Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 49589 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 248(@200wpm)___ 198(@250wpm)___ 165(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49589 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 248(@200wpm)___ 198(@250wpm)___ 165(@300wpm)
“Shoulda known that from the start.”
“I did. But I thought I was the shit.” I shrugged. “Thought I could handle myself on one date. I’d already decided we weren’t going to fit anywhere. Not even in bed. The woman had a voice that simply to God grated on my last nerve.”
“Then why the fuck did you ask her out to begin with?”
“Heard she had good pussy. If that makes me an asshole, so be it. I told her what I wanted up front. Probably why I never saw her again.”
“Sounds about right. Tell me you’re not glad she split.”
“Nope. I don’t lie. By her giving me the kiss-off -- and probably rightfully so -- she saved me the trouble of dumping her after I met Nadine. Because no one is keeping me from Nadine but Nadine. And only if I can’t sweet talk her into keeping me.”
“She’ll stay. She’s a little reserved now, but you’re right. The women will bring her around.”
“Speaking of which, I need to go check on her. I don’t want to leave her alone too long. She’ll start questioning her decision to come with me and I’m not fighting a battle I’ve already fumbled my way through.”
“Good plan. Church will be at eight tonight. I think Hannah and Pippa are getting together a barbeque for afterward.”
“That a good idea? You know, with eyes on us?”
“They’re setting up in the center warehouse by the pool. I’ll make sure there are lookouts all around the perimeter and a couple up on the roofs at each corner. We’ll have a good warning if they decide to breach the place. We’ve all prepared the women, and they know what to do. Best get Nadine filled in. Hannah will make sure she’s taken care of if we get hit.”
“Ain’t likin’ this.” I scrubbed the back of my neck.
“Me neither.” Knuckles clapped me on the shoulder. “Go see to your woman. Get her firmly on your side so you can protect her. She’s got to trust you to keep her safe before she’ll let you.”
“On it, Prez. On it good and proper.”
Chapter Nine
Nadine
It’s funny how quickly a place built like a fortress could start to feel like home. I’d been at Kiss of Death for three weeks with Pain. Sometimes I could see flashes of Dr. Raven, but most of the time, he was Pain. I thought I might be more comfortable with Pain than I was Dr. Raven. It didn’t take long to establish a routine that felt almost normal. I mean, if you ignored the camo netting.
The whole place had seemed on edge from the beginning, but given what Pain had told me, I guessed I could understand. I’d seen the traffic around the compound, and even I could tell it wasn’t usual. It was disconcerting. It also made me hyperaware the men housed in this place weren’t safe. Not in any way. Having said that, I’d never felt more like I was part of a family than I had since coming to this place in Nashville.
“Hey, Nurse Hottie!” Tillie called as she sauntered into the clinic, her heavily pregnant belly leading the way. “Got time to check my blood pressure? Baby’s kicking like he’s auditioning for the damn UFC.”
I smiled warmly at the other woman. Tillie was with Xavier. Apparently, she’d gotten pregnant soon after becoming Xavier’s old lady, and now she was about eight weeks from delivery. And the kid was going to be a hellion if the way it kicked its mother was any indication.
“Come in. And I’ve told you to stop calling me Nurse Hottie.”
“Not gonna happen.” She laughed. Tillie was a stunning woman with the most beautiful silvery green eyes. Mid laugh, she winced before settling herself in the chair next to my desk with a grunt. “The guys have already caught on. I heard Diesel call you that yesterday.”
“Where Pain could hear?” I raised an eyebrow.
“Yes! That was the whole problem. Diesel had no idea you were Pain’s woman. He was the one telling Pain what a hottie you were.” She laughed merrily before wincing once more. “This kid’s a little shit already.”
“Great,” I muttered, wrapping the cuff around her arm. “Just what I need.”
But the truth was, I didn’t mind it much. The nicknames, the teasing, that’s how they showed acceptance and affection. No one was malicious about it. It was more like siblings. I found I’d come to crave the interaction.
These people were nothing like I’d been afraid of when I’d first come here with Pain. These were good people. Did they do some shady shit? Yep. Pain had explained some of it to me because he said he didn’t want secrets between us.
“How are you and Pain getting along? Everything good?” Tillie’s question was genuine. She rubbed her belly absently, but I could see she was genuinely interested. All the old ladies were.