Page 16 of Bone's Destiny

“Well, I know now. You better make sure I know when the meeting is.” I pointed my long finger at him.

Cobra sighed, reclining in his chair. “Storm is trying to work shit out with the Bells. Find common ground for RJ.”

I rolled my eyes. “Why don’t he just take him? Slap some sense into him until he accepts the new situation. I mean, they were all deceived by a crazy whore. RJ should be happy he found his real dad.”

Cobra arched his brow as if waiting for me to continue.

I didn’t because this crap hit too close to home for me. I shouldn’t have been prattling on like a woman. Every pair of eyes in the room were on me. Christ, I needed to get out of North Dakota fast.

“Can I grab Destiny tonight?” I swooped my gaze around the table. “I want to get back to my club.”

“Better see Lady M before you leave,” Spectre said.

“And Nova. I told her you’d be by the house tomorrow.” Cobra picked his tooth with his nail. “Karma will be there too.”

Well, fuck me. The three people I tried to avoid were being shoved down my throat.

The table remained silent as if waiting for my response.

“Yeah, I’ll be by the house.” I paused for a second. “And the hospital before I kidnap the chick.”

“Good.” Cobra grinned victoriously. “And remember. She’syourDestiny. Don’t go pawn her off on your crew.”

My brother knew me too fucking well.

7

Destiny

The morning sunlight peeked through the blinds on my window, reminding me a new day had arrived. Could it be the best day of my life? Or the worst? I honestly didn’t know if I cared one way or the other.

As long as I get away from… I didn’t have the stomach to say, dad. It felt icky. Not that Roland had ever crossed the line, but he’d changed over the last six months. He seemed twitchy and desperate, like a drug addict. Yet, he didn’t do drugs. Or not, to my knowledge.

He had money problems, though. The usual brands of booze he’d bought a year ago switched to cheaper stuff. My allowance had decreased by half, hence the weight I’d lost because I couldn’t afford to go to the grocery store.

My stomach rumbled as a stack of pancakes dripping in butter and maple syrup flashed in my head. What I wouldn’t do for a decent breakfast. I closed my eyes, willing the delicious thoughts to stop. I’d have the whole darn day to get through before I’d get to eat.

I’ll just lay here all day to burn any energy. Rest up for tonight and work out a plan on how to be everything the man wants, so maybe he would be so enthralled by my sexual abilities he wouldn’t remember to return me to Roland. Even better, he’d show me mercy and help me get to a safe place.

But what are the chances the man paying for sex is a decent human? Not likely.

None of the men Roland worked with looked friendly. Some were rougher than others with me. All of them were dirty talkers and liked to degrade me. One had even told me Roland would get top dollar for my pussy if I remained a virgin. I had no idea what he’d been talking about while plowing into me. I mainly tuned out my clients.

My eyes traveled over to my large purse, the one I always took with me when I had an appointment. How would I fit everything I needed and wanted to take with me? Roland would never let me bring a suitcase.

Guess I had to stick to what was most important.

I scanned my bedroom. The walls were covered in images I’d taped up from magazines. Every month, I would spend five to six dollars on the latest edition of my favorites and put the pages I loved most on the wall. After a few years, half the space was covered with beautiful, fashionable women, exotic destinations and mountain retreats, gourmet food, and stupidly handsome men.

I rolled out of bed and perused the wall covered in my deepest desires. If I could only pick one place to go, one meal to eat forever, and one man to be with, which would I choose? Not an easy choice at all.

Beaches or mountains?Mountainsto be my escape from the evil in the world.

Picking an image of food wasn’t tough at all. When the Thanksgiving edition was out, I’d buy it and drool over the pages all month. I could eat the holiday meal every day for the rest of my life. I couldn’t imagine families having that much food on their tables. We sure as hell never did. After my adoptive mom left, Roland only bought frozen dinners for us. I couldn’t remember what we had before Debbie took off with her lover. Didn’t matter. When I had my own home and money, I would prepare the grandest Thanksgiving meal. And I wouldn’t wait for November to arrive.

I licked my lips as I carefully removed the pictures of the mountain retreat I loved and the Thanksgiving spread in a rustic cabin. I placed them on my bed and went to the wall with all the hunky men on it.

I definitely had a type. Tall and muscular. Strong brows. Dark hair. Sexy scruff. Not one of the photos featured a man smiling. Weird, I was just noticing it now.

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