Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 26232 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 131(@200wpm)___ 105(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 26232 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 131(@200wpm)___ 105(@250wpm)___ 87(@300wpm)
“Yes, Prez.”
I tilt my head toward the kitchen. “Go.”
He glances behind him. “Uh, you’re not going to tell anyone, are you? Wrath and Murphy aren’t going to take me out back and shoot me later, right?”
I’ll probably tell Wrath. Otherwise, he’ll annoy the fuck out of me. And Hope might tell Trinity, which is as good as telling Wrath. As much as he enjoys being an asshole, if I tell Wrath it’s handled and to leave it alone, he will. Rav doesn’t need to know that, though.
My mouth curves into my coldest smile and I slowly lift my shoulders. “Live in fear, brother.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Charlotte
“We’ve done our duty. It’s time to go.” Marcel presses his hand against the small of my back. “I don’t want you breathing in all this smoke and shit.”
I lift my gaze to the high ceilings and fans circulating above. “The windows are open. Ventilation is good. I feel fine.”
“I don’t want to leave Murphy and Heidi watching all the kids by themselves.”
“I’m pretty sure the kids are sound asleep.” I pull my phone out of my purse and show him the picture Heidi sent me. The three older kids nestled into sleeping bags on our living room floor and baby Bit-Bit snuggly in her daddy’s arms.
Marcel grunts at the picture but a flicker of a smile passes over his lips.
“Why are you so bugged about being here?”
He stares at me and frowns, like he’s trying to figure out the answer himself. “They built it to be their little den of deviance and that part of my life is behind me.”
I snort and then full-out laugh. “You’re kidding, right?” I lean up and whisper in his ear, “You’re probably the biggest deviant in this room.”
One corner of his mouth tips up and he nods to one of his brothers in the corner with a girl on her knees in front of him. “You sure?”
“That’s just showing off.” I scan the room. “Have you seen Carter?”
“Worried he’s going to be corrupted?”
“That ship has sailed.” I roll my eyes. “I don’t live in older sibling fantasyland like you do.”
He chuckles and puts his arm around me.
“Come on,” I say, “I want to have Shelby read my fortune before we leave.”
“I know your fortune. Your deviant husband’s going to love you for a very long time. And if you die before me, I’m jumping in your grave.”
“How perfectly romantic for Halloween.”
Together, we walk over to Shelby’s booth. People stop us to say hi. A guy I don’t recognize tries to rub my belly. Marcel shackles his hand around the guy’s wrist.
“You want this back?” he asks, shaking the guy’s arm. “Don’t touch my wife.”
“Sorry, sorry.” He backs away from us fast.
“Who the fuck are all these people?” Marcel grouches.
“Friends of Ravage’s, I guess.” I turn my head, searching the room. “Where is he, by the way?”
“No clue. But as soon as I talk to him, we’re out of here.”
I’m starting to agree with him but after making such a fuss about staying, I don’t want to admit it.
“I see an ass-kickin’ in your future if you don’t back the fuck up.” Shelby’s Southern twang burns through all the other noise around us.
“Jesus,” Marcel grumbles. “What now?”
Without even looking for Rooster, Marcel steps up to the man sitting at Shelby’s table and taps him on the shoulder. “What’s goin’ on?”
The man isn’t wearing a cut. He’s dressed like Santa and glares at Teller for about two seconds. Recognition seems to cross his face and he jumps out of his seat.
“Nothing, man. Just talking to the lady. Thought that’s what the girls were here for.”
“She’s my brother’s ol’ lady. You need to move along,” Marcel says. “Now.”
“Yeah, yeah. I’m goin’, man.”
Santa shuffles away, but Marcel isn’t content with that. He searches the room. When his gaze lands on Wrath he signals to him.
“Give me a sec, Sunshine. I’ll be right back.” Marcel guides me into the chair across from Shelby and takes off.
“You all right?” I ask her.
“Pfft. I’m fine. He was just gross. Probably old enough to be my damn grandpa.” She closes her eyes and takes several deep breaths, waving her hands back and forth. “Okay! Do you want me to pull cards for you?”
“Sure.” I’ve watched Shelby do this several times and I’m still not sure what to think about the process.
“Good.” She picks up her cards and starts shuffling them. “Do you have a question in mind?”
“Not really.”
“That’s okay.” She sets the cards in front of me, splits the deck, and fans the cards out. “Pick three.”
I touch several cards before pulling three out and handing them to her. She picks up the rest of the cards, setting them to the side.
One by one, she turns over the cards. A sly smile curves her pink lips.
“The universe is feeling obvious tonight. Empress.” She taps the card with a woman wearing a crown. “A sign of fertility.”