Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 35656 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 178(@200wpm)___ 143(@250wpm)___ 119(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35656 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 178(@200wpm)___ 143(@250wpm)___ 119(@300wpm)
Seeing him constantly doing what he wanted and with herself always dealing with the consequences, she’d gotten angry, and through that anger, she’d stopped having any feeling about him whatsoever.
When it came to Caleb, she felt everything.
“Don’t do it, Faith. Don’t go there.”
She spun on her heel and climbed into the bath.
This relationship had no room for change of any kind.
Chapter Eight
A couple weeks later
“How is Dwayne’s training?” Beast asked.
Caleb stopped looking around the library and turned to look at his brother. “He’s fine. He’s stopped moaning at every single request.”
“And what are your thoughts on him?”
“You’ve treated him too soft.”
“There are ways to train that don’t involve our father’s methods, Caleb. I figured you’d appreciate that. Why have you suddenly taken an interest in my book collection?”
“You have more than me.”
“That’s what happens when you like books more than you do getting one with nature. You own more tents and survival kits than I do,” Beast said, a smirk on his lips.
Caleb smiled. His brother had never understood his need to get away from it all. When your every need was catered to, he guessed a lot of people wouldn’t like going out near the winter, just to be at peace with oneself. He needed it. Without, he couldn’t handle everything he had to do.
“I nearly killed Dwayne, just so you know.”
Beast laughed. “Do I even want to know why?”
“He saw my woman naked.”
This made Beast’s brow rise. “Your woman?”
“You’re shocked that I have a woman but not shocked that I tried to kill our nephew.”
“I’ve wanted to kill Dwayne a few times. I think it’s the boy’s MO, or at least he has a knack for pissing people off. You’ve decided to take the little debt as your woman?”
“Don’t call her that, Beast.” He didn’t like that. Faith deserved a lot more than to be viewed as some kind of debt.
“Hope likes her.”
“Is that a good thing?”
“Hope likes everyone.”
“Exactly.”
This made Beast smile. “Are you happy?”
Caleb stared at his brother and saw the concern in Beast’s eyes. They were both monsters and beasts within their world, and rarely took the time to talk about their feelings. He’d always assumed Beast didn’t have any until Hope came into his brother’s life.
“I’m happy.”
“I know this life gets to you.”
“I’m fine, Beast. I’ll never have a problem.”
Beast stared at him for several minutes. “You’re sure?”
“I’m always here, aren’t I?”
“Still, it must … be difficult.”
He’d never had a heart-to-heart with his brother. He’d never felt the need to. They were two different people, and each of them had a different way of dealing with the world.
“You don’t need to start worrying about me. Just because I like a woman doesn’t mean I’m going soft,” Caleb said.
“Well, I know what it’s like.” Beast leaned forward, holding up a file. “I need you to head to Vegas this weekend.”
“What for?” He took the file from his brother and opened it. On the first page was a picture of a man, a cop that was on their payroll.
“I see you recognize him. No, he’s not offering our secrets to the law, and we’re not going to have the FBI knocking down our doors. He’s selling our secrets to the highest bidder, or at least, that’s the rumor. I had a call this morning that he’s setting up an auction, and hopes to have our competitors pay for the privilege of everything he knows.”
“That shit isn’t happening,” Caleb said, flicking over the page. “This is why I don’t like dealing with dirty cops.”
“Dirty cops have their uses. What I don’t like are dirty rat cops. This guy is dangerous.”
“You want him dead?”
“Yes.”
Caleb saw where he’d set up operations. “How long has he been there?”
“One day. I already have your tickets.”
Beast handed over the flight tickets. Caleb studied them then looked at his brother. “Why do I have two?”
“For your woman, of course. Vegas can be such a … wonderful place. You can have wedding ceremonies, gambling.”
“I know exactly what you’re trying to do, and it’s not going to work,” Caleb said.
“Well, you could make an honest woman out of her.”
“She doesn’t do love,” Caleb said.
“Neither do you. Besides, it’s amazing what happens when you spend time together. Words are spoken, feelings are developed, and before you know where you are, you’re a happily married man with lots to live for and a baby on the way.”
Now Beast had a full-blown smile on his face, and he looked so damn proud of himself.
“You really do love Hope?” Caleb asked, closing the file.
“More than anything in the world.”
“The age gap … doesn’t bother you?”
“Nope. It doesn’t. I could let it bother me if I sit and think about it all the time, but I refuse to let something so trivial get in the way. She’s happy. I’m happy. Together we make each other so, and I’m not going to question that. Maybe you should start thinking about that.”