Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 43402 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 217(@200wpm)___ 174(@250wpm)___ 145(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43402 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 217(@200wpm)___ 174(@250wpm)___ 145(@300wpm)
Hangman whistles. “This story again.”
“What story?” I ask, keyed up for some reason.
“Remember when I went after Eyeball alone?” Bear says. “I was stupid enough to think they were holding Mavis against her will.”
“Jesus, you were always—”
“Dumb as hell over the bitch, I know. Still, I thought she had cleaned up and we were solid again. I thought they’d taken Mavis against her will and I was going to get her—but I didn’t want to bring the club into it.”
“A mistake,” Hangman growls, while I nod my head in agreement. That’s the kind of President Bear is. If he can handle things quietly, he chooses that—even if it could get him killed. That’s just one of the reasons I’m anxious to get my role back as VP. I want to watch over my brother.
Bear shrugs, then continues his story. “Anyway, I got in, had words with Mavis. It didn’t go well since she was taking some fucker’s cock up her ass while bent over snorting coke. I ruined her orgasm by killing the man. I’m not sure she noticed. The bitch was too high to care. She screamed at me to get out. I told her sorry ass I never wanted to see her again. Those were the final words we ever shared.”
“Why the hell didn’t you ever tell that part of the story to us, man?” Hangman snaps.
“I’ve been labeled stupid enough when it came to her,” he says with a shrug. “Trying to hold on to my pride, I guess.” He shuts up when the waitress brings drinks over. We order the lunch special, and she leaves. Mine and Hangman’s eyes come to Bear, and we just wait. I can tell that he’s dealing with a lot of memories that he doesn’t like. The last thing I want to do is cause Bear more pain over the bitch. I assume Hangman feels the same way because he’s just sitting there, waiting. “Anyway, Eyeball caught me. He had three of his men hold me down while he worked me over.”
“Figures,” I growl. “The fucker wouldn’t dare take you one-on-one.”
“Since you’ve never given this much detail about what happened, are you going to spill on how you got out?” Hangman asks.
“And what it has to do with my woman,” I add.
“I caught one guard sleeping, the other getting a blowjob,” he says with a shrug. “They thought Eyeball had knocked me out. I faked it pretty good. I was in damn bad shape—well, you saw me, and that was after I’d recovered a couple of days. I managed to escape and make it to my bike. Bastard didn’t bother patting me down, past taking my weapons. I guess he figured he was going to kill me, and he’d take my wallet and shit after that. It took me three tries to get on my damn bike and fish my keys out of my pocket. I held onto the bike with all I had. To be honest, I managed it longer than I thought I would. I ended up piling up close to where Livy’s father’s place is. Livy found me. She took me to the house. Put me in her room and then went back out, got my bike and called someone she trusted to come get it. She hid me, and when those bastards came calling, it took everything she had to get me outside, into her car, and drive me to the community center. Once she got me settled, she went home. Livy could have turned me in, but she didn’t. She lied to those bastards. They were waiting when she got back. She faced them alone.” His eyes harden. “When she finally returned, Livy’s face was bruised, her nose swollen and bloody. She was limping and her ribs were bruised. The bastards had worked her over hard. There was a cut along her side. She’d bandaged it, but it was clearly bleeding. They tortured her, trying to make her admit she was lying—to give me up. Olivia never gave in. She protected me.”
“I’ve seen the scar on her side,” I murmur. I don’t realize that I said the words out loud until I notice the look on Bear’s face. I don’t know exactly how to describe it, but it hits me strangely. I figure it’s because she was injured covering for him. He has to feel guilty as hell for the pain she endured.
“Livy risked her life for me. I owe her. She’s family. I’ll protect her with my life. I always will. Now, I’ve seen Livy happy before. She hasn’t been that in a long time. Seeing how she looks at you, Blade—it’s special. It has been a long time since I’ve seen that light in her eyes. I want the best for both of you.”
“Bear—”
“You need to mark my words, Blade. Livy will not let herself be with you if she knows you are part of this life. She just won’t.”