Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 129681 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 648(@200wpm)___ 519(@250wpm)___ 432(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129681 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 648(@200wpm)___ 519(@250wpm)___ 432(@300wpm)
A faint smile pulled at my mouth.
One that felt permanent.
I dried and changed into the sleep pants and tee I’d packed in my overnight bag, then I slipped out of Jud’s bedroom, coming to a stop right outside the door.
The television was on and Finding Nemo played on the screen. Juni was on her knees at the coffee table, enraptured by the show while she ate a slice of pizza.
But it was the voices in the kitchen that stalled my feet and piqued my ear.
I edged to the end and peered out. Jud and Trent stood at the island, their conversation hushed and heated and hard.
But they weren’t at war with each other.
They were at war with my enemy.
One they didn’t even know.
“Doesn’t sit right,” Jud muttered. “Oily rag was in the seat. Sure, it could have been forgotten, but then what? It’s not just going to catch fire.”
Jud shook his head before he continued, “And the amount of time that alarm was going off until I got down there? Car should’ve been completely engulfed in flames.”
“You think the alarm was a warning?” Trent said it like he was already right there, a partner to Jud’s speculations, seeing it for what it was, too.
A token.
A premonition.
My spirit dampened and swam. I tried to remain steady. To keep the dizziness from whirring through my head. Still, apprehension clutched my chest in a fist.
“Yeah. I think someone set the alarm. Salem freaked out that it might be Juni’s father who she’s been dodging for years.” He roughed an agitated hand through his hair before he met Trent face on. “I think it was her brother, though. He’s the one who has access, and whoever it was knew exactly how to stay out of line of the security cameras. The dude was pissed this afternoon when he realized things were getting real between me and Salem, and if someone actually wanted to set fire to the place, they would have. He knew I’d find it quick and put it out.”
My spirit shivered with the impact of what Jud implied.
Darius?
Would he do that to me?
I blinked against the staggering pain the thought evoked. I didn’t even want to process or contemplate it.
Trent sighed. Somehow it sounded of relief. “Reckless, but understandable. I mean, I’d want to burn your shit down, too, if you got your dirty paws on my little sister.”
He cracked a grin at that.
I wasn’t smiling. I couldn’t fathom that Darius would do something so awful. So hurtful.
Gulping, I forced myself to listen.
Jud chuckled and threw a targetless punch at his brother. “Fuck you, man.”
Trent laughed then sobered as he shifted gears. “But that black car…”
“Yup. That’s what is tripping me up. I have to figure out what’s going on there, but this? Tonight? The fire? My gut tells me it’s Darius.”
“Thinking you’re probably right. Dude’s most likely pissed and making his feelings known. Thinks he’ll scare you off. He’ll get over it. I’m going to post Milo out front, though, just as a precaution.”
“Thank you. Just…have to keep them safe, Trent. Whatever that means.” Savagery quivered through Jud’s words, steel lining his voice.
Trent tucked his hands into his pockets. “You accept it yet?”
Jud’s big chest widened on a heavy exhale. “What? That I love her?”
But it was my lungs that locked up. Locked in a hope that I’d never expected. One I had never dared dreaming of since I’d started this fight.
And I guessed he must have known I was there the entire time because those eyes found mine where I was eavesdropping off to the side.
Obsidian flashed with desire.
With greed and goodness.
With everything I’d had no idea I’d needed.
He stretched out his hand in my direction. “Yeah. I did.”
Intensity flickered through the glare of the lights.
I felt seen.
Adored.
Understood.
I edged out from behind the wall and shuffled that way, my head lowered in a bit of embarrassment since I’d been caught unabashedly listening to their conversation.
Jud didn’t seem to mind. He just wrapped an arm around me and tugged me close. He dropped a kiss to the top of my head and spun my heart up all over again.
“Yeah,” he murmured. The sound vibrated through me like a warm caress.
Trent smiled at me from where I peered out.
“Good.” He returned his attention to Jud. “I’m going to get back to the club. Give me a call if you need anything at all.”
“Will do.”
“Thank you,” I said.
Trent’s expression shifted. Firm affection. “It’s what this family does, Salem. We stand for each other, until the very end.” His eyes snapped to Jud for a beat before they were back on me. “Seems you’re a part of that now.”
A lump lodged itself in my throat.
Home. Home. Home.
The promise of it swam and sang.
I barely managed a nod.
Trent and Jud bumped fists and then Trent was gone.