Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 119011 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 595(@200wpm)___ 476(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119011 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 595(@200wpm)___ 476(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
He stilled with one foot in the corridor, the other hovering over the floor, dumbstruck when he saw Leo on the sofa with his arm resting behind a pretty young woman. She had long dark locks, shorts that only covered the very tops of her thighs, and a skimpy top. The fact that her lacy bra peeked out added insult to injury.
Zolt had already cooled down, but the sight was like a match to light the pile of coals in his gut. “I thought we agreed—no pussy in the house!”
The girl stared at him with big brown eyes, lips parting as if she was asking for Leo’s dick.
Leo got up as if Zolt burned him, and scowled, no doubt ready to spout shitty excuses, so Zolt saved him the effort and spoke, stepping into his own goddamn living room.
“The fuck is this even? I was gone for an hour, and you invite a hook-up? She a customer or something? Why is she even here, you horny bastard?!”
Leo took a deep breath and ran his fingers through the hair at the top of his head. “Hey, Zolt. This is Mona. My sister’s wife.”
The fire inside Zolt was extinguished with foam sprayed straight into his face, and he couldn’t have felt like more of an idiot. He’d almost outed Leo in his jealous fury.
And since when was he this jealous of anyone?
Chapter 17 - Leo
Leo stared at Zolt in disbelief. Seriously? Zolt thought Leo had spent the past hour trying to get laid? All Leo had been able to think about was the possibility of Zolt lying dead in some ditch because he said the wrong thing to the Jackals. The other half of his brain was too busy thinking about the fuckup with Joe. And now, all thanks to Zolt’s ‘brilliant’ improv, the Jackals thought the Smokeys had killed Trowley’s cousin. Just great. Fantastic start of the day.
Mona cleared her throat and extended her hand to Zolt. “Leo didn’t say you were a first class cockblocker, but don’t worry, I’m taken.”
Zolt’s shoulders dropped, and he rubbed the tip of his head before approaching Mona and shaking her hand. His gaze didn’t stray to Leo for even a moment. “I’m so sorry. I’m just… I have a lot on my mind today.”
Mona sighed. “That’s all right. I hope your doctor’s appointment went well.”
Zolt froze, and he only then glanced Leo’s way, realizing Leo must have given an excuse why Zolt, a man who was available for well-paid work 24/7, was out in the middle of the day.
“It’s all fine. Thank you. Has Leo offered you something to drink?”
Leo nodded. “Yep. It’s all good. Are you sure it’s fine?” He would find out how many guns Zolt had sold the Jackals sooner or later, but now that he saw Zolt in front of him, safe and sound, anger was slowly buzzing out of the earlier worry for him.
Zolt’s actions put Leo in an impossible position where he had to choose between loyalty to his club and Zolt’s life. And now Zolt had almost outed their relationship in front of Mona. What was that, even? A jealousy fit?
Zolt stiffened at the sound of footsteps and looked past Mona, his brows furrowing when Leo’s sister walked in. “Hi… is Mike in the store?” he asked, already gravitating toward the front of the building.
He might trust Leo around his things, but it was clear enough that he wasn’t happy about anyone else roaming free among his belongings.
“Nope,” Mike said, walking into the corridor with hands in his pockets.
Zolt did a double-take at him. “Are you growing a beard?”
Leo took a deep breath. This was hardly a time for exchanging grooming tips.
Mike ran his fingers through the longish hair on his chin. “Yeah, I might need some pointers from someone with more experience.” He pointed to Zolt’s face as if he hadn’t held a gun to it two weeks ago.
“I know a great barber,” Zolt said, as if he had no hard feelings about the whole thing.
Meaningless conversation that only floated on the surface of a lie shared between Leo and Zolt, and they couldn’t talk about it until everyone else was gone.
“So… what brings you here? As well-groomed as I am, I doubt you’ve come all this way to chat about facial hair,” Zolt said, making Mike smile. But it was Rain who spoke, scooping Mona under her arm.
“My lovely wife needs means to defend herself when I’m not around. We wanted to have a look at daggers and knives. Leo mentioned a collector recently left several good pieces with you.”
Zolt cleared his throat and placed his hands on his hips in a gesture Leo knew Zolt used to assert himself when nervous. This wasn’t good, and Leo had no way of finding out what had happened between the Jackals and him until all the other Hellers left the shop.