Total pages in book: 44
Estimated words: 41097 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 205(@200wpm)___ 164(@250wpm)___ 137(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 41097 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 205(@200wpm)___ 164(@250wpm)___ 137(@300wpm)
Mom pushed past my dad and hurried to me. “Oh, baby! I was so worried!” She pulled me into her arms, moving slightly to one side. “Let me look at you. Did you get hurt?”
“No, Mom. Ice took wonderful care of me.” Her gaze slid to Ice before going back to me.
“Are you sure about him, sweetheart?” She whispered her question, so it was for our ears only. “Because if he took advantage of you…”
“No, Mom. Ice would never do that. He saved me when I thought I was going to drown, then kept me safe. When David came after me, Ice was hot on his heels. He got me away from him and kept me safe.”
“It’s been less than two days, sweetie. Maybe you guys can see each other over the next few months and go from there.” She smiled to take the sting out of her words, but she was slowly but steadily separating me from Ice. So I planted my feet and refused to take another step.
“You’re not getting me away from him, Mom. Ice is my choice.” I looked over her shoulder to find Ice. My dad was in his face, looking as furious as I’d ever seen him. “I can’t believe you helped him, Mom.” I tried not to feel betrayed but honestly. If anyone should understand my feelings, it was my mother. After all, she’d married my dad when he’d basically forced her from her home. It didn’t matter that she’d been a prisoner there. She hadn’t really wanted to leave, preferring the devil she knew to the devil she didn’t.
“We just want what’s best for you, sweetheart.”
“Ice is what’s best for me.” I made my voice firm, trying to imitate the tone I’d heard my mother use more than once when standing up to my father. “I might not have dated much, but I know what I want. Besides, you’ll never be able to find a man better able to protect me. He’s not only a soldier, but he’s got an entire club of soldiers to protect all their women. He’s basically got his own private army at his disposal if he needs it.” I pointed to my father. “Wasn’t that the whole reason Dad first set his sights on Bones? Before he took over Black Reign?”
My mother turned slightly to catch my father’s gaze. My father was currently staring down Ice, but I knew he heard every word I’d said. “She’s got you there, honey. I got nothin’ else.”
Dad rolled his eyes and gave my mother an irritated look. “Well, try harder.”
“Nope. You don’t want this match, that’s on you. It’s what Dawn wants. Far as I’m concerned, she’s old enough to decide what man she wants.”
“He’s too old for her,” Dad snapped. “She’s nineteen and he’s in his thirties!”
“I know you didn’t just say that.” Mom frowned and put her hands on her hips. “Pretty sure there’s a bigger age gap between you and me than there is between Ice and Dawn.”
Ice looked ready to fight but made no move to actually attack. Which was good. Though, it wasn’t lost on me or anyone else in Black Reign that the whole of Bones and Salvation’s Bane had lined up behind Ice to have his back.
“Liam, take a look around you.” Mom was the only one who ever called my dad by his real name. It was how Dad knew he needed to step back and pay attention to her when he wouldn’t for anyone else. “Two clubs have Ice’s back. Not necessarily to fight you, but to help Ice keep his woman. She’ll be protected. If Ice can’t love her like she needs, she knows how to get home. You can always kill him later, but you can’t bring him back.”
“Gee, thanks, Mom.” I hurried to Ice so I could stand between him and my dad. “Back off, Dad.”
“Sweet girl, he’s not right for you. Besides, I owe him one for threatening to take you away from home.”
“You lay a finger on him and I’ll hurt you worse.” I bared my teeth at my father. I’d never challenged him before and I didn’t do it lightly now. I had too much respect for him. But sometimes, the only language he understood was force. While I would never get physical with him, I knew I had to stand up for what I wanted. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be allowed to date until I was at least thirty. Maybe forty.
As I knew it would, that got my dad’s attention. What I wasn’t expecting was the huge smile on his face. “Well. I guess that’s all I need to know about that.” He held his hand out to Ice. “Welcome to the family. Son.”
Cyclone burst out laughing while Sword had a big ol’ shit-eating grin on his face.