Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 61337 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 307(@200wpm)___ 245(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 61337 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 307(@200wpm)___ 245(@250wpm)___ 204(@300wpm)
“I don’t make threats.” He waits because he knows me better than that. “It’s a promise.”
“Boys, boys—how about we grab a drink,” Echo says trying to deflate the situation. Falcon steps in behind Darby, and all four of us are now in a standoff I didn’t know we were having.
“Creed, man, how about you take a breath.” Echo goes to touch me then thinks better of it and stands next to me instead. Falcon lays a hand on Darby’s shoulder in case he moves—I know he won’t.
“So it’s finally happened, hey?” Darby asks looking to each of us before he comes back to me. “A girl has gotten between us.”
I shake my head and speak before Echo does. “She isn’t between us. She’s before you. There is a difference.”
Falcon’s head swings to me like he doesn’t believe my words.
Neither can I.
“Do you love her, Creed?”
I don’t answer that because I don’t even know.
“He doesn’t love her, he just likes what she does to him.” Echo looks to me smiling. “Right?”
I don’t answer.
“Fuck,” Falcon mutters, then pushes Darby. “Go, get the fuck out.” He pushes Darby back until he can shut the door, so it’s just the three of us in the room. Falcon starts pacing my floor as we watch him. “I knew she meant something, but fuck, Creed. Really? You know you’re meant to hit ‘em and quit ‘em, right? Not fall in fucking love.”
“He isn’t—” Echo looks to me then swears. “Fuck, you are.”
I don’t say anything. They can make all the assumptions they want.
“Don’t go killing Darby. We actually need him to survive in this business. Let’s be honest, we are the looks and he is the brains,” Falcon says, smirking.
“If he goes after her I won’t have a choice.”
Echo walks straight to the door and goes out shutting it behind him.
“He won’t go after her.” Falcon walks to the window that looks down on the girls. “She’s different, you know that, right? She isn’t like the girls we fuck because we’re bored.”
“I know who she is.”
“Why does she keep looking to the door?”
I step up to the window and look down. “She threatened to quit if I came down.”
He starts laughing. “Maybe you should marry her. I like her.”
“Fuck off.”
Falcon walks away from the window as I stay glued to where I am watching her.
“She has a hold on you, though. Do you see it?”
“I gave her a gift—her apartment.”
He whistles from behind me. “And I’m taking it that pissed her off well and good.”
I nod.
“Either fix it or let her quit. You can’t stay in your office because she’s here, it won’t work and sooner or later Darby will get even more pissed than he is right now. We all know you could kick his ass, but you won’t because you love him. Plus, he owns the highest percentage of the club, so if he wants to fire her I’ll agree on it, so it won’t matter what you decide, or even if you get Echo on your side. Which we know you will.”
I try to keep calm, not to let this get the better of me and throw my fist through his face. It’s hard, but he’s right.
“I’ll handle it.”
“If you haven’t by the weekend, my first call will be to your mother—we both know she will fix the situation.” He’s out the door before I can tell him no.
I go into Darby’s office. He’s on the cell and immediately puts it down when he notices me. “I’m taking the week off, the girls are good.”
“Just the week?”
I nod, he nods, that’s our relationship.
“If you aren’t back within the week, I will fire her.”
Slamming his door, I walk out.
26
Elicea
He hasn’t been at work all week. I find out when I come in for my shift. Johnny whispers to me that it’s very unlike him and asked if I knew what was going on. I lied and said I didn’t, maybe he’s listening to my words. I’m not really sure. “They asked that you go and speak to them, in the office.” My feet freeze on the spot, as I look to Johnny hoping I just imagined what he said.
“Me?” I ask him unsure if he meant me. He nods to the stairs which lead up to the offices.
My hands shake as I put my bag down and start stepping up. It’s quiet until I reach the area which is the center between all the offices. All three are sitting down with Creed’s mother which surprised me the most. As far as I was aware, she didn’t know what they did, and they all look up at the same time when I reach them.
No running now.
My hands quickly cover my belly that has slightly popped as I stand waiting for what they’re going to say.
“Why don’t you sit, El?” This comes from Echo who taps the empty seat.