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)
“I have the right as her man to keep shit from her that will give her nightmares, Knuckles.”
“No, Gunnar. I need to know.”
“Pippa --”
She leaned in and pressed her lips to mine for a long moment. “You’ll be here with me. You’ll keep the nightmares away, but I have to know for sure.”
I tilted my head at her, narrowing my gaze. “You suspected?”
“She was my mother in name only, Gunnar. I knew from a young age something wasn’t right. She made it clear I was a nuisance.”
“You didn’t seem unhappy when she introduced us.” Knuckles leaned forward, bracing his forearms on his knees.
“That’s because it didn’t start in earnest until after that visit. Like she did what she had to until you met me, then she didn’t give a shit.”
Knuckles clenched his fists. “Yeah, honey. She had everything to do with why you got taken. The whole reason she had a thing with me was to get pregnant with my kid.”
“Why?” Pippa trembled in my arms, but she didn’t back down. While I didn’t like it, I certainly respected it.
“Leverage. Money. I have control over eighty percent of certain goods in the South Central and Southeastern U.S. She had interest in some of those goods.” I knew Knuckles was being deliberately vague, but he got his message across. “So she played the long con. And used a child to do it. Woulda worked too. If it hadn’t been for Gunnar.”
“You said that day you knew I’d help you.”
“I did. That’s who you are, boy. You consider me family as much as I consider you family, and you’d do anything to help your family. It’s how you ended up in my tender care in the first Goddamned place.”
“So what happens now?” I needed to know what he expected my part going forward to be, because I had no doubt Knuckles had a longer plan than simply me rescuing the girl and living happily ever after.
“Now, I go huntin’. I’m gonna find that bitch, and I’m going to end her.”
Pippa gasped and sat up straighter. “You can’t.”
“I can, Pippa. And I am. I’m sorry if it hurts you, but I can’t let her live. Any woman who would do what she had done to you -- for any reason -- doesn’t deserve to live.”
“Surely she hadn’t meant for them to actually sell me.” She shivered and clung to me tighter.
“Baby, I wish I could say she didn’t, but I’ve seen the proof myself.”
“What do you need from me? Pippa is safe in this compound if you need my help.”
“Nope. Your only job from this point forward is to take care of Pippa and any rug rats you have. Find your place here. Learn how to function on the outside. Learn to share your life with Pippa because it’s not gonna be as easy as it seems right now. Once I get back, we’ll see where you’re gonna be the best asset for Kiss of Death.”
“Christ,” Cain interrupted. He sounded more amused than irritated or angry. Like this was all something he’d foreseen but hadn’t wanted to admit. “Surely to God Torpedo ain’t makin’ you vice president again.”
“Nope. He’s makin’ me sergeant at arms. At least until he decides he’s got Kiss of Death established and remade the way he wants it. This is my club. Always was. Torpedo respects that.”
“Can’t say I’m surprised. Or that you’re not the right person to lead this ragtag bunch.”
“‘Course I am. Though, I have to admit, from what I’ve seen of your guys, Torpedo and Bohannon have done better than I could have with everything that happened before. The club needed the break. Just wish it hadn’t been seventeen fuckin’ years.”
“Anything else we need to clear the air on?” Cain sat back in the familiar relaxed posture I’d always associated with my dad.
Knuckles shook his head. “Can’t think of anything.”
“So you’re out for good, then?” The thought of my friend being out of that hellhole made me happy. And I wasn’t too proud to admit I was glad I’d get to see him, if not every day, most days.
“I am.” He grinned. “I’ll still be with you to keep you in line.” He winked at Pippa. “I’ll make sure he always treats you right.”
“You don’t have to worry about him being good to me.” She looked up at me and gave me a watery smile. “He’s treated me better in the last couple of days than I’ve ever been treated. I’m glad you chose him for me.” Christ, I loved the way she phrased that. I’d been chosen. For her protector. To be the man who loved her for the rest of her life.
“Good, then.” Knuckles stood. “I’m going to have a word with Torpedo, and I imagine Cain wants to be in on it.”
“Damned fuckin’ straight.” Dad stood. When he stood in front of us, he leaned down and kissed the top of Pippa’s head. “You let me know if you need anything, honey. You’re my daughter now, too.”