Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 131888 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 659(@200wpm)___ 528(@250wpm)___ 440(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 131888 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 659(@200wpm)___ 528(@250wpm)___ 440(@300wpm)
The man grinned and shrugged. “Name ain’t Romeo for nothin’.”
He was handsome, so he had that, and he could be charming when he wanted to be. But he was still a dog.
A dirty one. Not the kind she wanted to pet.
“I know and that’s one reason of many why I’m not interested.”
Romeo slapped a hand over his leather-covered chest. “You know how to fuckin’ wound a man, woman.”
“And you wound plenty of women when you break their hearts.”
“Ain’t after a woman’s heart.”
“Then, you should tell them that upfront.”
He stepped closer and into her personal space before dragging a knuckle down Liyah’s cheek. “Could be a good pop to your boys.”
She rolled her eyes. “Debatable.”
“Can teach ‘em shit.”
“Like what? How to smoke pot and drink yourself into a fist fight?”
“Like be a man.”
Liyah laughed so hard she almost folded in half.
When she straightened, Romeo was frowning. “What the fuck, woman?”
“Oh, you weren’t joking?” She pressed fingers to her lips. “Oops.”
“One day you’re gonna realize what a catch I am.”
“‘One day’ is not today. Go back to your side of the lot, Rome. I need to have a word with my father.”
However, she didn’t need to continue on her trek as Magnum appeared at Romeo’s side.
A second later, she felt rather than saw Nox step up behind her.
This was exactly what she wanted to avoid.
Well, that and a clash between the two clubs.
Romeo jerked his chin up at Nox. “Who’s this?”
“Not that it’s any of your business, but a friend.”
“He’s a pig,” Magnum announced. “Somehow my daughter forgot to tell me that he’s a part of the biker wannabe club.”
“Because it wasn’t important,” she responded. She had a feeling her father would disagree.
“You knew about him?” Romeo asked Magnum.
“Yeah,” her father grunted.
“And you ain’t done nothin’ to stop it?”
“Excuse me?” Liyah asked sharply. “If my father wants to remain in my life then he knows not to interfere with it.” No matter how much he’d like to. She locked eyes with Romeo. “And none of this is any of your business, anyway. So, shoo.” She made a shooing motion with her hands.
“You’re family, Ali-Cat,” Romeo said. “Of course it’s my fuckin’ business. You’re under the club’s protection.”
“Thanks but no thanks. I’m fine without that protection.”
“She has me to protect her,” Nox announced.
Oh shit.
She didn’t care how Romeo took his declaration, but she knew Magnum wouldn’t like it.
Not at all. He was super protective of his family.
Romeo sneered, and without warning, spat a hocker at Nox’s feet, barely missing his boot, then acted like he didn’t mean to do it on purpose.
Thankfully, Nox didn’t react.
“Rome, if you disrespect him, you’re disrespecting me,” she warned him.
“No reason for you to be with someone like him.”
Her eyebrows pinned together. “What do you mean, like him? You mean white?”
“Mean a fuckin’ pig. But as for the other—”
“How about you keep your opinions to yourself?” Liyah dismissed him with, “Have a great run, Romeo. Dad, I’ll talk to you another time.” She tugged on Nox’s arm, pulling him away from the Knights’ president before things went sideways. “Let’s go.”
She could not be more aware that both clubs were watching the exchange very carefully. If things took an ugly turn between Nox and Romeo, it could get both clubs popping off. She did not want to be the cause of that.
“Aaliyah,” Magnum called out.
She pulled in an irritated breath but paused and turned to face her father. “Let’s keep everything between the two clubs civil, please.”
Magnum pursed his lips and his dark eyes flicked from her to Nox and back. “Don’t like this.”
“I’m already aware but thanks for once again making that clear. I know sharing your feelings is difficult.”
Nox snorted softly next to her, causing Liyah to tug at his arm again.
When she heard a very familiar female voice call out her name, she once again paused on their way back to Nox’s bike. “Can you give me a minute?” Liyah asked him.
He glanced at the blonde woman hurrying in their direction. “Are you going to be all right?”
“Yes. That’s my… stepmother.”
“She looks our age,” Nox murmured.
“That’s because she is. She’s only about a year older than me.” And that meant she was Nox’s age.
His head jerked back. “Do you find that weird?”
“I did at first. But now… Look, Cait’s the best thing that ever happened to my father. He got cheated out of raising me and my brother and from seeing us grow up. He finally got that chance with Caleb and Asia.”
“Your younger half-siblings.”
“Yes. And to be honest, seeing how good he is with them made me even more angry with my mother for a long damn time. We were robbed out of a relationship with him. Would he have been a good father as young as he was when he had us? Maybe not the same as becoming a father again in his forties. However, no parent is perfect. You learn and grow as you go. Can you wait for me at your sled, Nox? I’ll be okay. And if any of your brothers are concerned about having issues with the Knights, please assure them they won’t.” She sure as hell hoped she wasn’t wrong with that assurance.