Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 69424 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69424 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 347(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 231(@300wpm)
I hummed as I reached for the blanket to bring it up over Calli’s tiny body.
“I’m down for all of that,” I said. “You can get on my bike and we can go tomorrow.”
“It’s a little cold for that, isn’t it?” she teased.
“Maybe,” I admitted.
“I’ve wanted nothing more than to ride on the back of your bike, Jasper Madden.”
I twisted my face and deposited a kiss to the top of her head. “I’ve wanted nothing more than to have you there.”
Twenty-Five
When a woman asks you “if you want to see crazy” assure her that no, you indeed, do not.
—Rules to live by
JASPER
Apollo pulled up to the curb between my house and Calli’s and got out.
He held out a present and said, “Found this at the clubhouse.”
I grinned and reached for it. “Thanks.”
I’d ordered a few more things for Calli’s birthday, but I’d had them delivered to the clubhouse to keep her from seeing them—or opening them before I could collect the package.
“What’s going on?” Apollo asked.
I jerked my chin up at the mess in front of us. “She wanted to see if anything was salvageable.”
“Is there?” he wondered.
“Not much,” I admitted. “A few cans from the kitchen. Some Stanley cups. The wrought iron bed frame from the guest room.”
He grunted. “Dru’s with some of the ladies from the club right now buying her clothes.”
I smiled. “She’s going to be all pissy. She doesn’t feel like y’all need to do anything more than you already have.”
“Well, tough shit.” Apollo glanced at me. “Talked to a few people this morning.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah,” he confirmed. “We’ll start with the man who beat the shit out of Harlow.”
I gritted my teeth.
“He’s out on bail, but they already have another warrant out for his arrest. Apparently his daughter shared some more things that’d happened to her, and that gave them free rein to do a search on his place. They found a lot of things that’d been marked missing out of police evidence. He’s cooked.”
“Good,” I said.
I’d talked to Harlow this morning, and she’d had nothing but good things to say.
She was recovering well with her friends, and wasn’t too upset about the outcome of her and Cedrick’s relationship.
“The second thing,” Apollo continued. “I talked with Max. She gave me some information on the man pulling her strings. I did some digging, and I think I’ve pulled up enough shit on this man that he’ll burn in the next few weeks. Forwarded some shit to some old contacts with the Senate committee I was on, and I don’t think they’re going to take too kindly to his rogue agenda.”
“Good.”
“Max went back home,” he said. “Bernie is well, well away from Max. She’s holed up in a small town in Montana near Whitefish.”
“Good,” I said.
“And I got on that information with her truck. Called the manufacturer, and they’re very concerned about what happened. They’re already launching an investigation into everything on their end. Apparently, this isn’t an isolated issue, and the dealership knew about the possibility of the trucks catching on fire because of a fuel leak.”
“Good.”
“The house thing, though, I will leave up to you and her,” he said. “I just wanted to stop by and give you an update and drop the package off.”
“Thanks, man.” I held out my hand.
He took it and shook it hard before slapping me on the back. “I did one more thing.”
I looked over at him.
“I hacked into a couple CEOs’ office computers. I changed the bylaws and sent out a company-wide email that changed the distance from office. If you want to stay here, you can.”
I grinned at him this time. “Thanks, man. I’m glad you were able to do it this fast.”
I wanted Calli to have options. If she wanted to move, she could.
But if she wanted to stay closer to her sister, she could do that, too.
Whatever she wanted, I would make it happen.
“No problem.” He walked a little past where we were standing and called out, “Happy birthday, Calliope!”
Calliope popped up with something in her hand and smiled at Apollo, giving him a comically big wave. “Thank you!”
Apollo gave a small wave and went back to his car.
I walked closer to Calli and found that she was wiping something clean with her shirt.
“What is that?” I asked.
She held up something metal and squealed. “I found your Gremlin Bells!”
I caught her as she threw herself at me, the tinkling of the bells sounding right behind my ear as she wrapped every limb that she could around me.
“Did you now?”
“Yes.” She brought the bells in front of my face, pieces of ash falling between us. “See?”
“I do,” I confirmed, blowing out slightly to keep me from inhaling the ash. “Where do you want to go eat for your birthday?”
She sighed. “I’m not a big going out and celebrating person. Plus, I still have that interview in an hour and a half.”