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)
He scrunches up his chip bag and pushes himself up from the sofa, his movements slow and uncertain. “What? Now?” His voice carries a note of surprise, maybe even disappointment, as his eyes search my face for answers I can't give him.
I nod. “This is them now.” I know Hella isn't with them because Yana specifically assured me he wouldn’t be, but despite her promises, I still can't shake the gnawing uncertainty that twists in my gut.
What if she was wrong? What if he decided to show up anyway? Fuck. I wouldn't put it past him. I need help. I don't need his banter.
I pull open the door to find Yana, Beast, Hannibal, and Frost waiting.
“Finally! What the hell took you so long!” Yana says, pushing past me. She stops short. “Oh, right! Shit, were we interrupting?” She asks, glancing between me and Chase. The boys follow her inside and freeze when they spot Chase.
“Oh?” Hannibal’s smirk deepens as he circles Chase like a starved animal. “I see what’s going on here.”
“Stop. Now,” I growl under my breath.
Chase’s eyes flash between me and Hannibal before he snatches his keys and duffel bag from the counter.
He draws me in for a kiss, lips brush my temple. “Call me when you get there,” he murmurs against my ear, his breath warm on my skin.
“Will do.” I tilt my face toward his, lips curving upward. Hannibal's sharp exhale cuts through the air before he shoulders past us, boots heavy on the floor as he heads toward the living room where Yana's voice mingles with Millie's.
As soon as Chase leaves, my lips flatten into a hard line. “Don't be so fucking rude, Bull.”
He throws his head back and laughs—sharp, taunting—before dropping onto the sofa like he owns the place. His boots thud against my coffee table. I'm so focused on wanting to kick his feet out from under him that I almost miss Beast in the doorway. Almost. He stands there, taking up all the air. His eyes, hard and dark, fix on me without revealing a thing. He doesn't speak. Doesn't need to. His silence presses against me as he pieces together what he just walked in on with that cold club president logic that leaves nothing to chance.
“I can't wait to tell Hella about this little encounter,” Hannibal says, ankle crossing over his knee as his lips curve into a grin.
“Fuck Hella,” I mumble, but it's weak.
“He's been doing a lot of that, too,” Hannibal baits me. My throat constricts, and for a split second, my mask slips before I force it back into place. Of course he has, but so have I, so I can't judge.
I clear my throat. “I'll just grab our bags. This is my sister, Millie. Be nice.” My gaze sweeps across the room, taking in the monster-sized bikers before I catch myself. “Or try to be nice.” Hannibal's eyes shift to her, a boyish, psychotic smile creeping across his face. I pause, my head tilting as my hands find my hips. “Or I will chop your dick clean off.”
He glances up and smirks. “See, that right there proves Hella's completely fucked when it comes to you.”
“Fuck Hella,” I repeat, louder this time.
Beast's voice cuts through the tension. “Hannibal.”
One word. That's all it takes for Hannibal to shut his mouth and lean back against the cushions, though his smug expression doesn't fade.
I storm down the hallway toward my bedroom, needing distance from those knowing looks and Hannibal's shit-eating grin. My hands shake as I grab our overnight bags from the closet. The fabric feels rough against my palms as I make sure I've packed everything.
“You okay?” Millie appears in the doorway, concern sprawled across her face.
“Fine.” The word comes out sharper than intended.
I zip up my bag with more force than necessary.
“Melissa...”
“I said I'm fine.” I brush past her, bags in hand, but she catches my arm.
“Those guys out there? They're not just friends, are they.”
My jaw clenches. “It's complicated.”
“Everything's complicated with you lately.” Her fingers squeeze gently. “Talk to me.”
The weight of her worry settles heavy on my chest, but I can't unpack this mess right now. Not with Beast and his crew waiting in my living room, ready to drag me back into Hella's orbit.
Gravel crunches beneath the van's tires as we turn down the familiar private road. The vehicle lurches over every pothole and rut, throwing us against our seats.
I grip Millie's hand tighter with each jolt. “Remember what I said. This is their place. If you don't like something, you walk away and keep your mouth shut, okay?”
She swallows and nods. “Yeah, got it.” At least she's listening, even if she doesn't understand what she's walking into.
“You never got to tell me about what the deal is with you?” I need to know where her head's at before we face whatever's waiting inside.