Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 105709 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 352(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105709 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 352(@300wpm)
As the car pulls away, Hella flicks his cigarette to the ground, his expression unreadable as he watches the vehicle disappear around the corner. “Let me see that shit.” His hand is out but his eyes are locked on the road the car turned down.
“What?” I scold, whacking his hand away. “No.”
He doesn't argue, snatching the papers from me and flicks through. He scans, and then pauses, reading before flipping. I don’t know how long it takes, since the sun is cooking me and any moment, I’m gonna be beet-red.
I shade the sun from my eyes. “Give it back.”
He rolls it up. “Get on the bike.”
I let out a soft growl but don't fight, because... the bike.
My arms fit around his waist as I pull him in close, purely because I don't want to fall off.
Eight
Hella
Melissa shoves my helmet into my chest before jogging up the stairs and disappearing through her front door.
Beast whistles when he passes her, shaking his head. “What'd you do to piss her off this time?”
I spread my legs out wide and hook the helmet over my handlebars, leaning back against the seat of my Harley. “Fuck knows. Breathe? Exist? Look at her sideways?”
I run a hand through my hair, still feeling the ghost pressure of where her thighs suffocated me from behind. “Girl's got more mood swings than a theme park. I'm starting to think she's pissed off just to keep in practice.”
“You mean foreplay,” I correct, swinging my leg off the bike and finding my cigarettes in my pocket. Beast stares off at the ocean opposite.
I light my cigarette, inhaling deeply before blowing smoke toward the sea. “We should head back to Tāwaha. Shit's done here and Viktor didn't know shit about your old man.”
Beast crosses his arms, stance wide. “You gonna be able to leave?”
“Why wouldn't I?”
“You know why.” I tap ash onto the concrete. “Not our problem anymore. Zane can handle it.”
“You sure about that?” Beast's voice drops lower, more private between us. “You give a real fuck about this woman?”
The question hits like a sucker punch. I take another drag, letting the burn fill my lungs while I consider my answer.
“Nah, nothing serious,” I finally say, flicking my cigarette butt away. “But we can take her with us anyway.”
His features relax. “Why's that?”
I roll my shoulders, working out a kink. “Girl's stubborn as fuck. She'll be out running that bakery before the dust settles if we leave her. Think of it as doing a favour for Zane. One less person he has to look after.”
Beast nods slowly. “About that. Got word this morning, the explosion wasn't club business. Personal hit on Zane from someone in his past.”
“Shit, so what? Phoebe is hiding away from the Paps because of her crazy new rockstar boyfriend?” I say, shaking my head.
Silence.
“You think she'll come?” Beast asks, eyebrow raised. I know we ain’t talking about Phoebe anymore.
“Fuck no. She's gonna kick and scream the whole way.” I lean against my bike again. “She's all wrapped up in Mr. three-hundred k.”
Beast gives me a look I don't want to explore. “It's good money. Can change a lot of lives with that kind of stack.”
“Yeah, well, staying alive to spend it is better.” I stare at the house, seeing Melissa's silhouette pass by a window.
“How you gonna get her on your bike?” Beast laughs now as we both watch her shadow.
I shrug. “Tell her the truth.” My eyes land on him. “That it's for her safety.”
Moments pass between us. A silent conversation neither of us want to say out loud.
He nods. “We roll out tomorrow morning. Early.”
I'm already mapping out how this conversation with Melissa is gonna go. She'll call me an asshole, probably throw something. Then she'll refuse, dig her heels in about that investor meeting.
Then I'll throw her ass on the bed and fuck her until she's too weak to fight back.
Beast's mouth twitches. “She isn't going to be a fan, brother.”
I crack my neck. “Got enough of those already. Don’t need her for that.”
He laughs, slapping my shoulder as we make our way inside.
One way or another, Melissa's coming with us to Tāwaha, even if I have to cable tie her to my bike.
I push through the door, Beast right behind me, and walk into the living room where Melissa stands with her phone pressed to her ear, talking to someone in that tone she uses when she's trying to sound professional. She glances over, sees me, and her whole body stiffens.
“I need to call you back,” she says into the phone. “Something just came up.” She hangs up and crosses her arms. “Don't you knock?”
“Not when I'm staying here.” I drop onto the couch, stretching my legs out in front of me. The worn leather creaks under my weight. “Who was that? Your sugar daddy investor?”