Total pages in book: 41
Estimated words: 37111 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 186(@200wpm)___ 148(@250wpm)___ 124(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37111 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 186(@200wpm)___ 148(@250wpm)___ 124(@300wpm)
I sent off a hurried text to Goose to have him meet me us outside Cain’s office. I was going to need backup for this one, and there was no one I wanted to have my back more than my best and oldest friend.
“My mom was ol’ lady to the former president of Iron Tzars MC in Jeffersonville, Indiana. When Warlock decided to retire as president, my mother was furious. Even though the club voted in Warlock’s son to replace him, she knew she’d still have some standing in the club, but not like she’d enjoyed as the president’s woman. So, she talked Warlock into giving me to his son. I have no idea what she thought to accomplish by doing that. Maybe she thought she’d have some sway over Sting and still have some power if she were his mother-in-law.”
“Were you raised in the club?” Cain interrupted.
I shook my head. “No. We came there when I was a teen. Mostly I was away at boarding schools so my mother wouldn’t have to deal with me. She only brought me to the club a few times, the last time for Sting to see what she was offering. I took off after that meeting. Not sure how I managed it on foot, but I did. Mom told me about Sword often before she took up with Warlock. She told me he was a bastard, but I didn’t want to believe her. I looked him up. Found his service record with a little work. I couldn’t believe a Marine who’d served his country so proudly with such distinction could be as horrible as she made him out to be.”
She chanced a glance at Sword who sat on the couch, his arms crossed. I knew my brother well enough to know his middle name was now Regret, but he was too stubborn to admit it. Yeah. These two were going to clash continually and spectacularly. I knew I was a bastard for even thinking about it, but I was kind of looking forward to watching the fireworks. Especially after I beat the shit out of Sword so he was careful to never win in those contests of wills.
“So, you were wanting Sword to protect you from being claimed by another club.”
“Yes, sir. I can’t say they’re a bad club, though they wear the one-percent patch. I was only there a couple of times. Warlock was always good to me at home, but he was all about pleasing Beverly. She’s a master manipulator. The only thing she wasn’t able to get him to do was not retire from being president. They fought over that for weeks before and after he did.”
“What about Sting?”
She shook her head. “I only met him once. I’m sure he’s as decent as an outlaw biker can be. He wasn’t unkind to me during the meeting with Warlock and my mom. Even asked if the union was what I wanted. Mom cut me off before I could answer, but he still asked. I have no wish to be continually pitted between him and my mother.”
“So, even knowing your father belonged to an MC, you ran to him for protection.” Cain sat back in his chair, his hands steepled. “I take it you’re not opposed to living in an MC, then?”
“No, sir. I just want away from my mother. If she keeps trying to mess in the affairs of Iron Tzars, something bad’s gonna happen, and I don’t want to be caught in the middle. Collateral damage is still hurt. Or dead. And I have no wish to be either.”
“So the problem becomes do we keep you here when this other club comes looking for you, or do we turn you over to them.”
“I don’t want to go with them, but I understand how this puts you in a bad situation.” Chloe looked away for a couple of heartbeats before turning back to Cain. “If Sword had known about me, this might have had a different outcome. I guess I built a fantasy around the idea of having a father, so this is on me. I have no idea if Iron Tzars are on my trail, but I stayed off the grid. I took the backroads and wooded areas all the time. I didn’t use a debit or credit card, and I don’t have a cell phone. I never mentioned wanting to find Sword to my mom, so you guys should be good.” She started to get up, but I moved the arm I had over the back of the couch to drape over her shoulders.
“Give us just a few more minutes, girl,” I said softly.
“So you propose… what?” Cain continued the conversation seamlessly.
“Nothing. I’ll just leave, and if they come knocking at your gates you can tell them whatever you like. I don’t want to cause you problems with another club because of my fear and a stupid fantasy, so I won’t stay and make life difficult for you when you were just minding your own business.” She glanced at Sword briefly. “Or make a fool of myself any longer.”