Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 116280 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 581(@200wpm)___ 465(@250wpm)___ 388(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116280 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 581(@200wpm)___ 465(@250wpm)___ 388(@300wpm)
“You might say that.”
“Syn is a nickname, because it’s not your given name. That’s what you want me to call you.”
“That’s not what I want you to call me.”
Furi cocked one eyebrow up. “What would like me to call you? Lover, maybe?”
“Only if you were.”
“Makes sense.” Furi went about preparing the bandage for Syn’s knuckles while he was being iced.
“Your name is cool as shit, though. You must love your nickname. Furi. Sounds like a porn star’s name, oops.” Syn feigned like he’d really forgotten what Furi did for a living.
Furi lightly punched Syn in his rock hard chest. Damn, muscles every fucking where. “Actually, I’m not a fan of my name. I thought of changing all of it when I changed my last name, but because of my dad, I kept the first name.”
“Your dad named you, or are you named after him?”
“Umm.” Furi cleared his throat. “No, actually my mother did. She named me after how she felt when I was born.”
Syn stared at him not saying a word and Furi felt very self-conscious. He glanced up and was relieved that Syn’s face showed no judgment or pity, so he continued. “Well, look at it this way; I could’ve been named ‘pissed’ or ‘livid.’ He chuckled humorlessly. “She was real mad when she found out my dad had gotten her pregnant, she kicked him out right after. Her doctor fucked up and told her she was having a girl; imagine her surprise when I pop out with a little outy where the inny should be. Oh yeah, she was furious. Hence, the name. I was told she didn’t hold me for the first two months of my life.” Furi shrugged as if it was no big deal.
“Who took care of you?”
“My dad and his mom.”
“Your mother eventually came around, though?”
“Sort of. She was on county benefits and they told her in order to keep getting food stamps and free housing, I had to live with her. She did the bare minimum. My dad came around all the time. Sometimes he’d have to fight her current boyfriends when they would fuck with me. He was a bike mechanic with his own shop, it was small but he did steady business.” Furi removed the ice from Syn’s hand and began reapplying the ointment.
“Keep going,” Syn encouraged.
“My dad did kickass work for this local biker gang, and they would always have his back. I thought they were the baddest fuckin’ guys in the world. From when I was like four or five he’d bring me to his shop and let me watch him.” Furi began smiling at the memory as he worked on Syn’s hand. “I could rebuild an engine by the time I was ten. I built my first motorcycle when I was fifteen. I helped him run his shop all the way up until he ...”
“I’m sorry, Furi,” Syn whispered.
“It’s alright, it’s been a while.”
“Hey, genius. Why bother with the automotive schooling when you probably know more than the instructors?” Syn smiled, obviously trying to lighten the mood.
“While that's very true,” Furi laughed, “when a customer comes into your shop, they want to see credentials and certifications displayed on the wall, or they’ll go someplace else.”
“Sounds like your dad was a pretty smart business man. Did he have certifications and credentials?”
“Nope. Just his rep, and the business flowed in.”
Syn looked down at his hand as Furi stroked his fingertips lightly over the bandage. He’d dried off all the excess liquid from the ice and placed a sterile non-stick pad over the knuckles before wrapping Syn's hand a few times around with gauze. After the final piece of tape was in place, he’d smoothed his hands over the soft padding wanting desperately to kiss the pain away.
“Very nice. You got a first aid certification too?” Syn’s sexy half smile was quickly becoming Furi’s weakness.
“Naw’. But over the course of my marriage I got pretty good at patching up cuts and bruises.” Damnit. Why’d’ I say that? "I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.”
“But it’s the truth,” Syn said solemnly. His eyes were the color of charcoal and a deep frown creased his forehead. Syn stood abruptly, pulling Furi up with him. He couldn’t look into Syn’s eyes. He was so ashamed of how he’d let himself become a fucking victim. Syn was strong and courageous, a respected cop, and smart. Why would he want someone like Furi? “Look at me, damnit.”
Furi’s eyes shot up to meet Syn's gaze.
“We all have things that happened in our past that we’re not proud of. Regardless of where you came from or where you’ve been, everyone has faced trials. What defines you as a man is how you overcome them. Did you beat it, or did you let it beat you?”
“I didn’t beat shit. I ran like a thief in the night. I didn’t fight.” Furi looked down.