Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 105709 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 352(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105709 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 352(@300wpm)
Everything is cold, as I pull my cover tighter.
My phone buzzes in my pocket, a text lighting up the screen.
You need to come home.
Mum. Always the martyr doing her best to hold the pieces together.
I don't respond. Can't. If I do, I’ll have to tell her why I’m here visiting my baby sister.
Somewhere behind these ancient walls, Millie is inside. She'll know what to do. She always knew what to do, despite her being younger.
I let out a ragged sob. One I feel down to the ache in my feet.
This wasn’t supposed to happen. I was supposed to be living. Free. To come go home with stories about what rugby player I ended up in bed with, or what exams I failed hardest at.
Not this.
Tears stream down my face. How can you feel nothing and everything at once. It’s like the universe plays the best tricks on the ones who struggle most.
Doors creak open as Millie steps out, her habit fluttering in the wind and pale face glowing under the weak streetlight.
She sees me, and her blue eyes widen in shock. Well, at least Sister whoever it was actually got her and didn’t whack me off instead. I don’t discriminate. A nun could fuck you up the same way anyone else can.
“Melissa!” her arms lock around my body. “You're freezing. Come inside, now.”
She pulls me through the doors and I try not to feel out of place as the cathedral archways swallow me.
My sobs echo off the walls as she guides me to a wooden pew, her grip firm on my elbow.
“Sit. Breathe.” She kneels in front of me, hands cupping my face, wiping tears with her thumbs. “What happened? You look like death warmed over.”
I choke on the words. “I can't...I...”
“Shh.” Her voice stays soft, but steel edges it, the dark side peeking through. “You're safe here. Tell me everything.”
Rough fabric scrapes against my fingers as I clutch her habit. "It's all falling apart, Millie. Everything."
She nods, drawing me into her warmth. "Then we'll piece it back together. Starting now."
"Are you sure?" I whisper, sniffing as my gaze darts to the shadowed corners, the empty pews.
Blue eyes sparkle—those same eyes from thunderstorm nights when she'd pull me under covers, small hands steady while mine shook, calm becoming my shield against lightning's cracks. "Of course."
“Good.” My fingers fumble at the buttons, peeling away the sodden coat that clings like regret. “Because I need you.”
Ten
Hella
We pull into Redmoon, the strip joint we own, and I hang back, removing my helmet while Beast pauses.
“Everything good, brother? You've been a little off your game lately. A blonde have anything to do with that?”
I scoff. “Nah, nothing to do with her.” Bullshit. “I need to talk to you about something though, something that doesn't fucking add up.”
Beast nods. “Yeah, what’s it about?”
I swing my leg off my bike and flip my cap on. Pulling my wallet from my pocket, I flip it open and hand it to him. He looks down at the picture, then back to me, eyes widening.
“What the fuck? That looks like...”
“Yeah, I know.” I take the wallet back, slipping it into my pocket.
“How'd you get that?”
We start walking toward the black doors that open into Redmoon. We poured serious cash into establishing this joint, and we're fucking glad we did. It brings in enough to keep the club afloat plus some. The girls are all high quality, with around twelve of them running their own shit here. Shelby, Beast's former dick-warmer and the boss bitch, keeps them in line. Don't fucking like her much. Can't say why, but I don't.
We push through the doors, midafternoon daylight streaming in and illuminating the dark interior, which is otherwise dimly lit by neon lights lining the walls.
“I knew a man once,” I say, letting the explanation hang. “Before Vanguard.”
“Well, one thing's for sure,” Beast mumbles as we make our way to private rooms. “You need to lose whatever shit you have with Melissa. Drama we can't deal with right now, and you're not thinking straight when she's around, brother. You're fucking distracted because you're too busy pissing all over her.”
I stop in my tracks and cock my eyebrow. “First of all, fuck you, I don't give a fuck what she does. She's Yana's friend. I would think you'd want her to be safe. Second, I'm not fucking distracted. I could fuck a thousand bitches and still be ready to cock my Glock when needed.”
We continue up the stairway when Frost appears at the top, an AK in his hand. He dips his head to the hallway. “Layla’s having another episode.”
Fuck.
I stomp up the stairs and push Frost aside, pushing the bedroom door open to find Layla curled in the corner of the room , knees drawn up, rocking silently. Her dark brown hair falls over her shoulders, eyes smudged black, makeup running down her face.