Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 83236 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83236 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 416(@200wpm)___ 333(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
“I’m proud of you, too. All I’ve ever wanted was to be yours. You know that. I’m just trying to be mindful of my parents. They’re going through too much right now. I know they will accept you, but my mother—”
“You think she will object to me?”
“It’s not completely her fault. She’s spent years watching Thea cut herself up over Dom. We all watched how he broke her heart and that’s the last thing she ever wanted for me.”
“All other women disappeared for me the moment you accepted my claim, Peaches. You’re everything to me. Fuck, you’re all I’ve ever wanted. There’s never been another woman who meant anything to me.”
I lean up to kiss him. I only reach his chin, pressing my lips against his salt and pepper beard, but it makes me happy, just the same. My man is so sexy it steals my breath. “I know that and eventually, Mom will, too. It goes deeper than that. Mom is a little jaded when it comes to how men in the club treat their women.”
“Why? For God’s sake, all the men who have claimed their women are devoted. Jesus, you can’t tell me your father has even looked at another woman,” he gripes. I can feel his anger—even if it’s not directed at me.
“Of course not, but she still remembers how they met.”
“How they met?” he asks, sounding confused.
A ghost of a smile blooms on my lips as I shake my head. “Dad was going through a really dark period. It’s not something he likes to remember, but he was always frank with us about it. He was adamant that he wanted us to learn from his mistakes and be better than he ever was. Mom said he also wanted to show us what a healthy relationship can bring into our lives and to never sell ourselves short. She said Mattie idolized him and wanted to be just like him, and Dad decided to open up about his struggles so Mattie would realize that belonging to the Savage Brothers could also eat you alive if you let it.” I close my eyes for a minute as the pain from small memories of my brother hit me full force. For a second my lungs burn, and I can’t breathe.
“Peaches,” Torin says softly. I open my eyes slowly. I know I have tears in my eyes. I mostly contain them and keep them hidden. Torin is the only one I can allow to see my pain. I’m safe with him.
“I’m okay. It just hurts. I know what my parents and Thea believe. Heck, even Dom thinks Mattie is gone, and he’s his best friend. I refuse to accept that. My brother would fight with everything he had to survive, so unless I see proof that he’s gone, I refuse to accept it.”
“Baby—”
“No, I’m not going to discuss it. My brother is out there. Maybe he’s hurt somewhere and can’t get word to us, but he’s alive. Nothing you say will make me change my mind, Torin.”
“I’m not going to argue with you, Skylar. I know what a fighter your brother is.”
I nod, mustering a genuine smile in response as he squeezes me close to his body. “He is,” I respond. I know he and Thea are the closest, but I’ve always thought the two of us were more alike overall. Mom says we are, and that thought brings warmth to my heart.
“So, explain what’s up with Sky?” he asks, and I sigh.
“Dad went to the hospital where Mom was doing an ER rotation. She was the one to diagnose him with an STD.”
“Oh, fuck …”
“Yeah. It’s definitely an odd way to start falling in love. Unfortunately, Dad was also fighting addiction at the time and sleeping with anyone who could help him feed that.”
“Jesus, I can’t even reconcile that with the man I know today,” he responds, clearly shocked.
“That’s because he’s not. Still, Mom never wanted us to fight the battles she did. Plus, over the years, she’s seen the struggles others have had. Even Dragon and Nicole stumbled a little, and they love each other completely.”
I nod. “Baby, those battles won’t be ours. My eyes will only ever be on you. Still, any of those issues could happen with any couple. It has nothing to do with the Savage Brother’s way of life.”
“You don’t have to convince me, Torin. I’ve always wanted to be a part of the club. It has never been what Mom and Dad wanted for me, though. That’s exactly why I chose a medical school in Cincinnati and spoke with Wheeler about being a doctor for the club. I wasn’t going to fight for my right to be part of Dad’s club. I would blaze my own trail—so to speak.”
“How did that asshole from the Devil’s Blaze get the okay to approach you, then?”