Total pages in book: 149
Estimated words: 147967 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 740(@200wpm)___ 592(@250wpm)___ 493(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 147967 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 740(@200wpm)___ 592(@250wpm)___ 493(@300wpm)
Next to Duke at the grill was Ink.
Spike and Reyes were behind them, several steps back talking to Sav.
Then, closer to the girls, Jason and Razor were standing with Butch and Hack.
He wasn’t quite sure why he was here, though. He wasn’t a member of the MC.
“Yo, it’s Mr. Sleepy. What are you doing here, Frenchie?”
He groaned.
If he’d known they were going to be here, he might not have come. A long arm was slung around Matthieu’s shoulders as Baron leaned on him.
“I didn’t fall asleep,” he grumbled. “You drugged me!”
“Royal? Did you know Mon Copain was gonna be here?” Baron asked.
“I did not.”
“You do realize that you’re referring to me as your boyfriend, right?” Matthieu said dryly.
“Nah, I’m saying my friend,” Baron objected. “Don’t you want to be my friend?”
“I do not. And I also think that I might understand the French language better than you.”
“What are you talking about?” Baron asked, moving away from Matthieu to stand next to his brother. “I have great command of the French language. Took it for two semesters in high school.” He leaned his bent arm on his twin brother’s shoulder and smirked at Matthieu. “You trying to tell me that my French is no good? That wounds me, man. It bites deep.”
“You only took that class because you thought you were in love with Libby Stein,” Royal commented.
“Ahh, that’s right,” Baron said with a sigh. “Libby. Good times. So long ago.”
“It was last year,” Royal said dryly.
“Yeah, like I said. A lifetime ago. So what are you doing here, El Capitaine?”
“Are you calling me a rock?” Matthieu asked.
“A rock?” Baron asked.
“Like the one in Yosemite National Park?” Matthieu asked. “El Capitan.”
“Ahh, no. I was referring to your rank in the French Special Forces.”
“I wasn’t a Capitaine in the French Special Forces.” He had been a commandant, which was higher than a capitaine. But these two didn’t need to know that.
“Too bad. Do you know any explosives experts?” Baron asked.
“Why would you want to know that?” he asked. “And why not ask Ink?”
“Um, first, because Ink would never give me that sort of information,” Baron replied. “He’d think I wanted to know for nefarious purposes.”
Royal made a strange noise.
“And, see, I need some advice. I’m having a bit of trouble with this bomb I’m trying to create.”
He was joking.
He had to be joking.
Matthieu was worried that he wasn’t joking. “You cannot build a bomb.”
“Can’t I?”
“I meant that you will not build a bomb. Does Ink know about this?” he asked with alarm.
“Relax,” Royal told him. “Baron is just joking with you.”
Matthieu stared from one to the other. He wasn’t so sure. They could be joking or they could be secretly plotting to take over the world.
“He doesn’t believe you, brother,” Baron said.
“Very upsetting,” Royal stated. “I’m hurt.”
“I would be too,” Baron agreed.
“Either way, I don’t know any bomb experts,” Matthieu told them.
Baron smiled wide. He was in his usual attire of ripped jeans and a faded band T-shirt while his brother was wearing pressed slacks and a short-sleeved, dark-blue shirt.
“I don’t know why he wouldn’t believe me, I’m very believable.”
Dear Lord.
One day, these two were either going to rule the world or destroy it.
He wasn’t sure which.
Part of him hoped he lived long enough to see which it was, though.
“Matthieu, you’re here!” Ink called out and the twins disappeared. “Everything all right?”
“Uh, your stepsons are . . . terrifying.”
“Shit. What did they do now?” Ink asked.
“I think one of them might be building a bomb,” he told him.
“Baron?” Ink guessed.
He nodded.
“Yeah, it wouldn’t be the first time. Worst part of it all is that Zippy is trying to help him. Fuck me.” Ink shook his head. “I try not to think too much about how my kids are going to be in the history books of the future.”
“If there is a future after they’re done,” Matthieu muttered.
“Yep. Come on.”
“Matthieu.” Duke nodded. “Glad you’re here but you didn’t have to buy me flowers.” Duke grinned.
“Haha.”
“Matthieu, hi!” Sunny walked up and pressed herself against Duke’s side.
“Hello. For you.” He handed over the bouquet of flowers. He’d chosen one with pink and yellow in it. He’d thought that Sunny would like something cheerful and bright.
Her eyes lit up. “Oh my goodness! For me? Really?”
“Of course.”
“Not sure I’m all that happy about you buying my woman flowers,” Duke said.
Matthieu tensed. Had he made a wrong move?
“They’re for the hostess. I brought you beer.” He held up the plastic bag he was holding.
Duke grinned. “That’s all right, then.”
“The flowers are so pretty. Thank you, Matthieu.” Sunny held the bunch out to the side so she could hug him with her other arm.
Matthieu patted her back, awkwardly, not wanting to incite Duke’s wrath. Not that he was interested in Sunny. And even if he was, he would never make a move on another man’s woman.