Total pages in book: 174
Estimated words: 172061 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 860(@200wpm)___ 688(@250wpm)___ 574(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 172061 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 860(@200wpm)___ 688(@250wpm)___ 574(@300wpm)
“Only had one beer.” Matthew gave her a Scout’s Honor lift of his hand.
More concern, but she seemed to swallow it down for later before she turned her attention back into the room.
“I’m so sorry, Mrs. Cunningham,” Daisy whispered as she lowered her hands.
“Mom, it was nothing. Daisy’s my best friend. You know that. I don’t get why she’s not allowed up here.”
Mrs. Cunningham softly shook her head. “Because it’s a rule your father and I decided on a long time ago.”
“A dumb one,” Cash argued.
Her expression softened. “Well, maybe. But I’d prefer it if when Daisy comes over, she comes through the front door. Or at least maybe not scream when she gets startled so I don’t know she’s here.”
She sent Daisy a wink, her smile kind and understanding.
“I don’t want to get Cash into trouble,” Daisy mumbled, her focus on her fingers that she nervously wound together, struggling not to break down and cry in front of them.
This was humiliating enough. The last thing she needed was for them to see how pathetic she really was.
“Well, I doubt very much you were causing any trouble. You’re the best influence he has.”
“What, not me, his amazing big brother?” Matthew slurred it.
“Certainly Daisy is a whole lot better influence than his big brother.” She gently elbowed Matthew in the ribs.
“Yeah, guess she keeps him on the straight and narrow. And now he’s almost as good as I was. Guess he had to show me up. As long as he gets into WVU to play, then I’m good with it.”
“That’s the plan,” Cash uneasily agreed, watching his brother with concern.
Things had been weird between them, but not nearly as weird as Daisy was feeling right then.
“First, you have to slay in Friday’s game. Both me and a couple of my friends have five hundred bucks on you. Don’t fuck it up.”
“Five hundred?” Mrs. Cunningham gasped.
Matthew squeezed her shoulder with a laugh. “I’m going to have to make money somehow, and as long as I’m betting on my baby brother, I’m golden.”
Matthew turned with a limp before he disappeared.
Mrs. Cunningham softly shook her head, worry on her lips as she watched him go, before she turned her attention back into the room. “Just friends?”
“Yeah, Mom. You know that,” Cash said, driving another stake into Daisy’s heart.
“All right, but leave the door open.” She shouted the last word as she turned and walked down the hall.
In silence, they listened until his mom’s footsteps disappeared down the stairs, then Cash turned to her and cracked up, his face full of a smile and his hazel eyes glinting as he grinned at her. “Well, that might have been painful, but I call it a win.”
She could only laugh uncontrollably.
Because no, she definitely didn’t feel like she was winning.
TWENTY-FIVE
CASH
We all piled down into the bowels of the basement hidden far beneath Kane’s office. The bass reverberated as the packed club danced the night away.
My nerves rattled as I followed my crew down the narrow staircase.
Feeling their curiosity pinging off them each time they glanced my way. I gave it two-point-three seconds before they pounced on me.
Stomach in knots, I took my seat at the round table. Both fear and loyalty rising to the surface. In a way that I’d never felt before. Something more powerful than I’d experienced in all my life.
Everyone sat, their chair legs screeching on the concrete floor before River put his fist out into the middle of the table for us to meet it. “I call to order this meeting of Sovereign Sanctum.”
And that was all it took. All other business forgotten as every eye whipped my way.
“You care to tell us what the fuck is going on with you?” Otto asked where he sat to my left.
“Yeah. We’re going to need to know who you are bringing to my house tomorrow, which just to be clear, Emery is freaking the fuck out with excitement over because for one…” Kane lifted a single finger. “You’re coming at all, and for two…” He lifted a second digit. “You plan to have four guests with you.”
His tone was riddled with questions.
Otto’s blue eyes gleamed as he added, “Prepare yourself, brother. Girls have been texting since Emery let everyone know you had RSVP’d and have a plus-four. They’re making plans and shit, and Raven is spearheading it.”
Blowing out a sigh, I shifted uncomfortably on my chair.
Fuck.
Of course, they were.
Did I expect anything less?
Knew once their women caught wind of it, things were going to spiral out of hand. They’d be imagining things that just weren’t there.
“But you said it is a Sanctum issue?” River pressed, giving a glare to the rest to keep their damned cool and focus on what was important.
Not the gossip and speculation that had undoubtedly cut a fiery path through the family tonight.