Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 107118 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 428(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107118 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 536(@200wpm)___ 428(@250wpm)___ 357(@300wpm)
He sat by the fire with Styx. Like I’d told them before, I wasn’t one of their women. I wouldn’t take even one ounce of their shit, even if they sat at the top of the room like dark kings on their fucked-up thrones.
“Get the fuck out, Sia,” Ky said, flicking his hand dismissively. It made me see red, the residue of the anxiety that had sprung up on me like a ghost in the night causing me snap.
I walked to my brother, who had started to take a swig of his beer, and slapped the fucker right upside the head.
You could have heard a pin drop in the bar as it grew graveyard quiet.
Ky turned his head slowly, blue eyes glaring at me. His gaze only grew more furious when Viking piped up from two tables over, “Holy fuck. I think I’m in love. Bitch can slap me anytime she fucking wants!”
I was breathless, panting hard. How dare they fucking treat me this way? Fucking bikers. Motherfucking Hangmen! Ninety-nine percent of the assholes needed their hairy asses kicked. Preferably by some mountain of a woman who would hand their sexist leather-clad asses to them on a plate.
“Get the fuck back to the cabin, Sia. Now. Back to the other bitches, and I’ll speak to you when I’m done with club business.”
I choked on a disbelieving laugh. “Club business? What club business? Drinking at two in the afternoon? Real fucking important stuff happening down here at Hangmen HQ.”
Red burst onto Ky’s cheeks. He slowly rose from his chair, until he was only an inch from my face. “I won’t ask you again. Get the fuck out, obey club rules, and I’ll speak to you later.”
I smirked and stepped closer. “I ain’t gonna be around later, oh holy sacred vice-president master, sir.” Ky’s cheek twitched in anger. “I’m going back home. I’m done here. I want my ranch and my horses.” I gestured around the bar. “I’m not a fucking Hangmen whore or bitch or whatever the fuck other derogatory name you wanna throw my way. I’m a woman. A rancher. And I am out.”
I turned to leave, but Ky took hold of my arm. He shook his head. “You ain’t going anywhere.”
“I am, Ky. And you can’t stop me. I make my own money. I’ve got my own life, and this place doesn’t have any part in it.” I stepped closer, and this time I included Styx’s furious face in my audience. “The old brothers like y’all made sure of that as I grew up. I wasn’t welcome here. When I wanted to come to family days and cookouts, be part of the club, I was told to shut the fuck up and stay hidden like the ‘mistake’ I was. So I sure as fuck don’t belong here now. I’m going home.”
I was walking away when Ky said, “He could be here any day, and you just wanna put yourself in that kind of danger?”
Garcia’s face flashed into my mind, bringing my feet to a halt. I closed my eyes, but just before I did I caught sight of Hush and Cowboy sitting directly opposite me. Yet my lids closed, and suddenly I was there . . .
The stifling Mexican sun beat down on me as I heard the trickle of a water fountain near where I woke. I heard maids rushing around, their fast Spanish too quick for me to understand. And then I felt his finger trace the length of my spine . . . his toned, tall body moving to lie above me . . .
I gasped. A hand took my elbow. I flinched and backed away, turning when whoever held me tightened their grip. When I lifted my eyes, I saw my brother’s blue eyes fade from anger to sorrow . . . then protectiveness. “Sia,” he said, so only he and I could hear. “You’re okay. It’s just me.”
I fought against the building anxiety to breathe. I focused on my brother being close. Even though he was an asshat, he did make me feel safe. Always had, always would.
When I spoke, my voice sounded fractured and desperate. “I need to go, Ky.” I knew the men in the bar must have heard me, but I was too distraught to be quiet. And frankly, I gave zero fucks about that fact. But I hated myself when I felt tears building in my eyes. I never ever wanted these men to view me as weak.
“It’s dangerous,” Ky warned.
“It’s dangerous my being here too.” I swallowed the lump that had formed in my throat. “If he’s set his eyes on me again, Ky, nothing will stop him.” A chill ran down my spine as I admitted what I knew to be the truth. “The reach he has through the Quintana cartel is too far and too strong. I . . .” I straightened my shoulders. “We always knew this day might come. He was too obsessed with me. His pride would have been too wounded when you came and got me. We made him look foolish in front of his men.”