Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 76953 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 385(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76953 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 385(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
If I really dug into it, which I started to do while I rested flat across the backseat of a bullet-resistant SUV, I could conclude that the nervousness was more about things moving forward. It was hinting at what was to come. When the threat was neutralized and life could go back to normal. When I would lose Perish for good.
Even just the thought had a black hole opening up in my chest, threatening to suck every drop of happiness into its churning depths.
“You sure you turned down the right road?” Sully asked Uncle Pagan from the passenger seat, his gaze moving around the windows.
It was a fair question.
This particular event venue was pretty far outside of Navesink Bank on a sprawling farm that backed up to protected woodland. I figured Cian had chosen it for its seclusion. Either so the party could get as wild as he wanted or so no enemies would suspect it was where the party was located. Likely both.
“It’s just after the jug handle,” I called from my position, glancing up to see Cain and Dezi sitting in the third row, their arms resting on the seat back behind me. “It’s a little stone driveway between the barn and the little farmhouse.”
Uncle Pagan shot Sully a I know what I’m doing look and sped around the jug handle the way he had when we were kids, making our bellies flutter like we were on a carnival ride.
“Got an unbuckled passenger back here,” Cain called when he had to reach down and wrap an arm around my hip to keep me from sliding into the floor well.
“Everyone got their weapons and phones?” Uncle Pagan called back. He was the most senior member here, even if he wasn’t an active member of the club anymore.
There was a chorus of affirmations before I spoke again. “Just keep driving past the barns and fields. There is going to be a large log cabin-type building closer to the woods. That’s where we’re going.”
It felt like forever before the SUV finally came to a stop and the engine cut.
From my position, I couldn’t see anyone until Uncle Pagan rolled down his window to speak to him.
“Who the fuck are you?” the man asked, making Dezi snort behind me.
“Pagan. This is Sully, Cain, and Dezi. We brought Gracie. I’m sure Fallon talked to Cian by now.”
There was a brief silence before the man said, “Alright. Yeah. He wants to meet with you before the party, though.”
With that, the men climbed out, and I finally got to sit up and slide out when my uncle opened the door for me.
“You didn’t answer me,” he said, voice low as we fell into step behind Cian’s guard.
“About what?”
“You got your phone?”
“Oh. Yes.”
“And a weapon?”
“I have a pocketknife. My outfit didn’t have room for a holster,” I said, waving down at my sundress.
“Okay. We’re gonna be around, but I want your guard up too.”
I thought they were being paranoid. But protection was their love language, so I kept my mouth shut and just… let them love me.
We were led as a group to the back of the building where a sprawling wooden deck was lit up with twinkle lights. A chiminea was chugging away, chasing off the early spring chill.
Cian was leaning on the railing, glancing at the woods.
I wouldn’t admit it out loud, but I found the woods kind of creepy. Especially at night.
I guess I could link that back to the time I’d been trying to get healthy and take a hike through the woods at a local park and got so hopelessly lost as the sun was setting that I ended up sitting on a log sobbing until some stranger found me and led me back to the parking lot as night fell.
“Boss,” the guard called.
“The cavalry has arrived,” Cian said, unfolding with the predatory grace of a cat and then slowly turning toward us.
I wouldn’t lie; I could absolutely see why Layna mentioned wanting to bounce around on Cian. He was almost absurdly good-looking.
He was tall and a lithe kind of fit in his all-black outfit. He had a wide, strong jaw, a generous mouth, stern brows over dark blue eyes, and one of those ‘more on top’ haircuts with a mid-fade.
He was also someone who paid attention to the finer details. He was covered in ink, even on the tops of his hands, his neck, and throat. And he was a fan of jewelry. He wore a cross, a thick silver bracelet, a stud in each ear, a couple of rings that looked like they could cause real damage if he threw a punch, and a nose ring.
Add in his innate sensuality, his unshakable confidence, and the air of danger that clung to him, and, yeah, he was the definition of hot.