Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 117379 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 587(@200wpm)___ 470(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117379 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 587(@200wpm)___ 470(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
“Could be,” Burke said. “Hate to think of one of our own doing this. Unfortunately, some of our brothers aren’t worth much these days.”
“Yup,” I said. Damn club was falling apart around our ears. “Of course, it could be the cartel.”
“Or the Reapers.”
Silence fell for a minute.
“Drake will step up as VP,” Burke said. “That means I’ll need a sergeant at arms. I know we wanted to wait for elections, but consider this your call, son. I’ll need you in Salem tomorrow. Officers are gathering, we’ll put you in place then.”
I felt myself sway.
I’d been waiting for this a hell of a long time … but shit. Things were so up in the air with Em right now, on top of everything else.
“Okay,” I said slowly. “And after that?”
“You’re with me,” he said. “We’ll keep Skid and the boys in Portland for now. I still want a presence there, even more important now. Pack your shit, we’ll be traveling light. I figure the next few weeks’ll get interesting. Bring Skid with you when you come down, got me?”
“Yeah,” I said, trying to wrap my head around it. I hung up the burner and sighed, flopping back down on my bed. I needed more sleep. Sleep, and then I’d figure out what the hell I was doing.
I didn’t text Em back.
No idea what I’d say to her anyway.
EM
Water hit me in the face.
I screamed, falling out of bed to find my witch of a sister standing over me, laughing her ass off.
Note to self: Tell Cookie to never let Kit in the house again.
“You’re a bitch,” I muttered, wiping off my face with the sheet.
“True,” she said thoughtfully. “But I’m the bitch who’s here to take you shopping. I need a new purse.”
“They don’t have stores in Olympia?”
“They have stores,” she said. “But they don’t have my sister. I’m so excited to have you close—it’s like we’re back in high school again!”
“You were a bitch then, too.”
She picked up my phone.
“Oohhh,” she said. “What happened last night? I see a long phone call to Hunter and then a text saying you finished alone? You want to tell me what that’s all about?”
I climbed out of bed and pulled off my cami, flinging it at her. It landed on her head and dripped water into her hair, but she didn’t even seem to notice.
“We talked for a while,” I said. “Then he had to go. What time is it?”
“Almost noon,” she said absently. “So you can’t really blame me for throwing water on you. How else would I wake you up?”
“Some people use words.”
“Boring people. You want to shower before we go? I really do need a purse. We’ll go shopping, then come back here and fix dinner for Cookie. Then Kelsey and I are taking you dancing.”
“Kelsey?”
“Hunter’s sister,” she said. “We’ve been in touch. No offense, but I think me and her have way more in common than me and you. She’s in touch with her inner bitch, and she’s not afraid to go after what she wants.”
“I’m not afraid.”
“I see that,” she said, holding up the phone with a wicked grin. “I’m really proud of you. You should try calling him now.”
She hit a button and handed me the phone already ringing. I glared at her, but it was too late to hang up. He’d know I called, so might as well play it through. Unfortunately, he didn’t answer.
“Hey, it’s me,” I said, glaring at Kit. “Just wanted to make sure you’re okay. I’ll talk to you later.”
I hung up.
“Good,” Kit said. “You’ve made a move. Now you’re going to leave your phone here while we shop, so you can’t answer if he calls back.”
“Why?”
“Don’t want to sound too eager,” she said thoughtfully. “You not only talked to him last night, but you’ve already texted and called, too.”
“I didn’t call,” I said pointedly.
“He doesn’t know that. You want to shower before we go? No offense, but you look like shit.”
“I’m not sure I like living closer to you.”
“You love me and you know it.”
Unfortunately, I did.
Six hours later we pulled back into Cookie’s driveway, the car full of Chinese carryout and three new purses. Two for Kit and one for me. Not that I needed a new bag, but it would’ve been rude not to buy anything at all, right?
“Sorry we aren’t cooking,” I apologized as I walked in the door. “We sort of lost track of time. Hope takeaway is all right?”
Cookie glanced up from the couch, where she sat reading with Silvie.
“If I don’t have to cook it, I don’t care where it comes from,” she said. “Silvie, help me clear off the coffee table. Let’s have a picnic out here, sound good?”
Silvie loved that idea, and after another five minutes we were opening boxes of hot, steaming food.