Total pages in book: 135
Estimated words: 131916 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 660(@200wpm)___ 528(@250wpm)___ 440(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 131916 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 660(@200wpm)___ 528(@250wpm)___ 440(@300wpm)
I wanted to be his.
FORTY-EIGHT
RIVER
Charleigh was tucked against my side where we were all squished in the enormous booth. It felt good being there this way, my girl at my side while my friends shot the shit.
Telling old tales of our days back in LA, though everyone strategically left out all the sordid, condemning parts.
Funny that the bar fights and late-night rides sailing at a hundred miles an hour beneath the stars were the uncorrupted parts. The wild parties and scandalous shit we’d all always gotten ourselves into was fodder for the laughter that rolled around the booth.
“So anyway, this dumb fuck pulls his car into the parking lot of the bike shop we had,” Trent said, voice full of a laugh where he sat in the booth next to me. “He dumped some girl in the middle of it and told her she could find her own way home if she was going to be a cock tease. Fucker picked the wrong damned place to be spouting that kind of bullshit. So, this asshole right here, who was little more than a kid, mind you…”
He jostled me in the shoulder before he continued, “He jumped on his bike and chased the fucker down, busted his windshield with a crowbar. Was the minute I knew he was one of us.”
Trent slanted me a grin, and I chuckled under my breath. Remembering the way he’d taken us in. Given us a home. A purpose. “Don’t act too proud. Just wanted to bust up some shit.”
His grin deepened because he knew I was only talking shit.
Charleigh laughed beside me, half horrified and half aroused.
“What?” I asked her with amusement playing at the edge of my mouth.
She looked up at me, those cinnamon eyes doing wild, wild things. “So violent.”
She had no fuckin’ clue.
I tipped up her chin and pecked a kiss to her lips. “He had it comin’.”
It was basically my motto.
The band’s set had ended, and a DJ had taken their place, spinning dance music and the crowd into disorder.
Raven tossed back the rest of her frilly drink before she slammed the empty onto the table. “Time to hit the dance floor. All my girls, let’s go!”
“Count me in!” Salem said, and the gorgeous woman shoved at Jud’s shoulder to let her out.
My sister pushed out to standing, and everyone scooched out so Eden and Salem could get out of the booth. Trent followed and so did I, and I watched as Charleigh slid around, wearing that damned skirt that was going to drive me straight out of my mind.
She climbed to her feet. Needing to get my hands on her again, my palms went straight to the back of her bare thighs as I drew her to me and kissed her deep.
Fuck me.
She tasted good.
Cinnamon and spice.
The old fashioned I’d been sipping all night didn’t come close to comparing.
“You have fun out there,” I told her, still pecking at her lips, wanting to lap up every last drop of that sweetness.
Jud and Trent were too wrapped up in their girls to pay me any mind, but you could be damned certain the rest of my crew did. When Charleigh tore herself away, my eyes were hooked on her back as she joined the rest.
All the women linked their arms as they headed for the dance floor, Charleigh right in the middle as if she’d been a part of them forever.
My chest did that achy fucking thing. That pull of possession and the frantic desperation to keep her close.
My crew all settled back into the booth, and the server brought us another round of drinks.
Kane lifted his whiskey-filled tumbler, the cut glass glinting beneath the chandelier hanging from above the table. His gaze jumped between all of us before he started to speak, his voice just loud enough that only we could hear.
“Fuckin’ glad to see each of you here tonight. It’s been a long road for all of us, and the fact that we’re all still here is a testament to our loyalty and devotion. Trent and Jud may not have Sovereign Sanctum tattooed on the back of their hands, but none of us would be here without the two of you, so first and foremost, this one is for you.”
He lifted his drink higher, and Otto, Cash, Theo, and I each lifted ours and clinked our glasses together as we said, “To our brothers, Trent and Jud.”
Both of them dipped their heads.
“It’s always been an honor to stand at your sides,” Trent said.
“Yeah,” Jud agreed. “We always have, and we always will, so anything you need, if there is any way we can ever help, you know we’re there.”
Trent and Jud had overcome a ton of shit in their lives. Their past mistakes and sins nearly ending their chance at a good life. But they’d both triumphed over their tragedies and iniquities, fought for the good.