Total pages in book: 122
Estimated words: 120475 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 602(@200wpm)___ 482(@250wpm)___ 402(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120475 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 602(@200wpm)___ 482(@250wpm)___ 402(@300wpm)
Kira and Isaak show up fifteen minutes later, and again, for the first time in forever, it feels like the whole gang’s back together. Well, minus my brother and Anna, but I’m not letting anything dim my glow tonight.
Kira doesn’t chat long—she’s still doing research—so she wanders off to watch an intense scene happening in the corner. Isaak stays seated with us, but every other moment, his eyes lift to clock her with an intensity I’m not used to seeing on his face. Has the great and stoic Isaak finally actually fallen for someone? I didn’t know he could be so human. It makes me happy for him.
The low golden glow of Carnal’s lounge casts soft shadows over our group, and the air hums with warmth, familiar voices overlapping. I stretch out, drumming my fingers against Bane’s thigh, stealing a glance up at him. He’s relaxing next to me, all composed power, hand draped over the armrest like a king surveying his court.
He glances my way, dark eyes heavy. It takes everything in me not to squirm in anticipation. I know that look. He has plans for me tonight. Plans I’m dying to uncover.
I know he’s drawing this part out, and it feels so good to be completely at ease and able to follow his lead. I allow myself to enjoy the anticipation while I catch up with my crew.
I turn to Marcus, but something catches my eye.
Across the room, near the bar, a man is watching me. Medium height with brown hair and unremarkable features, but something about him sticks in my mind, like a song I can’t quite place.
A prickle of unease crawls up my spine.
I swear I’ve seen him before. Maybe hanging around outside the women’s shelter? But that’s halfway across town. He could just be an old hook-up.
The man looks away, focusing on the flogging scene in front of him.
I shake it off. I’m just being paranoid. All medium-height brown-haired guys start to look the same after a while, right?
Still, I shift slightly in my seat, angling myself so that Bane is between me and my unwanted observer, just in case.
I look back at Marcus. He looks wrecked, rubbing his temples as if it might erase the exhaustion pooling under his eyes.
“Alright, Marcus,” I say, nudging his knee with my foot. “Give me the update. Work still eating your soul? And how’s Elle?”
Marcus groans, rolling his glass between his palms. “Work is… work. Non-stop, never-ending. The partners keep dumping cases on me like I don’t have a three-year-old at home demanding constant entertainment.”
I make a face. “You’re so adult with all your…” I wave a hand, “Adulting.”
Isaak snorts. “Still no nanny?”
Marcus scoffs. “Don’t even get me started. The last one quit after two weeks. Said Elle was ‘too intense.’”
Quinn smirks. “Did she climb them like a jungle gym?”
“Probably.” Marcus sighs. “I swear, she’s got more energy than a caffeinated squirrel. I don’t know where she gets it. Definitely not from me.”
I grin. “Well, she is three. And adorable. And smarter than half the people at your firm, probably.”
“No arguments there,” Marcus mutters, but there’s pride tucked into the exhaustion.
The conversation shifts to Caleb, who’s been uncharacteristically quiet. He’s nursing his drink, thumb tracing slow circles against the glass. I know that look. Something’s on his mind.
“Alright, Caleb,” I prod, arching a brow. “Spill. What’s going on in the kingdom of Carnal?”
He exhales through his nose, tilting his head. “Business is good. Better than good, actually. New members, packed weekends. But...” He hesitates, something flickering behind his eyes. “I got a letter.”
I feel the shift in the air. Marcus leans forward, Quinn’s eyes narrow, and I soften my voice. “From Silas?”
Caleb adores his stepfather, who’s been locked up in federal prison for the last eight years for armed robbery.
Caleb nods, setting his glass down with a quiet clink. “Yeah. He wants me to visit.”
A beat of silence passes between us. Marcus and Quinn exchange a glance, and I chew the inside of my cheek.
“That’s… surprising,” Marcus finally says. “I mean, you haven’t gone before. I figured—”
“What?” Caleb interrupts, his jaw tightening. “That I don’t care?”
“No,” Marcus says carefully.
Isaak tries interjecting. “We just thought maybe you were angry at him.”
Caleb scoffs, shaking his head. “I could never be angry at Silas. You don’t understand. He did what he had to do. He always does.”
Quinn tilts her head, her eyes narrowing slightly. “Then why haven’t you gone?”
Caleb hesitates. For a split second, something dark flickers across his expression before he masks it with a casual shrug. “Because it’s complicated. And because he wouldn’t want me wasting my time sitting in a prison visiting room when I have things to take care of here. He told me to take care of the club. To watch over myself and to never step foot in a place like that, even to visit him.”