Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 132031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 660(@200wpm)___ 528(@250wpm)___ 440(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132031 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 660(@200wpm)___ 528(@250wpm)___ 440(@300wpm)
“You,” Mae answered with a little less happy in her tone. Fox’s gaze swept to Abi.
“You ain’t got nothin’ to say?”
Abi continued to stare at her plate, not making eye contact with her grandfather as she spoke. “He always says that to me. You’d think he’d figure it out.”
“I’d’ve beat your ass in front of everybody if you ever said anything like that to your grandparents,” Fox said to Shanna. The spoon clinked hard against the china plate. A lump of food plopped down.
“Since I’ve never met my grandparents, we really don’t know that,” Shanna started but Dev cut her off.
“If I ever find out you laid a hand on my kids, I’ll fuckin’ kill you that day, old man.” An underlying promise rang in the oath. Cash believed every word.
“Well, goddamn. I’m gettin' attacked by everyone at this fuckin’ table. Happy fuckin’ Thanksgiving. Give me some of that cold turkey I paid for.” His hand extended to the platter of cut turkey placed closer to his wife. “And where’s my fuckin’ beer?”
Dev’s mother let go of an impatient sigh, but got up from her seat, throwing the napkin in the chair. “I’ll be back.”
When she left, his father rose, picking up his plate. He went around the table and took Carly’s seat at the head, replacing his plate with hers. Cash half expected the plate to be slung across the room, but instead, Fox put the plate on top of Mae’s. “Get to your place at the end of the table.”
Instant tears sprang to her eyes as she scurried out of the seat.
“Goddammit,” Dev roared and took his freshly buttered yeast roll and threw it at his father like a pitcher at a baseball game. “Don’t talk to them that way. I’ve fuckin’ told you. It’s comin’ for you. Guaranteed.”
As Dev spoke, he rose, rounding the table, using all his strength to knock the back of his father’s chair forward. He met Mae who’d changed course to head to her dad. He gently scooped her up then went for Abi, taking her hand and carefully moving her out of her seat. The move was impressive with as angry as he was.
Cash’s gaze followed them. Three sets of eyes were focused on him. He guessed that was his cue. He lifted the napkin from his lap, setting it on the table.
“Grab your plate and mine. My old man’s a pig. Nobody wants to watch him eat anyway.”
Cash cast a quick glance at Shanna who shrugged and reached for her plate and Dev’s, getting up from her seat.
“Good. More fuckin’ food for me,” Fox growled, seemingly unimpressed by their show of disdain.
The silence lasted until Cash reached the kitchen then an all-out brawl began between Dev’s father and his mother in the dining room. Dev put Mae down on a barstool and grabbed new plates, handing one to each of his daughters.
“Remember, you’re the one who wanted to come.” Dev glanced pointedly at Cash.
“Momo and Fox fight a lot. More than Daddy and Momma. Momo doesn’t like Fox. Nobody really does except his brothers at the club and that one woman and her daughter.” Mae explained as Cash took his seat next to her. The entire experience became way more biker-oriented than he’d originally thought it was. Dev’s big hand came to Mae’s head, drawing both hers and Abi’s attention.
“Fightin’ isn’t normal. Your prince needs to not yell at you like that,” Dev explained in a “do as I say, not as I do” type of remark.
“Or you’ll beat him up?” Mae asked happily. Abi nodded as if it was a given.
“Oh, one hundred percent yes.” The certainty rang true. Cash didn’t doubt it in the least. Dev was sweet with his girls. All the while, ignoring the crash of broken glass coming from the other room.
~~~
“I need a fuckin’ bump,” Dev murmured, coming to stand at the edge of the back porch where Cash and Shanna quietly talked. He was edgy now, wanting to crawl out of his skin. His father’s bad attitude left a lasting mark on his mood.
“No, you need some ADHD medication,” Cash answered as if he were an expert head doctor.
“I don’t have ADHD. I think I’m fuckin’ bi-polar. My head never stops.” Not exactly the truth but sounded disagreeable so he stuck with the argument.
Abi swung lazily in a hammock with his mother’s cell phone in hand. Mae played with her Barbies, or whatever they were, finally giving Cash a moment’s peace. Maybe his shiny newness was finally wearing off. The pretty boy had stood up well to their obsession.
“You’ve been diagnosed with ADHD since you were nine years old,” Cash said, nonplussed, while staring out into the darkening sky.
“What the fuck?” Dev burst out and crossed his arms over his chest, feeling disgruntled as hell until Abi glanced at him. She was on high alert since Fox’s arrival, keeping an eye on things. He lifted a hand, letting her know it was all okay. When he spoke again, his voice was softer and calmer. “Y’all know more about me than I know about myself.”