Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 46412 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 232(@200wpm)___ 186(@250wpm)___ 155(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46412 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 232(@200wpm)___ 186(@250wpm)___ 155(@300wpm)
“Sunshine, you need to be more careful,” he drawls. “You’re baiting me and really need to control your tone.” His words seem to grow in anger as his cool demeanor slips. “If you had done that to begin with, we’d still be happy together.”
“You’re dreaming. We were never happy, Mason. Lose my number and leave me alone. We’re history. While you’re at it, stay away from the diner too. I know you’ve been there. Stay away from my grandmother or I’ll find a way to make sure you regret it. Remember I know things about you that I’ve conveniently forgotten. I might remember them again if you keep harassing me.”
I’m totally bluffing. I don’t know much at all. Mason doesn’t know that, however. He did get drunk or high a lot and spouted just enough nonsense that Mason thinks I know secrets, and have it secured somewhere to get him into trouble if something happens to me. Really, I just watch a lot of movies and that seemed a safe way to make sure Mason didn’t kill me—because God knows he came close a time or two.
I don’t wait for him to respond. I shouldn’t have even talked to him at all. The minute I heard it was him I should’ve hung up. My fingertips are numb as adrenaline hits me and I click my phone off. My entire body is a trembling mess and I’m gasping for breath as my panic and anger collide and roll through me like a tsunami. I throw my phone across the room, screaming. It’s not just a yell of frustration, but the type of scream that strains your vocal cords because it’s torn from your soul.
Mason has done nothing but ruin my life. How was I ever so stupid? I ignored all the red flags and warning signs until it was too late. I’m scared that my past with him is going to mess up what I’ve started with King. At the same time, there’s this small voice inside my head that keeps telling me that I’m making the same mistake again. Hearing from Mason just makes it all worse…
Chapter 14
King
I’ve already gone by the hospital wanting to see Shelby. Being around her helps settle the raging war within me. The fight with T hurt more than I anticipated. He’s mad—real mad. Most of the club is too. I’ve been made to look like the asshole and while it’s what I wanted it didn’t feel great when I got smacked across my already sore face by Lyla once she found out about the fight. I feel like a stranger in the one place that has always been my home.
The next step will be worse. We’ve set it up so that I get into a very public fight with Grunt while on a routine border patrol. That’s where the prying eyes will be the most plentiful, seeing as its BMRR’s territory next to ours. We know they’ll hear about it. If they’re smart, their crew will be watching it. I know we don’t allow MC’s close to our property line without monitoring them. One or two might slip through but a group of men on bikes? Hell, no.
Truthfully, I’d like to call a stop to everything, but I can’t. I have to see this through. Still, it doesn’t make the fact that my brothers in arms are already avoiding me hurt any less. I feel like an outsider at the club. Once this fight with Grunt takes place, I’ll be treated like an enemy. After the shit with Sledge and his old lady, no one wants more drama inside the ranks.
I need to suck it up. I knew going into this it wouldn’t be sunshine and rainbows. It’s just now that I have Shelby in my life, I’m ready for this shit to be over. I don’t like knowing the target on my back is getting bigger while my club turns away from me—not when I finally have something in my life worth living for.
I need Shelby.
I drive straight to her house when I don’t find her at work. It takes longer than I like for her to answer the door and when she does, she looks like hell. She’s squinting and her beautiful face is pinched with bags under her eyes. Her robe is tied haphazardly, barely covering her silk pajamas and her hair is a tangled mess of waves.
“What’s wrong, baby?” I ask, tilting my head to the side to look at her through the crack in the door.
“I have a migraine,” she says, her voice sounding tired. “I’m not up for company, King.”
“That’s good because I’m not company,” I tell her softly, gently pushing the door as she steps to the side.
“Come on in,” Shelby says snidely as she closes and locks the door.