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)
Wrath takes his time finishing his coffee. While he loves to irritate Rock, I don’t. I slap his shoulder. “See you in there.”
I nod and say hello to brothers from Downstate as I pass them. In the living room, the old ladies have taken over the corner sectional, laughing and catching up with each other. Serena’s resting with her head on Shelby’s shoulder. Lilly’s holding Rock and Hope’s daughter on her lap while Trinity plays with Z and Lilly’s son. I flick a quick wave their way. Watching them makes me wish I’d invited Emily up here today.
Too soon.
I run into Teller outside the chapel. “Hey, brother.” I tilt my head toward the girls. “Charlotte okay? She didn’t come up with you?”
“She’s over at Heidi’s.” He flashes a quick, tight smile. “Going through baby stuff.”
“That’s good.” I try to fake some interest. “Twins will be here before you know it.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of.” He laughs and tilts his head toward the war room. “Rock’s in a mood. We better get to the table.”
“What’d you do now?”
Teller throws me a wounded smirk. “Now, why do you assume it’s my fault?”
“Seems you enjoy pushing his buttons these days.”
“Isn’t that what I’m supposed to do?”
“As his son?” I lift an eyebrow. “The treasurer? Or his club brother?”
The smirk slides off his face.
I rest my hand on his shoulder. “I get that it’s probably still complicated. But try not to push him too hard.”
He nods slowly. “Thanks, brother.”
Is he sincere? Hard to tell with him sometimes.
I make my way to my seat at the table. Murphy’s already across from me. Teller slaps his buddy’s shoulder as he takes his chair next to him. Bricks, Stash, and Sparky all take their seats on the other side.
A heavy hand drops on my shoulder and the chair on my right jerks out from under the table. I don’t have to tip my head to know it’s Ravage. He lands like a heavy sack of potatoes, kicking his feet out in front of him.
“You ditching me again today?” he asks.
Please don’t say I’m needed at Crystal Ball. Not today. “Can you get by without me?”
“Just surprised you trust me so much lately, that’s all.”
“No one’s more surprised than I am,” I mutter.
Grinder taps Ravage’s shoulder and waves his hand in a get-the-fuck-out-of-my-way gesture. Rav heaves a heavy sigh, picks his big frame out of the chair, and flops into the next one down. “Only for you, old man,” he grumbles.
I side-eye Grinder. “If you’re going to offer more advice, you might as well move on down to sit next to your prez.” I lift my chin at Z all the way at the end of our long wooden table.
Z nods at me. “You need me to reel the old man in?”
“I’ll reel you the fuck in,” Grinder snaps. “Don’t talk about me like I ain’t sittin’ right here.”
As Z opens his mouth to respond, the door behind me slams shut. Wrath drops into his chair on my left and Rock takes his place at the head of the table.
“Simmer down,” Rock says, his voice carrying above the chatter like a sledgehammer.
Things settle quickly. Rock nods to Teller first.
Teller sits forward. “Nothing exciting to report. The market’s taken a dip but I have the club’s assets spread around enough that we shouldn’t feel it too much.” He slides a sheet of paper into the middle of the table. “I can stay to discuss it in depth with anyone who has questions after church.”
No one ever takes Teller up on this offer. And I’m not surprised he isn’t going into more detail, since Z’s whole crew is here.
Hustler, the downstate treasurer, raises his hand. “You mind if I pick your brain after church?”
“You got it, brother,” Teller answers with a quick nod.
Poor Hustler. Brother could dig around in Teller’s brain for years and still never figure out complex financial strategies. Few MCs are lucky enough to have someone with a knack for investing the way Teller does. It’s benefited our charter mightily, especially in the last few years. Probably one of the reasons he gets away with running his mouth so often.
“Dex?” Rock taps the table as if this isn’t the first time he’s asked me a question. “CB?” he prompts.
“Good.”
He raises an eyebrow, waiting for me to continue.
“Uh.” I sit up straighter. “Amateur night is still popular. We had an issue with one of our girls—”
“You track the guy down?” Z asks.
“Not yet.”
“Don’t forget to invite me.” Z throws me a wounded puppy face.
“You won’t go alone,” Rock says to me as if he expects no argument.
“Probably take Vapor with me.” I glance at Z. “If it’s something time sensitive and I can’t wait for you to get up here.”
“I’m two hours away, not on the moon,” Z grumbles.