Total pages in book: 143
Estimated words: 141464 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 707(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 472(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 141464 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 707(@200wpm)___ 566(@250wpm)___ 472(@300wpm)
A sense of doom tightens my chest. “Did those girls make up some other shit I’m supposedly into?” I run a hand down my face. What else could they have possibly said? “Okay, just so we’re clear—no, I don’t ever want you to call me Daddy. I’m not into having you dress up like a schoolgirl, nun, or anything else. No, that’s not true, you’re definitely wearing my property patch and nothing else when I give you one.”
She shakes with laughter. “No, nothing like that.”
“You’re right.” I gesture toward her heels. “You can wear those heels with the patch, and nothing else.”
She stops laughing. “Oh, I’ll definitely do that for you.”
One corner of my mouth slides up. “Yeah?”
She nods quickly.
“So what is it? What else do you want to ask?”
She takes a deep breath. “The one in the tacky shorts—”
“Amanda?”
She turns and glares at me. “I never got her name.”
Christ, now she’s definitely going to think I used to yank Amanda’s ponytail. “She was a friend of Serena’s,” I explain.
“Some friend.” She scowls. “Well, Amanda said you and Serena…and implied Rooster and Serena too…” Her brows pull together. “I guess it’s none of my business, but I’d like to know. I don’t want to—I don’t know. How does that work with her being engaged to Grinder?”
It takes a second to piece her choppy explanation together and find the question.
“I’ve never slept with Serena.” I really need to give her more context. I shift closer and lower my voice. “Please don’t repeat any of this, and don’t bring it up to her unless Serena wants to talk about it. But yeah…she used to be a club girl here.”
Margot’s eyes widen. “Really? But she’s so nice.”
“Exactly. She never behaved the way those girls did tonight. She’s always been a sweetheart.”
Her eyes narrow, just a little.
“I used to talk to her a lot when she was hanging out here. She was trying to go back to school, and we’d talk about that kind of stuff.” I press my lips together, hating that what I’m about to share is even part of my club’s history. “Our old VP was an absolute garbage human. Even though he had a wife outside the club none of us even knew about, Serena was his girl here toward the end.”
“End of what?”
I hold up a hand. “Let me get there.”
She nods but keeps frowning.
“He was always kind of a jerk. Even as a brother—the loyalty wasn’t there. And our old president was an asshole too.”
“The one who had Stella as his side piece? What a surprise,” she mutters.
That earns a small smile from me. “Anyway. None of us realized how bad it had gotten with the VP. Serena used to be a lot quieter. Had a hard time standing up for herself. When Z took over, some things happened. He saw what was going on and put an end to it.”
I hate being so vague, but I don’t want to utter Shadow’s name and have Margot accidentally repeat it one day.
She lifts an eyebrow. “End to it how?”
“Serena had left the club by then.”
“End to it how?” she repeats, slower this time. With an edge to her voice.
“He put his hands on Lilly one night.” I grit my teeth at the memory. “And it’s the last thing he ever did.”
She stares at me, mouth open. Then a slow, savage smile curls her lips. “Did he die hard?”
“Very. And at the hands of the whole club.”
“Good.” She nods, satisfied.
I knew she’d approve.
And that’s one of many reasons she’s so perfect for me.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Jigsaw
The next morning, I’m eager to roll the fuck outta downstate.
Z had us up early for church. I didn’t waste any time pleading my case for Bonnie, Amanda, and Nikki to be banned from the clubhouse.
Grinder couldn’t agree fast enough. Since they’re just club girls—or ex-club girls—Z didn’t even bother calling for a vote. No one asked for one, either.
Last night’s fuckery was too much.
The sun’s already high, the air thick with diesel and dew, but it feels damn good on my skin as I head across the parking lot to grab a bag out of my truck. Looking forward to the long ride to Margot’s after breakfast. Just the two of us. No more club drama. No one trying to fill her head with lies.
A baby’s wail carries over the parking lot. I turn, seeking the source. Serena’s long, blond ponytail whips in the wind as she struggles to balance Lincoln on one hip and drag a large bag from the back of her SUV with her other hand.
I jog across the lot, hurrying to her side.
“You need help?” My gaze darts from the bag in the SUV to the baby in her arms. I reach for the bag.
Her face lights up. “Oh my God, Jiggy. You don’t know how happy I am to see you.” She takes a step back to give me room. “Is Gray here?”