his shit so Core walked to the door.
He got there just as the bell could be heard over his dog’s racket.
He turned the lock, opened it, and stared at Hellen standing outside.
And that was when his chest caved in.
She looked beautiful, and she looked like shit.
She’d lost weight, her eyes were sunken in, her skin didn’t look healthy.
He’d done that to her.
Fuck.
Nanook didn’t see any of this. He went nuts, jumping on her and barking with excitement.
She bent to give him attention.
It was hoarse when he said, “Hellen.”
She remained bent to his dog but tipped her head back to look up at him. “Can I come in?”
He had no idea what she was doing there, but it didn’t matter. Whatever she had to deliver, he’d take, because whatever it was, all he knew was, he deserved it.
He stepped back.
She stepped in, Nanook dancing and twirling around her, so happy she was there he didn’t give her any openings to get her hands on him when she stopped in the living room.
Core let this go on for a while, then he ordered, “Boy. Sit.”
Nanook sat instantly by her leg, lifting his snout Core’s way with a look on his face that said, See Dad, Mom’s home.
And another blade in his gut.
Christ, was he going to be able to get through this?
She scratched the fur on top of Nanook’s head, her eyes on Core.
“Did I miss packing something?” he asked.
For some reason, his question made her startle, a flicker shimmered in her eyes, there and gone.
“I’m here to return something,” she replied.
“You can give my shit away,” he muttered.
“You didn’t leave anything at mine. We never really spent much time there.”
Core had no idea what to say to that, but it made him wonder what she was returning if he didn’t leave anything.
She didn’t make him wait long.
She opened the big bag that was on her shoulder, reached in and pulled out a copy of Resurrection’s bylaws.
What the fuck?
She held it out to him. “Beck gave it to me to read.”
Woodenly, he took it, shocked as shit any brother, much less their president, handed their confidential rules and regs to someone outside the club.
He then tossed it in the chair, and tried to hide the pissed he was now feeling when he asked, “Beck spoke to you?”
“Yes.”
“Sorry about that,” he murmured. “I’ll talk to him. Won’t happen again.”
“Why didn’t you tell me your father killed your mother?”
Blindsided by that blow, he took a step back, didn’t make himself, he just did it.
Nanook, feeling the abrupt charge hit the room, got on all four paws and let out a soft, uncertain woof.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” she repeated.
“Same reason I didn’t tell you we beat down Rosalie,” he told her. “I’m weak.”
“Really?” she asked dubiously.
“Yup,” he answered.
She studied him.
He could see plain she didn’t buy it, though what she thought he was selling, he had no clue.
“Listen—” he began.
“Beck told me everything.”
“I’m getting that.”
“Maybe not everything, everything. But he told me about your parents. And he told me about his brother and his mom.”
Core did a slow blink.
Outside his club and his woman, Core didn’t think Beck told that to anybody.
“Did you not think I’d…?” She flapped a hand beside her. “I don’t know. Get it? Understand?”
“I thought you’d leave me.”
“Not telling me accomplished that.”
“Didn’t miss that part, babe.”
That time, her eyes straight up flashed, and his heart spiked, coming alive for the first time in a week and a half.
There was his girl.
Or…
Not his girl anymore.
His heart went dead again in his chest.
“Why didn’t you tell me your dad did that to your mom?” she pushed. “We talked about them. Why didn’t you give it all to me?”
His hands started shaking.
Fuck.
It was happening.
He ticked his head to chase it away.
She misinterpreted the movement.
“You’re not going to explain now?” she asked.
“I’m not proud of it.”
“What do you mean?”
“Not a lotta women love it when their man comes from stock where his daddy murdered his mom with his fists.”