Total pages in book: 43
Estimated words: 39540 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 198(@200wpm)___ 158(@250wpm)___ 132(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39540 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 198(@200wpm)___ 158(@250wpm)___ 132(@300wpm)
“Mama, is there somewhere Pippa can have some privacy to clean up and rest?”
“You can bring her home,” my mother interjected, reaching out to take Pippa’s hand. Mom looked like she was barely holding on to more tears. Though she was trying to give Pippa a welcoming smile, her lower lip trembled and her eyes were glossy with unshed tears.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Mom.” I tried to be as gentle as I could while trying to do what I felt was best for Pippa. I wanted her comfortable. While my mother and sister would be nice to Pippa, I knew my brothers didn’t want us here, not really, and having us stay for any length of time would cause friction between my mother and sister and my brothers. And I hadn’t even seen Hannah yet.
“Just until you get ready to leave.” Mom gave me a pleading look. “That way you won’t have to leave Pippa in a strange place by herself.” Trust my mother to cut to the root of the problem. She had always known me better than anyone else.
“I have a better idea.” Mama crossed her arms over her chest and glanced to the door where my brothers were just outside. “You can bring Pippa to my house. Pops can keep out anyone you don’t want to talk with, and you will be close to Pippa.”
“Surely you don’t think someone would hurt Pippa while she’s inside this compound.” My mother looked from me to Mama. “This is the safest place she could possibly be.”
“Angel, the president and vice president of Bones are under the impression they are protecting the women and children in the club. Given both their wives are pregnant, their protective instincts are on high alert.”
Mom narrowed her eyes at Mama before looking back to my brothers. “Gunnar would never put this club or anyone inside it in danger intentionally. He’s family. Anyone he says needs our protection will get it.” Her fierce defense of me chipped away at the ice around my heart. It was hard enough to see my mother this upset, because I knew how much her family meant to her. She would be horrified that my brothers would even consider turning us out on our own.
“Like it or not, Mom, they’re doing what’s best for the club and everyone inside. I can take care of Pippa. I have a plan in place. We’ll be all right.”
Mom’s gaze flitted to Pippa, then back to Mama before reluctantly nodding. No doubt she’d hoped to get me home so she could convince me to stay. If I was honest, part of me wanted to go with her. I’d been sixteen when I’d gone to prison. I wasn’t a kid by any means, but I still missed my mother. Seeing her on the other side of bulletproof glass or in a room with a dozen or more people I didn’t know where half of them were convicted felons just wasn’t the same. I hadn’t been able to give her a hug in fifteen years. Or Hannah.
“I thought Pippa was your woman.” Mom looked confused as she looked back at Mama. “You said she was his woman.”
“She’s his.” Mama didn’t sound the least bit unsure. “He just hasn’t told her yet.”
“This isn’t the place for this.” My soft tone was deceptive because I was starting to get pissed. Mama was the best of the best. She’d helped raise me and all my brothers and sisters, but she was deliberately pushing me, trying to bully me into telling my parents everything. The truth was, I wasn’t ready. But more importantly, the last thing I wanted to do was frighten Pippa.
“What haven’t you told me?” Pippa met my gaze with wide, guileless eyes when I suspected she was anything but. She was trying to pretend there wasn’t a possibility she was in a worse situation than what she’d just escaped.
“I swear I’ll tell you later, but I think you really need some food, a shower, and some rest. But I promise you, you’re safe. And you have the right to refuse any claim I have on you. This is as much for your protection as it was to keep a promise to a very good friend.”
“Knuckles?”
“Yeah, baby. Knuckles asked me to rescue you and protect you after I got you free. He told me to make you my old lady, so that’s what I’m gonna do. How much you want to be involved with me is up to you, but you will have my property patch and the protection of my club.”
“Isn’t this your club?” Her expression was carefully neutral, but I could tell she was trying to make a point. Bones should have been my club. Cain had been letting me go with them on runs and teaching me how to handle myself in combat, all trying to prepare me for taking my place in the club and in my father’s paramilitary organization, ExFil. I had planned on putting in my time in the military, maybe even doing teams training and serving an extended enlistment. All with the goal of taking my place with the rest of my family as part of Bones. In a way, Bones MC was more important to me than anything on that list of life goals because Bones was family. Until everything changed.