Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 46448 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 232(@200wpm)___ 186(@250wpm)___ 155(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46448 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 232(@200wpm)___ 186(@250wpm)___ 155(@300wpm)
“Hello, Mrs. Daniels,” Matthew said.
“Yes, I remember you. You’re the sweet boy that helped me out with my groceries whenever you saw me struggling, and you mowed the lawn for me. Oh, and you helped fix the fence.”
Luna was amazed as within seconds, her father was on the phone, talking with Matthew as if they were old friends. Her parents loved him. But then, so did she.
At the end of the call, they had already set a dinner date or two, and she pressed the end call button and looked toward Matthew. “My parents adore you.”
“Your parents love me,” he said, taking her hand.
“You helped them out while I was away at college, didn’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I always knew I was going to win you back. Didn’t know how I was going to do that, but I’m a Bana, Luna. I was going to find a way to make you mine.” He kissed her knuckles and leaned in close. “Even if that meant I was going to have to knock you up to do it.”
She gasped and pulled away. “You’re joking?”
“No. I’m being serious,” he said, kissing her. “Even now, I’ve thought about what I could do to make you mine. I was tempted to take you without a condom, or sabotage them, but instead, I decided I’d make you fall in love with me.”
Tears filled her eyes.
“I wasted time as a kid. I fucked up. I felt so many things with you, and it scared the crap out of me, but not anymore. Not when it comes to you. I love you, Luna, and I will do whatever it takes to win you back. Whatever it takes.” He picked up her hand and kissed her.
She believed him. These were not just words to him anymore. He meant every single word he said.
****
Matthew stood a little away from his father, poised and ready to strike, not that he needed a reason. This was Diaz, but Duke had told him to be on the alert. The drug problem had escalated within twenty-four hours.
At one of the parks, five teenagers were found unconscious. It looked like an OD, and they’d been taken to the hospital.
Duke was waiting to get an update on their condition, but from what he could tell, it wasn’t good. None of it was. There was no news. His father had been in and out of emergency meetings for the past couple of days, and shit was about to get real.
“We’re going to feel the heat if this shit doesn’t blow over,” Kid said. “The town is going to be looking toward the Prez and the club. They’re going to blame him.”
“He’s never been about bringing that shit home. You know that,” Matthew said.
“Of course, we know that, but when people get scared, they turn on you. Trust me.”
Matthew stayed perfectly still and watched as Duke, Pike, and Raoul stepped forward, shaking hands with Diaz.
Diaz had several men behind his back.
He watched as he shook his head. They didn’t have any news.
“Shit is bad, Mat,” Kid said.
“Shut up.” He didn’t know how to help his father.
Bad drugs were a big problem. Kids were falling. People were dying. They had to get a handle on this shit, and soon.
Duke talked with Diaz for nearly twenty minutes. It ended well with a handshake and slap on the shoulder, and then they left.
Pike, Raoul, and Duke stood for several minutes, talking, and he watched as his father shook his head. He was used to the movement and the grim look. Matthew had disappointed his father a few times throughout his life. His father was upset, but he moved toward them, not even looking at him.
He wasn’t a patched-in member. One day soon, he would be, but he was just like the other prospects, and he didn’t want to get any special treatment. When the time came to get his patch, the club would know he earned it.
Duke straddled his bike, turned over the engine, and waited for them all to join him.
Matthew was in line with Kid and Rock. Pike and Raoul were behind them, and with a rev of their engines, they were back on the open road. They rode back toward the clubhouse, and sure enough, the moment they arrived, Matthew caught sight of the four cop cars waiting for them.
Holly was there with Crazy, Daisy, Brass, and Landon. Several of the guys were handcuffed, with a few cops looking at them.
“What the fuck is going on?” Duke asked, dropping his bike to the ground and stepping in front of Holly.
“They have a warrant to search the property,” Holly said, gripping her husband’s arm.
Matthew had seen this a few times in his lifetime. For a while, Duke had shit cozy with the cops, but now, with the drugs, he saw that wasn’t the case any longer.