Total pages in book: 157
Estimated words: 155900 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 155900 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
“Hey, man,” the one on the other side of him said. “We just saw you wandering and got the sense you had nowhere to go, and we find things go a whole lot better for us if we stick together. Figured we’d extend that hand to you.”
Kane almost scoffed.
Why would they trust him? He could be some psycho mass murderer for all they knew. Hunting for his next prey.
Though he figured the trembling of his limbs gave him away.
The gaunt hunger on his face.
The desolation in his eyes.
The amusement drained from the one who was still walking backward. “Know you don’t know us, and we don’t know you, but we’ve seen you a bunch of times, and we’re pretty sure we’re gonna find you dead in a ditch if we don’t intervene. We have a place we stay. It’s nothing to write home about…”
His voice went ironic before it dipped back into sincerity. “But at least it’s a roof over our heads. My name’s Theo, and this is Cash.” He gestured to the one at Kane’s left before angling his head to the guy on the other side. “And that’s Otto. We’ve been out here a bit and know the run of things. You wanna stay alive, you stick with us.”
Kane stopped walking.
“You just…want to take me in?” Incredulity rolled out with the words.
Theo smirked. “Let’s just say we have a feeling about you.”
They say the deepest bonds are forged in the fire.
In trials and tribulations.
Kane had never thought he’d care about another person after he lost his mother. He thought his hate and grief would prevail. The only emotion he could experience since it’d obliterated everything else.
And that hate and the grief, it was still there.
Alive and thriving.
But it was different.
His crew had every bit as much of it as him, and they used it, fuel for their survival.
Theo, Otto, and Cash had become family. Intrinsic to who he was. A loyalty carved so deep between them there was no longer any question of betrayal.
His trust growing to something he never thought it could be.
It didn’t take long until River and his little sister Raven had become one of them, and the six of them lived in the dilapidated warehouse that had become their home.
Each walking the streets of LA. Doing whatever it took to endure the situation they’d been cast into. Delving into the seedy. Stealing and conniving and manipulating.
Corruption and depravity taking them over.
Their only allegiance was to one another.
It got darker with each month that passed, the things he and his crew devolved into.
And Kane knew they were sliding down a dangerous path when River and Theo started hanging out with Trent who was the vice president of the Iron Owls MC.
Kane knew it the first time he slung his leg over his new bike.
Knew it for sure when he donned his leather cut.
His mother’s voice echoed through his mind as he stood in the back room of the club where they met.
“You’re such a good boy, Kane. Such a good, good boy. My favorite boy. Don’t ever change. Don’t ever let that beautiful light fade. Fight for love and what’s right. I know you will…because it’s who you are. And always, always take care of the ones you love most.”
And he knew he was the same wilted rose. The best parts of him had died when she had.
The light faded.
The darkness the only thing he knew.
THIRTY-EIGHT
EMERY
Daylight pushed in through the bay of windows, a soft warmth that brushed at my cheek and nudged me from sleep. From where I lay on my stomach, I moaned a contented sound, and I stretched a bit to chase off the grogginess that still clung to my body and mind.
I felt as if I’d gotten an actual good night’s rest for the first time in months.
My eyes popped open when I realized the reason for that. When I remembered what had happened last night.
When I realized where I was.
In Kane’s bed after he’d again sent me soaring last night.
Twice.
After I’d…
Heat flushed across my flesh as the memories inundated me.
Me on my knees with him towering over me. How ferociously beautiful he was. His bare skin and the bulging power of his body. The feel of him in my mouth.
How I’d felt both vulnerable and free.
Then I’d fallen asleep in the safety of his arms for the second night in a row. After I’d exposed myself in a way I never exposed myself to anyone.
Tentatively, I spread my hand out over the mattress, searching the spot next to me where I remembered he’d been.
My palm glided over the black, silky sheet. It was still warm, the pillow ruffled and dented from his head.
My teeth clamped down on my bottom lip as I was washed in a wave of affection so significant and severe that I felt as if I might float away. Chest stretching tight and belly tingling.