Total pages in book: 171
Estimated words: 159500 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 798(@200wpm)___ 638(@250wpm)___ 532(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 159500 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 798(@200wpm)___ 638(@250wpm)___ 532(@300wpm)
I freeze, because all I can think about is that he should not have my number, and if he does, that means there is a leak of some kind. Then again, maybe they found it somewhere at Clyde’s?
I swallow and focus on the canvas bag containing the food as I imagine the Butcher president grinding his teeth in his leather chair, somewhere in their compound. He must hate that Clyde made him look like an idiot by faking his own death.
“I’ve known you for years, and your threats no longer work on me, Griz. Besides, he never revealed any secrets. We were just fucking like bunnies, good clean fun.”
“Don’t fucking test me! You think you can pull my nephew into your gay shit, and just get away with it?” He’s yelling into the phone. He must be losing his mind about this.
I want to protest, but I did technically pull Clyde in as if he were the biggest fish in the pond, so instead I rest my elbows on my knees and sigh. “I thought you were pissed he betrayed you. Which he did not,” I lie, because Clyde did cross a line when he warned me. And when he killed Puck for me.
“Anything he did with you was a betrayal. You being still alive is his betrayal. Bringing me your head would have maybe given him a chance, but we both know he’s not doing that, is he? So it’s in your hands. Give. Him. Up. Whatever you think the consequences might be? They will be worse.”
My mouth’s dry, and the birdsongs above are muted, as if I’m wearing earplugs. That’s what this bastard thinks of me? That I would give up someone who saved my life? “Look, I don’t know how a real family should work, but he’s the son of your brother, isn’t he? And you don’t have your own kids. Why not bury the hatchet?”
I hear how heavy Grizzly’s breathing is. “He made his choice. He is not my nephew anymore. He’s dead to me. Taken by the Vultures like Roy. I know it was one of you.”
Yeah, it was me, burns at the back of my throat, but I won’t say it for the sake of shocking him now. The truth would put Clyde, me, and everyone in Vulture Hollow in even more danger. As selfish as I can be, that’s a line I won’t cross. My hands tighten, balling into fists until the phone creaks against my ear, but the fire blazing in my chest roars, rising, until I can almost smell smoke.
“Well, good. He doesn’t need family that’s so ready to burn down his life. I will be his family now. I will put a ring on his finger, and give him my last name, so he can forget that he ever shared anything with the likes of you. If that wasn’t clear enough, no, I’m not giving him up. You want him? You’ll have to go through me. Puck had it coming,” and so did Kalash, but I’m not sure what Grizzly knows about him dying by Clyde’s hand, “and anyone standing between me and Clyde can expect the same treatment. I’d sooner let you drag me over gravel by my guts than give him up.”
Grizzly starts yelling, but I hang up. I’ve said my piece.
Chapter 42
Clyde
I’m dreading the confrontation with the entirety of Vulture Hollow, but each stroke Road makes through my hair with the brush he purchased in the all-in-one store in the middle of the settlement untangles the knot inside my ribcage. My mane is a bit of a bird’s nest after we had sex while it was still wet last night, but Road insisted he wanted to help me with it, and he’s been at it for the past fifteen minutes. He doesn’t need to work through the strands as slowly anymore, but the gentle rubbing of bristles against my scalp, and the warm presence behind me keep me in the chair.
No one wanted to take care of me before, not like this, and I want to let him.
“Your thoughts are real loud, Blue Eyes,” Road says in that soft rasp I love.
I hold my breath as if that could help keep my secrets. “What am I thinking then?”
Road rests his chin on the top of my head, and I shiver when the bristles of his stubble dig into my scalp. He’s such a… man. Such a stud. I knew I missed a presence like his in my life, but I guess I didn’t understand the extent of my own need.
“That it’s gonna be a shitshow. That people are gonna stare, which they will. That there will be offhand comments, or someone will be just plain rude, and you will need to take action. Once you do, all hell will break loose, and you won’t be able to stay. That is what you’re thinking. Or am I wrong?”