Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 35807 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 179(@200wpm)___ 143(@250wpm)___ 119(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35807 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 179(@200wpm)___ 143(@250wpm)___ 119(@300wpm)
Guess I’m having two, then.
“Smile,” Tony says, completely tuned out to my pissy mood, which is a good thing, I suppose. The last thing I want to do is bring him down.
“Two drinks, and I’m out,” I tell him as the bartender sets both glasses down in front of me.
“Drink up, big brother. The total is five, and then we can leave.”
“I don’t like that plan.”
“Ezra?” I hear my name and turn to see Lucas. I don’t see him often, except when it comes to removing the bodies left in the cars, when he happily skips in and takes care of them. “Thought it was you. What are you doing in my bar?”
I look around, confused. “This place is yours?” I ask, and he nods.
Lucas has this air about him. I don’t know him well enough to say for sure what it is. It could be his cockiness, or maybe a self-awareness that he always knows what he’s talking about or doing. And he’s deadly. I know he would shoot you and smile while pulling the trigger. He’s that type of man.
“It’s his birthday,” my brother says. Lucas’ gaze moves to him, then to the women at the bar before coming back to me.
“Last I heard, you were fucking Piper. Has that changed?” he asks.
“Who’s Piper?” Tony questions.
“She’s an annoying shit,” Lucas answers.
I tense at his words. I know they’re family, at least I think they are. That’s what the stories say, anyway.
“Oh, interesting,” Lucas says, eyeing me closer and gauging my reaction. He winks before walking into a back room and closing the door.
“Who is Piper?” my brother asks again, and I don’t even hear Lydia’s response. I’m too busy wondering what Lucas found interesting.
Chapter Seven
PIPER
Lucas opens his mouth, and my stomach tightens in irritation. Here it comes—the usual arrogant garbage. His smug smirk stretches wider, and my fingers twitch, already itching to reach for my gun. Maybe I should shoot him again. He can be such a fucking asshole. Luckily for him, Keir asked me not to. Plus, I like his wife way more than I like him, and that’s saying a lot, considering he and I are related.
“Lucas,” Joey warns.
“What?” Lucas answers, still smirking.
“Payment. Come on, stop fucking around.” If it isn’t Joey or me collecting payments, Lucas does it. Not very often, but sometimes it happens. It pays to be protected here.
“Wasn’t it you telling me about how Piper is finally nice now that she’s being fucked again?” My gaze swings to Joey, and he ducks his head in shame.
I hit him in the arm. “What the fuck?” I yell.
“I didn’t say it like that,” Joey says, glaring back at Lucas. “You’re a real fucking dick, you know that?”
Lucas merely shrugs.
“Just because I was told not to shoot you again doesn’t mean I won’t,” I tell Lucas and reach for my gun. I lift and aim it at him. Lucas and I love to hate each other.
“You’ll be in so much trouble, and we know how much you love to please the boss.”
“That’s disgusting,” I say, shaking my head.
“Only you took it the dirty way.”
“Only you implied it in a dirty way. Keir is my cousin, you fuckhead.” I flick the safety off.
“Piper,” Joey warns.
“Just the ear.” I aim for Lucas’s right ear.
“No, put the gun away,” Joey says.
“You know I’ll shoot you back.” Lucas laughs.
“Not if you’re fucking dead,” I smirk at him.
“Such devoted love between you two,” Joey grunts in annoyance.
“The best kind of love… family love, right? Not the love you have when you fuck Ezra. Did you know he’s out there right now with a cute little blonde with big tits? She’s nothing like you.”
I pull the trigger, but I miss his head on purpose.
He doesn’t even care.
Isn’t even fazed.
Sometimes, I feel as if death doesn’t faze him at all.
“Piper,” Joey scolds as I lower my gun and slide it back into my jacket. I don’t always carry it, but I enjoy using it when I do.
On Lucas.
“Let’s go for a drink,” Lucas pulls me toward the bar’s side entrance like he’s done a hundred times after we argue. The sticky floor and faux leather seats are almost comforting as I glance around.
The old jukebox in the corner plays classics, and several people are drinking, laughing, and having a great time at the bar and the tables. I spot Ezra by the bar straight away, glass in hand, and two women talking to him. Lucas keeps pulling me as he walks toward him. Ezra doesn’t look up at first when Lucas speaks.
“Ezra, how about another drink? My treat.” Lucas leans into my ear as Ezra looks up, his gaze locking on me. “What do you think he screams when he gets shot?” I grind my teeth at his words as he pulls away and looks back at Ezra. “Oh, I believe you know my friend here. Piper.”