Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 115186 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 576(@200wpm)___ 461(@250wpm)___ 384(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115186 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 576(@200wpm)___ 461(@250wpm)___ 384(@300wpm)
She lifted her chin. “You only think that because you lost. Bet you wouldn’t think it was bullshit if you had won.”
The second he released her wrist; she spun in the direction of her car. He quickly stopped her by slamming a hand against the side of the building, blocking her path. When she spun the other way, he barred her escape with his other arm, caging her in.
“Let me leave, Romeo.”
“Ain’t leavin’ ’til I’m fuckin’ done with you.”
Oh yes, the man was not happy.
“I’ll leave when I want to leave. You have no right to stop me.” Could he detect the tremor in her voice?
Was she stupid to push him like that?
She knew him but she didn’t know him that well. Even so, she never heard of him abusing or hurting women. He only used women sexually. But it was always consensual, like with her five years ago.
However, he had no reason to get this pissed. The only thing he lost was a game of pool. He wasn’t scammed out of anything of value. Her plan had been to only put him in his place.
Zeke had no idea that Maddie and Romeo hooked up during that weekend up in Manning Grove. As far as she knew, nobody did. She hoped like hell it stayed that way.
Zeke only went along with the plan because he thought it would be funny that big, bad Romeo would be beaten by a “girl.”
“Maddie, you okay?” came from behind Romeo.
Speak of the devil.
“She’s good,” Romeo growled, still keeping their eyes locked.
“Wanna hear it from her,” Zeke insisted, his voice dropping an octave, too.
Romeo’s nostrils flared and she swore he was grinding his teeth.
She would not be the cause of a brawl between Zeke and Romeo. That would cause issues. Not only for Romeo and Zeke, but between the Dirty Angels and the Dark Knights.
She would not be the reason their long-standing, solid alliance cracked or even became shaky.
“I’m fine, Zeke,” she reassured him.
Romeo continued to intensely stare at her, but they were both fully aware of Zeke still standing behind the Knights’ president, ready to step in to rescue her.
“Don’t be a goddamn sore loser, Rome. She beat you fair and square.”
Zeke assumed this all had to do with the game. That maybe Romeo was embarrassed by his loss to Maddie.
He had no idea what they had bet. And, judging by his reaction, it was best if he didn’t know. Despite them only being friends, Zeke still had that typical “touch her and you die” attitude. Unfortunately, that mindset could be dangerous.
“Don’t look fine. You wanna be there?”
Not really, but Romeo wasn’t hurting her. “We’re simply having a discussion,” she assured him.
“Pretty fuckin’ close discussion,” Zeke pointed out.
“It’s fine, Zeke. As soon as I’m done talking to Romeo, I’m heading home.”
Zeke still stayed where he was.
“I appreciate you looking out for me but it—”
“Ain’t needed,” Romeo finished for her.
“I’m not likin’ this, Maddie.”
“Ain’t for you to like,” Romeo informed him.
She had to admit, Romeo was very confident in himself since not once did he look at Zeke. He kept his back to the younger biker, making it clear Romeo was dismissing him without worry.
She had no doubt that Zeke took that as a slight since it meant Romeo didn’t fear or have any concern about what the younger biker might do. And that would knock the DAMC’s president’s cocky son down a peg or two. No different than Maddie getting one over on the man caging her in.
Both men had their ego checked tonight. All Maddie wanted to do was enjoy a couple of beers, play some pool, hang out with her friend, and forget about work for a few hours.
She said under her breath, “If I promise not to hightail it out of here, will you back off, so Zeke does the same?”
With his lips pressed into a tight, thin line, he pulled in a deep breath, then straightened. After a slight hesitation, he took a small step back and dropped his arms to his side.
She did not miss that his fingers were loosely curled into fists or that he still stood close enough, so his thick body blocked her view of the man standing behind him.
Romeo made a damn good wall and a terrible window.
But that also meant that Zeke couldn’t see her. She raised her voice to make sure he could hear her. “Everything’s fine, Zeke. Nothing to worry about. Romeo and I have a lot to catch up on.”
“Didn’t know you were that close to have shit to catch up on.” Of course, Zeke sounded skeptical since he was far from stupid. He got his looks from his father, his intelligence from both of his parents, but somehow his father’s laid-back gene had skipped him.
“Of course. We became friends years ago.” They had never been friends. They had flirted plenty and had sex once, but that was where the relationship ended.