Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 73208 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73208 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Only Maeme got away with talking to Stellan as if he wasn’t in charge of all that went on in the Georgia branch.
“Briar Landry isn’t business. Not ours at least. But you went to her place, and I would like to know why you involved yourself in her personal life.”
Maeme straightened her back, which was normally a warning that she was not happy. She glared at Stellan. “The girl had been shot at because of us. I wanted to make sure she was okay and take her some food. As for her lease, the bastard who’d shot her might go back to finish the job. I just made sure she was free to go if she wanted to. I wasn’t aware it was information I needed to run by you.”
Stellan would have been in one of our faces if we’d spoken to him like that. But with Maeme, he looked mildly frustrated. As if this was a pointless and exhausting conversation he wished he hadn’t started. “Fine. I’m sorry I brought it up.”
Maeme stood up then, taking her empty plate as she did so. “Someone needed to check on her. You all believe she’s a gold-digging tramp. It took me five minutes in her presence to read her. She’s not what she seems, but she wants everyone to think so. It isn’t like she’s committing a crime.”
Stellan held up a hand. “So, you don’t think she’s a gold digger then? What is she, Maeme?”
Maeme’s eyes cut to me briefly before she looked back at Stellan. “A fighter. A damn good one. And the fight that is in her is fueled by something stronger than the dollar.” She started to head in the direction of the door.
“She has affairs with rich men, then makes them pay her to keep her mouth shut. What else are we supposed to think?” Stellan called out.
“Judging a book by its cover, Stellan? You’re too old to be that stupid,” she replied, then walked out.
Stellan rolled his eyes. “She’s found herself another fucking stray. Better hide the silver if she intends to bring this one home too.”
“If she brings Briar here, I will keep her busy,” Thatcher said with a smirk.
“She’s not coming here. She refused to stay one night. My guess is, she’s already packed up and run again,” I replied, trying not to scowl at Thatcher.
“She’s not left town yet. I’d know if she had,” King told us as he stood up.
“You still keeping tabs on her?” Roland asked.
He nodded. “Until I’m sure she isn’t lying about killing that son of a bitch.”
“She killed him,” Thatcher drawled. “It’s in her eyes. The demons that come with it.”
“What the hell do you know about seeing shit in people’s eyes?” Wells asked, amused.
Thatcher’s gaze swung to him. “Enough to know you’re a goddamn pussy.”
“Boys.” Stellan’s firm voice stopped whatever else Thatcher was about to say. “It’s Sunday. We’ve had a busy weekend. Let it go.”
Everyone knew he was saving Wells’s ass. Thatcher had never been a fan of Wells, but he’d managed not to kill him over the years.
Ronan leaned over to say something to Stellan, and the rest of the room seemed to calm. King left to go find Rumor, who had taken their baby girl to nurse earlier. Thatcher followed him out, but I knew he was leaving the house.
The conversation about Briar was over, but I was still thinking about it. I hoped she was gone. Away from Jameson. Not that it was my job to warn her, but someone needed to.
Standing, I followed Thatcher’s exit. I didn’t like Briar Landry, but that didn’t mean I wanted her dead. She deserved to know the man who had tried to kill her was alive. After that, she was on her own.
• Eight •
The blond Greek god could leave now.
Briar
Finishing my first set onstage at Highwater, I made my way down to the bar, where Bash Highwater, the owner and my boss, was standing by Mick, one of the bartenders working tonight. Mick was a good-looking guy around thirty while the other bartender tonight, Sunshine, was mid-twenties with big boobs and blonde hair. Bash was very selective with his bartenders. They all had to be efficient and attractive. I was almost positive he was screwing around with Sunshine. The possessive look she gave him was a dead giveaway. Not that it was my business, but I noticed these things.
“Thirsty?” Mick asked as I stepped up to the back of the bar.
“Yes,” I replied with a smile.
He grabbed a glass from the cooler and added ice, then filled it with water before handing it to me.
“Thank you,” I told him before gulping it down.
“When are you gonna do one of your originals again?” he asked while he worked on filling two mugs with beer on tap.
I shrugged. “Don’t know. I think the crowd prefers what they know.”