Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 78024 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78024 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
“What are you worrying about?” Colt asks. “Do you think we fall in love with every client? We’d be crazy to wanna let you go.”
“You had me from the moment I laid eyes on you at the bar,” Priest says. “And I don’t love you any less now. If Ax has a problem with that, he can fuck off.”
“I think he’ll get used to it,” I say, a warm, golden feeling in my chest.
“Yeah, I think you might be right.” Priest winks.
“Then it’s settled. Yeah?” Sinner asks.
I hold out my hands, taking Colt’s in one and Sinner’s in the other. Priest leans down and kisses me. “If my life was a TV show, I think this might be the best season yet.”
38
Chapter 38 - Axel
“Can you forgive me?”
Quinn looks down at her hands. She’s an adult now, but I can still see echoes of the kid I left behind. When I was working for Romero, I tried not to give myself permission to imagine what a reunion would look like, but I still had ideas.
Like that he would have to be dead. That turned out to be more or less true. And Quinn would be angry at first. Which she was. But also that she’d understand and forgive me without that much trouble.
That’s still up for debate.
Recovering from getting shot in the gut also wasn’t in the plan, but life is fun like that sometimes.
I never expected to be having this conversation sitting on the end of a picnic table in the Outlaw Sons compound while my sister’s three boyfriends are playing Frisbee golf around the edge of the field and the grill heats up. And that Heath is one of them is something I try really fucking hard not to think about too much.
They’re trying to be subtle about keeping an eye on us, which is ridiculous.
“I will eventually,” she admits, sounding more resigned than happy about it. “It’s just that I’m not five this time. Growing up with Mom wasn’t easy, but I was a kid. I didn’t know what was normal or not. They told me you were my brother and acted like it was this magical thing. I just remember wanting more than anything to have a friend that was all mine and couldn’t be taken away. Right now I feel like you cheated. All this time you knew where I was, and since I was working, you even got to watch me grow up, kinda.” Quinn finally looks at me, tears in her eyes. “I had nothing, Ax. I had a grave I couldn’t visit without making Mom mad, and a box of money that made me remember the cop telling us you were dead every time I used it.”
“Fuck… I don’t know what to tell you, Q.”
“Was it worth it?” She swings her feet next to mine, kicking at a blade of grass the mower missed. “Making decisions about what’s best for me without even asking first. Just like Mom.”
“I’m nothing like that bitch,” I spit out. “Sorry. I know your feelings are probably complicated, but she was.”
“I know, trust me, I know more than most people, but it doesn’t change that in some twisted way she felt like what she was doing was for the both of us. That I wasn’t old enough, or smart enough, or experienced enough to know what was good for me. Our old relationship is dead, Ax. We have to build a new one now, and I need to know you’ll give me the respect to treat me like an equal.”
I can’t help the snort that comes out. “Like they do?”
Quinn laughs, and there’s humor in her eyes when she glances my way. “They do in their own way. It’s like an NDA. I know Priest, Sinner and Colt are going to do things they can’t talk to me about. And they’re bossy. And they’re overprotective…”
“You’re making me want to kidnap you again, little sister.” I’m only half kidding when I say it.
“But one thing I know is that they would never have gotten serious about the four of us if they didn’t trust me to hold up my corner of the table, if that makes sense. If shit hits the fan, Colt’s made sure he can toss me a gun and I’ll defend what’s important.” My horror must show because she shoves me with her shoulder. “Don’t look at me like that. It’s just an example. You’re no choir boy.”
“Are you going to move in here? Join their old ladies club?”
“They basically adopted me, so I’m not sure I have a choice,” she says with a grin. “I’m keeping my apartment for now, though. I spent too long under Mom’s thumb to want to give it up so soon and the guys understand. I need to get used to having my own space, and it’s kind of nice to have somewhere else to go with them sometimes, too. The Sons own the whole street between the compound and the river, so one of these days maybe we’ll move into one of the houses down there, but I’m not ready for that quite yet. What about you? Are you sticking around?”