Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 92397 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92397 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Rage watched Crow head toward Jazz where she sat with a plate in her lap but with her eyes on them.
His gaze sliced from Jazz through the courtyard to see where Lyric was. She was looking his way, concern on her face. Since they both knew this talk with Crow would be coming, she’d kept her distance so as to not interrupt them.
Lyric started to head over to him but abruptly stopped.
Fuck. What now?
Rage spotted his parents working their way through the crowded courtyard from the clubhouse to where he stood.
Jesus. He couldn’t even get a fucking break to grab a damn beer. And fuck if he didn’t need one.
But what caught his attention the most was the lines in his mother’s face and the gray highlights in her blond hair. Age was finally catching up to her.
He couldn’t imagine not having his mother in his life. She had been the fucking best. Seeing his father walking by her side with his hand curled possessively around the back of her neck made it clear his parents would love each other to the end of time.
Rage had always held everyone else’s relationship up to theirs. Now he had the chance to use them as the perfect model for his own.
Kiki went toe-to-toe with him, cooed, “Oh, my baby boy!” and cupped his cheek. “Finally becoming a man!”
“For fuck’s sake, Mom,” Rage muttered, while Hawk barked out a laugh.
“You know I always have to try to embarrass my only son, who not only towers over me, but decided to use Rage as his road name.”
Yeah, she made it clear she had hated it when he picked it over a decade ago and still did.
“Mom…”
“I had no idea you were interested in Lyric,” she said more seriously. “But if you want my opinion—”
“Always, Mom.”
“I couldn’t be more thrilled. Her personality complements yours. We’ve known forever how she can calm you down when no one else can. Since you two have always been close, this is no surprise.”
That sounded familiar.
“Gonna take that as your approval.” Not that he needed it. Technically, the only person required to approve was Crow. But it was still good to know his parents accepted his choice.
“Now, I need to go find my new daughter and squeeze her tight.”
“For fuck’s sake, Mom.”
“I have to do what I can to humble my six-foot-three, built-like-a-brick-house son.”
Rage shook his head and noticed his father grinning. One thing that Hawk loved about Kiki was how she didn’t take life so seriously. And that was despite the trauma she experienced due to him being a part of the club.
Kiki pinched his cheek. “My big, bouncing baby boy has become a man. You see that, Daddy?” she asked Hawk with a sparkle in her eyes.
“Hard to miss, baby.” Then Rage’s father pinned his lips together, probably to keep from busting out laughing.
“All right, time to go embarrass your other half.” She turned, spotted Lyric, and beelined over to her next.
Even after Kiki walked away, Hawk’s eyes followed his ol’ lady. It was difficult to miss how much his father would be affected if anything happened to his mother.
It would literally kill him.
“Dad,” Rage groaned.
“You know she’s just fuckin’ with you, son.”
“I know, but hopefully she don’t scare Lyric away.”
“If you ain’t done that yet, nobody fuckin’ will.”
That was a piece of truth he couldn’t argue with.
Rage said, “Bring it on.”
“Bring what on?”
“You’re ‘bout to fuck with me, too.”
Hawk’s lips twitched. “Yeah, but got plenty of time to do that. Don’t need to do that tonight.”
“Or you could just get it over with and let me live in peace for the rest of your life.”
“Fuck that. That ain’t no fun.”
“You approve?”
Hawk’s amusement quickly fled. “Of Lyric? No fuckin’ doubt. Can’t see you claimin’ anyone else. Always figured she’d be right for you. You finally realized it yourself.”
“Yeah. But…”
Hawk lifted a brow.
“The club’s dealin’ with some shit right now. Worried what happened to Mom might happen to Lyric. Scares the fuck outta me, Dad.”
“Don’t ever want you experiencin’ what I did when those motherfuckin’ Warriors took Jazz and your mom. Thought my life was about to end. Thought the Warriors ripped my heart right the fuck outta my chest and stomped on it ’til there was nothin’ left.”
“They paid for it. Swear the Souls will pay for it, too, if they do anythin’ like it.”
In reality, they were going to pay no matter what.
Hawk slapped him on the back. “Know you got a shit-ton weighin’ on your shoulders. We’re here to help relieve some of that shit. Just know, you can come to any of us OGs to tap into our knowledge and experience.”
“Thank fuck for that.”
“All right, gonna go stuff my face, then go home and have your mom sit on my face.”
“Jesus fuckin’ Christ,” Rage muttered, dropping his head and shaking it.