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)
Cain shrugged. “I always say let boys be boys. They’ll work it out on their own.”
I blew a curl out of my face in exasperation, then turned my attention back to Gunnar and Knuckles. Heaving out a sigh, I focused on Knuckles. It was past time for this meeting. “You’re my dad. Right?”
Knuckles nodded, his expression softening when he looked like it had been carved from granite moments before. “Yeah, sweetheart. I’m your old man.”
“Then why are you fighting with Gunnar?” I frowned, trying my best to adopt a scolding tone when I was angry as fuck. “You punched him in the face! He saved me. Just like you told him to. He’s been nothing but good to me since he found me.”
Knuckles ran a hand over his face and sighed heavily. “I know, I know. I just… seeing him… uh… you know… like that…”
“You want to prevent that in the future?” I raised my eyebrows, putting my hands on my hips, refusing to back down an inch from the big man.
“It would be my sincerest wish.”
“Great! Next time you come for a visit, you will knock on the fucking door!” I gave him a bright smile and threw my hands up like “DUH!” “Problem fucking solved.”
“Also,” Gunnar added, putting his arm around me and pulling me close. “Aren’t you supposed to be in prison?”
The two men stared at each other for several seconds before a grin split Knuckles’s face. “It’s damned good to see you, boy.” Knuckles pulled Gunnar into a tight embrace as both men clapped each other on the back several times. Hard. I thought I saw Gunnar wince, but I’d never say a word. I would never understand male bonding.
Chapter Ten
Gunnar
Once Knuckles let me go, there was my father to deal with. I’d rather continue to let Knuckles beat the fuck outta me than face my father, but I was no coward.
“Sir.” I addressed him as a superior out of respect. If he wanted to be my dad, that was up to him. Still, it made my chest ache to think my father would be so disappointed in me he’d reject me.
Cain scowled. “Sir,” he spat out. “Fuckin’ sir.” He stood abruptly and stalked toward me. Pippa stiffened, but I set her away from me, moving her toward Knuckles. Cain rolled his eyes. “And now you’re protectin’ your woman from me?”
“Well, you look a little like you’re about to kick my ass, and I don’t want Pippa gettin’ in the way.” I gave him a wary look, but didn’t take up a defensive stance. Mainly because I knew anything he dished out I deserved.
“Little punk,” he muttered at me before lunging at me to pull me into a tight embrace. Thankfully, he didn’t whale on my back like Knuckles had. I wasn’t sure I could take much more. Felt like Knuckles had given me the beating he was afraid to while Pippa was watching. “Your mother missed you.”
“Yeah. She told me.”
“Hannah, too.”
“Her too.”
Dad held me close for several minutes before he pulled back, blinking rapidly. “Gonna have to have a talk with Torpedo about makin’ sure he gives you a better room. This one has too much dust.”
“Yeah. Makes my eyes water too sometimes.” I grinned at my dad.
“Now. Introduce me to your woman proper-like.”
Things were better after that. Dad told me how he’d initially been disappointed in me for not bringing the situation to him or my brothers. Or anyone in Bones MC. Every time he looked at Pippa, though, he averted his gaze. Every time he did, I saw the smile on his lips.
Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore. I had to know. “OK. What’s so funny?”
“Hum?” Dad looked all innocent and shit. Like he had no clue what I was whining about.
“Every time you look at Pippa, you smile. Why?”
Cain stopped trying to hold back then and chuckled, shaking his head and wiping at his eyes. “I’m sorry. And it’s not you, Pippa. I was remembering when I barged in on Stunner and Suzie in a similar situation.”
“Suzie?” Pippa looked confused but smiled.
“My sister. Mom and Dad adopted her and my two bonehead brothers when they were little more than teenagers. At least Cliff and Dan were. Suzie was about nine or ten, I think.” I took Pippa’s hand in mine and tugged her to the couch. “Didn’t expect you here, Dad. We stayed long enough at Bones, I really thought you’d get there before we left.”
“Well, aren’t you lucky I happen to be on great terms with the president and vice president of Kiss of Death.”
“Torpedo and Bohannon ratted me out.” Gunnar grinned, shaking his head.
“I wasn’t sure I could make it to Kentucky before you left, so I went to your ultimate destination. Also, I knew where you were the second you got out of prison, I knew what you were tasked with, and I knew that motherfucker was gonna try to force you and his daughter together.”