Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 90721 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 454(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90721 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 454(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Masculine chuckles and feminine peals of laughter filled the air; I even found myself laughing. That would be fun to watch.
“What does the woman do? Does she just sit back and watch the magic happen? Whoever comes out the winner gets the woman? Kind of like a modern day bride competition?” Dave asked.
Baylee’s lips pursed. “Yeah, except instead of doing competitions and placing in an event, like caber tossing or something, they just have bouts. Maybe a sanctioned fight where a referee is there and can stop the person right before he kills the other man. Then, they all fight each other, no weapons or anything, just their bodies, until there’s one winner. In the end, the winner gets the woman, and she doesn’t get to decide if she wants him or not. He does. He can also decide if he doesn’t want anything to do with her, and can give her the boot.”
“But wouldn’t it defeat the purpose if he gave her the old heave ho?” Winter snickered.
Winter was well on her way to drunk. She must’ve been drinking out of Dave’s punch, because that shit was laced with vodka out the ass. Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I texted Jack, and left it open on my thigh waiting for the reply that I knew would come quickly.
The conversation continued around them. Everyone was contemplating the merits of ‘Alphas’ and whether it would sell.
“Why wouldn’t it sell? People pay Pay-Per-View all the freaking time. What makes this any different?” Baylee asked Shiloh, when my sister was adamant about it not selling.
“Well....” Shiloh hiccupped, but couldn’t come up with a good answer. “I guess you’re right. Why do you both have to be so freakin’ smart all the damn time.”
Shiloh was drunk, too. Fuckin’ great. My sister got chatty and argumentative when she was drunk. That was how my girlfriend in high school found out my name was Sue and told the entire fucking town. I’d gotten in more fights in high school about my goddamn name than I had when I was active in the Marines.
My phone vibrated on my leg.
Jack- Baylee can drive. Or Shiloh. We’ll come for the extra car tomorrow. Business tonight. New bird to pick up.
New bird was code for a woman that was escaping an abusive relationship.
On the side, Free did under cover charity work that removed women from dangerous situations. They used their knowledge and know how to make those women feel safe again. They accomplished it, too. They got them new names, places to live, and erased their old selves.
The Dixie Wardens had even helped a time or two in the past year.
That meant that option was out. They had other things they needed to concentrate on besides their drunk wives.
“I can’t drive her car; it’s too big and new.” Baylee apologized.
I looked down at her to see her staring at the message on his phone, studiously avoiding eye contact.
Confused, I raised my brows at her. “You drive an ambulance for work.” Sebastian stated.
She was shaking her head before I even finished the sentence. “I don’t.” She looked around nervously.
Something told me that there was more to this conversation than what was on the surface; I decided to wait until we weren’t at a party before I brought up the real reason.
“I’ll drive everyone home. This’ll be my last.” I declared before upending the bottle that was still sitting on the back of the bench.
“I can call my brother....” She offered.
I shook my head. I didn’t want her brother knowing where I lived; nor did I want him to know that his sister had been to my place. I didn’t want that big bastard interfering. I knew it wouldn’t last, but I needed to get my foot in the door before I took on Luke.
“It’s not a big deal. She’s my sister. I’ll take you home.” I stated, booking no room for an argument.
She scrunched up her nose at my statement, but surprisingly didn’t argue. “Want to go for a swim?” I asked.
She turned and surveyed the water. “Believe it or not, I don’t know how to swim. But I’ll go up to my chest or so, if you want.”
I stared at her, dumfounded. I didn’t know one single person that didn’t know how to swim. Hell, even my three year old knew how to swim. “You have a pool!”
Yes, that was the one intelligent thing I’d managed to get out.
My exclamation stopped the conversation going on around me, making it to where everyone was now listening to our conversation. Baylee’s face flamed in embarrassment, and I felt like a pile of shit for saying that loud.
Coming to a decision, I stood, pulling Baylee right along with me. “Let’s go get changed. I’ll help you.”
She came with all the enthusiasm of a four-year-old being sent to her room.
I caught the bag Winter threw at me as we passed, wondering what the hell she had in it to make it weigh fifty fucking pounds.
It was when we were in the house and making our way down the hall that I turned and flattened her to the wall with my body. “What’s wrong?”
She turned her face away, letting her hair fall down and cover her eyes. “Nothing.”
“When a girl says ‘nothing’ it means something. I know. I have a sister. Now, tell me what’s up.” I said as I ran my hand down her arm in soothing strokes.
“You’ve just touched on every single one of my sore spots in about an hour’s time. It’s not really that big of a deal, it’s just...sad.” She grudgingly replied.
I watched her face, watched the emotions play over it. “Will you tell me?” I rasped.
Instead of answering, she lifted her hands and placed them on my ribs, right underneath my armpits, and my brain short-circuited. The questions that were on the tip of my tongue were now gone, replaced by a burning need to feel this woman’s skin. Feel her hands running along my skin. My eyes connected with hers, and they stared.