Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 65682 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 328(@200wpm)___ 263(@250wpm)___ 219(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 65682 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 328(@200wpm)___ 263(@250wpm)___ 219(@300wpm)
“Not much because the old man doesn’t share a lot with her.”
“Convenient,” Shades snorts under his breath.
I glare at him, but I share my intel with the only person whose opinion actually matters. Ace.
“They sent Valentina to Costa Rica two years ago, when I was there, to see if she could get info on whoever was selling those arms.”
“And?” Ace asks.
“Nothing. I fucked her brains out only to learn she never found out. Anything. Also, the Rojas brothers are worried that we’re out for revenge instead of taking care of business.”
It wasn’t anything we didn’t already know, but it was something.
Shades shakes his head, clearly pissed off. “No shit. Did she manage to give you something actually worthwhile?”
My hands ball into fists, and I’m not sure if it’s anger I feel or something else. “Like I said, she doesn’t have a lot of intel.”
Shades asks the question the rest of my brothers want me to answer. “So, what the fuck are you doing messing around with her?”
“Fuck you, Shades.”
“That’s a bullshit answer,” Shades says.
“I don’t owe you a fucking answer about what I do with my free time.”
He leans into me. “You do if you’re fucking Valentina Rojas. That’s the kind of dumb shit that can spell trouble for all of us.”
“Especially Willow,” Banger adds. “I’m sure they’re looking for any reason to go after her.”
“I already told you what you need to know. The LTC is watching us, all of us, carefully. If that’s not enough, then I don’t know what the fuck you want from me.” I turn to Banger and stare at him. “If you can’t keep your woman safe, that doesn’t have shit to do with me.”
“Bullshit,” Banger shouts. “Just be honest.”
That’s easy for Banger to say when he’s in love with a woman that doesn’t put the MC at risk. He has no fucking clue what’s happening in my head or my heart. I stare him down, my anger flaring. “I am being honest, you little shit.”
“Shut up!” Ace roars, making us all fall silent. “This isn't getting us anywhere.”
Preacher steps in, acting as mediator. “We're not saying that your actions are putting us in danger, Dix. We’re just concerned. You’re our brother, and we want you to be careful.”
I take a deep breath, trying to calm my anger. It’s clear my brothers are just worried about me, and I get that. It's just hard to separate my feelings for Valentina from the real danger she poses. I nod, knowing Preacher is right. “Fine. I’ll be more careful.”
Ace studies me for a moment, his eyes searching mine, and then he gives a slight nod. “That’s all we ask, brother.”
With that, we settle back into our seats, and the tension in the room dissipates, replaced with the low murmur of brothers talking business. I know I’ve reassured them for now, but it doesn’t change the fact that my relationship with Valentina is a ticking time bomb.
“If there’s no more business, then we’re done,” Ace finally says.
“Thank fuck,” I whisper. As the meeting wraps up and we file out of the room, I can’t help but feel the weight of my brothers’ concern bearing down on me. I push away from the table and head outside.
My brothers have every right to question my recent behavior, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.
I expected them to give me shit, to razz me about spending so much time with one chick, but not to question if I was being played. How stupid do they think I am?
I mount my bike and rev the engine, desperate for the freedom of the open road. As I ride away from the clubhouse, I feel the wind whipping against my body, and for a brief moment, it drowns out the thoughts and fears racing through my mind.
The scenery blurs around me as I push my bike faster and faster. I spend hours on the road, trying to outrun my own feelings. But every time I slow down, Valentina’s face and the concerned looks of my brothers come flooding back. It’s a battle I can't seem to win.
As the sun sets and the sky darkens, I pull into a small roadside bar. The place is dingy and rundown, the perfect spot to drink away my troubles without anyone recognizing me. I dismount my bike and stroll inside, the door creaking loudly as I enter.
The joint is nearly empty, just a few lonely souls nursing drinks in the dimly lit room. I make my way to the bar and order a whiskey, straight up. The bartender slides the glass toward me, and I down it in one gulp, immediately signaling for another.
As I sip the second drink, I let my mind wander, searching for a solution to the impossible situation I find myself in. I can’t just walk away from Valentina. Our connection is too strong, and she's under my skin in a way no other woman has ever been. But I also can’t risk the safety and security of my brothers and the MC we’ve built together.