Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 142728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 714(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 142728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 714(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
“I was planning to.” I bite off the rest of my words. Z’s trying to help, not undermine me. I don’t know why I’m so fucking prickly tonight.
“Well, if you get a name, let me know. Don’t want you paying him a visit by yourself.”
“I usually take Vapor on those jobs. He knows to keep his mouth shut.”
A feral smile flashes across Z’s face. “It’s nice when we get to train them young. You making progress on the support club?”
“I don’t think it’s mine to ‘make progress’ on. Murphy’s got as much connection to the guys as I do.”
He throws a what-the-fuck frown at me. “Vapor’s your family. Murphy just used to bop around in Remy and Griff’s fighting ring. I’d say it’s more your project than anyone else’s.”
I open my mouth to protest again, but there’s no point. “I’m sure Rock will bring it up in church soon. Griff was a big help this week. I know Wrath still has doubts, but I think they’re ready for something more official.”
One corner of his mouth twitches. “I think I heard something about Griff helping you with a car…”
“Jesus Christ, Grinder’s supposed to be your enforcer, not your gossip buddy.”
“You’ve been patched too long to be that naive, Dex. Nothing happens without everyone talking about it.”
Tapping at the office door stops our conversation. Z leans his chair back on two legs and stretches his arm toward the knob, catching it and twisting just as the legs of his chair start to wobble and threaten to throw him to the floor. He rights the chair with a hard thunk.
Willow strolls in, hands on her hips, irritation rippling over her usually placid face. “Why is Kyla in my shit, Dex?” She flicks an annoyed glance at Z, as if he might have had something to do with screwing up her night.
Z covers his smirk with a hand at his chin and swings his impish gaze my way. “I don’t miss this at all,” he mutters.
Willow smacks his shoulder. “You miss me and you know it.”
He grabs her hand before she can whack him again and shakes it. “Yeah, I miss you. Lilly keeps begging me to entice you into moving downstate.”
“Don’t you dare,” I warn. One of the only constants at Crystal Ball over the years has been Willow’s presence.
“Nah, bro.” Z flashes another devilish grin. “I think the stoner brothers would slit my throat if I tried.”
Willow’s cheeks turn pink, and she snatches her hand away. “Don’t call them that.”
“Ooo!” Z’s eyes widen like a shark who scents blood in the water. “What’s going on, Willow?”
She throws me a pleading look. “Dex, really?”
“Knock it off, Z.” I nod at Willow. “Keep an eye on Kyla. See if you can find out who she lives with.”
The playfulness slides off her face and her mouth settles into a grim line. “Is it MC business or personal?”
“Both,” Z answers. “Their personal shit is the MC’s business.”
Willow ignores him and focuses on me, as if I’ll be the reasonable one on this subject. “You can’t help someone until they’re ready,” Willow says.
“The fuck I can’t,” I mutter.
A faint smile ghosts her lips. “I wasn’t trying to challenge you.”
“Yeah, I know.” I run my palm over the back of my head, frustrated. “The girls work so hard. Put up with all those gross, sweaty fucks.” I wave my hand toward the door. “I hate the thought of any of them leaving here and going home to that.”
“Dex,” she sighs, dropping into the chair next to Z. “You’re such a gem. The girls don’t know how lucky they are to work for you.”
“Rock and Z handled things the same way.” I wave my hand at Z, who nods like a first-time rider who’s managed to keep both wheels on the pavement. “Where do you think I got it from?”
“Oh, I know.” She holds her hands in the air. “You’re all so cut from the same cloth, you might as well all be blood brothers.”
“People put too much importance on blood relationships,” Z grumbles.
Exasperation purses her lips. “Fine. What do you want me to do?”
“What you’re good at. Listen. Find out if she lives with a boyfriend, parents, I don’t know. Someone roughed her up. I can’t have her working the pole with her arm fucked to hell.” Normally, I wouldn’t spread someone’s business around. Willow gossips more than she should sometimes, but deep down under her tough exterior, she’s got a kind heart, and I don’t think she would share this with anyone.
“Shit.” Willow chews on a thumbnail. “Fine. But if she gets in my way…” She doesn’t finish the threat.
“Come talk to me. I’ll handle it,” I promise.
“Okay.” She stands and runs her hands over her legs. “What are you going to do when I find out who banged her up?”