Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 67795 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 339(@200wpm)___ 271(@250wpm)___ 226(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67795 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 339(@200wpm)___ 271(@250wpm)___ 226(@300wpm)
“Better that you live to explain why your employment at the church was so short-lived.” I hit the mark, and she rolls her eyes.
“You can’t keep using that answer. And my mom will be so mad if I get fired.”
“Fired is better than dead,” I shoot back. “Just call Frank and tell him you can’t go in because you’re sick, and you don’t want to get everyone in the office sick. He’ll believe you.” And if he doesn’t, I’ll make sure that he doesn’t fire her, personally.
“Fine,” she snarls, and the sound hits me right in my dick. With short jerky movements, she picks up her cell phone and makes the call with a hoarse voice and a weary expression on her face.
“Hey Pastor Braden, it’s Letty. I’m afraid I can’t come in today. I think I’m coming down with something.”
She adds a phony cough to sell the story, but it’s completely unbelievable.
“Yes, thanks. I plan to stay in bed and eat as much soup as I can handle. I’ll see you tomorrow, I hope.”
She smiles at whatever the pastor is saying and ends the call.
“Happy?”
I nod. “You know, Letty, you are a terrible fucking liar.”
She gives me a haughty grin and tilts her chin high in the air. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“It was meant to be one.” I chug down the coffee and pour another cup, keeping my gaze on her to see if I could find any indications about her state of mind.
“How are you doing with everything, Letty? Really, though. Honest answer.”
“Honestly? I’m scared and worried. I barely slept at all last night, and the truth is, I don’t even know why I’m so afraid. Or how afraid I should be. What is going on, Shades?”
She stares at me for a long time, her blue eyes pleading with me to give her something.
“Fine,” she growls and turns toward the stove to put a bright red dish in the oven. “Don’t say anything, then.”
I can’t tell her much about what’s going on and nothing at all about the involvement of her beloved pastor. Not that she would believe me if I did, but I tell her what I can.
“The guy who approached you is with the Iron Kings, and our clubs don’t get along.”
“Why not?”
I smile at how inquisitive she is. “Because the guy in charge of that club isn’t just an asshole, he’s a jealous asshole, and he wants what we have. Our businesses and our property, hell even some of our land. He wants it all, and over the years, he’s tried and tried to get it, any way he can.”
Fucking Hector is a pain in our asses, and the whole world will be better off when we end that slippery motherfucker.
Her lips part into an amused grin. “So, this guy and his club are like your archenemies?”
My lips twitch, and I try not to laugh, but eventually, a smile forms. “Something like that. Sure, babe.”
Letty sets the timer on the oven and turns back to me with her arms folded and a curious expression on her face.
“What kind of businesses do you guys have?”
“Why?”
“I’m curious.”
I shrug. “All types. Dispensaries, a few gun shops, Ace Motors, and Angel Harbor Choppers, a few dance clubs, and dress shops.”
I don’t know if I should be offended by her surprise or pleased.
“So many? Wow.” Her smile grows a little wider. “And what about your illegal businesses?”
“Illegal?”
She nods. “Yeah. The stuff you do with Pastor Braden?”
Her curiosity is a good thing. Usually. I shoot her a skeptical expression. “You really want to know?”
She’s about to nod but stops herself to think it over for a second, something I really fucking appreciate about her. She shakes her head. “I don’t think I want to know.”
Her honesty is so damn refreshing, and yeah, a bit of a turn-on. I move toward her and press my lips to her forehead.
“Good. But you shouldn’t ask if you don’t want to know. I’ll never lie to you.”
She let out a low, shuddery breath and put a hand to my chest. “Never? That’s a big promise.”
“I won’t lie, Letty, but I’ll only tell you what you need to know.”
“Okay, then, for now, I don’t need to know.”
I nod and wrap my arms around her, giving her a tight squeeze just as the oven timer dings. “All right.”
“All right,” she says a little too brightly, the only evidence that she’s as affected by me as I am by her.
“Grab some plates from that cabinet beside the fridge please.”
I do as she asks and take a seat at the table, watching as she grabs silverware and cloth napkins, setting them neatly at two place settings.
“This smells good.”
Letty giggles. “Maybe you’re just hungry.”
I shake my head. “No, this smells really good. Did you make it?”
“No. The housekeeper made it for me because my mom would never let me eat anything like this. But it’s my favorite, eggs, bacon, onions, and potatoes with cheesy biscuits on top.”