Read Online King Cobra (Hot Rods) by Jayne Rylon - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Jayne Rylon
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lose any of them over this.”
“Are you trying to say a couple of you are pairing off?” A smile tipped the edges of Tom’s mouth for an instant. Then his dad rubbed his temples as if he had a headache. “I’ve wondered for a while which of you was going to break up the band.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You know, which guy was going to fall for Sally first.” He shrugged. “It was bound to happen sooner or later. She’s gorgeous, funny, tough, mysterious, a little sad. A potent combination. You kids screw around plenty, but not one of you has ever found something meaningful in a partner. Why do you think that is, son?”
“Very few people get as lucky as you and Mom.” The reminder of what they’d lost hurt them both. But it was the truth. The way his parents had looked at each other… Hell, his mom’s heart monitor had soared every time his dad had showed up to take a shift by her bed at the hospital.
“Maybe.” Even now Tom smiled when he thought of his wife. He still wore his wedding ring. Swore he’d go to his grave with the simple band hugging his finger. “Personally, I think you’ve been looking in all the wrong places. Or maybe refusing to admit what you already know. After all, Joe and the crew seem to have done pretty fine for themselves, haven’t they?”
“Yeah.” Eli cleared his throat. “About them…”
His dad didn’t come to his rescue. He waited the pause out.
“Shit. Dad, did you know they’re into group stuff?” He winced as he considered the reaction he’d get or what the guys might do when they realized he’d spilled the beans on their complex relationship.
“It wasn’t obvious?” Tom reclined in his chair, spreading his legs wider as he relaxed. “Hell, for a second there you had me worried. I thought you were going to tell me something awful.”
“Wait, how could you tell?” And doesn’t it freak you out? he wanted to add.
“It’s obvious from the complete comfort they’ve always had around each other. Plus the way their wives folded right into that bond. Even if that weren’t enough, it would have been impossible to ignore right about the time James and Neil blabbed everything to me. They were worried when all the other guys had found a woman that the crew wouldn’t get together anymore.” Tom waved a hand in the air. “Like the guys would be able to stay away after so many years together. I remember the days of being twisted up so tight you can’t think straight, but seeing it from the outside… Yeah, a whole lot of drama over nothing. When it’s right, it’s right, and that’s all that matters in the end.”
“Oh. Well, fuck.” Eli started to laugh. “I guess this might be easier than I thought to tell you, then. Maybe.”
“Just spit it out already. Is it you or Alanso who’s fooling around with Sally and making his best buddy jealous as hell?” Tom didn’t usually gossip, but he scratched his head as he asked.
Eli closed his eyes, took a deep breath and borrowed a page out of Alanso’s book. He’d fucking put it all right out there to the Hot Rods before. Eli admired him a little more after tonight. “Actually. It’s Alanso and me who’ve kind of tangled it up a bit. Not as much as he wants, though. Not yet.”
“Oh.” Tom paused for a second. He blinked. “I see. I guess I don’t quite understand why you boys are fighting then.”
“That’s all you’re going to say about it?”
“I don’t think I’m ready for details just yet.” Tom chuckled. “Gotta give a guy a minute to work things out first. I’m not surprised you two love each other. Just not sure I figured you’d jump straight to that without easing your way in first. For so long I’ve wondered about Sally, I guess I didn’t see it. Actually…something happened when you went out there to help the crew. After the accident. Didn’t it?”
Eli swallowed hard and nodded.
“This is starting to make sense.” Tom tapped his fingers on
“Are you trying to say a couple of you are pairing off?” A smile tipped the edges of Tom’s mouth for an instant. Then his dad rubbed his temples as if he had a headache. “I’ve wondered for a while which of you was going to break up the band.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You know, which guy was going to fall for Sally first.” He shrugged. “It was bound to happen sooner or later. She’s gorgeous, funny, tough, mysterious, a little sad. A potent combination. You kids screw around plenty, but not one of you has ever found something meaningful in a partner. Why do you think that is, son?”
“Very few people get as lucky as you and Mom.” The reminder of what they’d lost hurt them both. But it was the truth. The way his parents had looked at each other… Hell, his mom’s heart monitor had soared every time his dad had showed up to take a shift by her bed at the hospital.
“Maybe.” Even now Tom smiled when he thought of his wife. He still wore his wedding ring. Swore he’d go to his grave with the simple band hugging his finger. “Personally, I think you’ve been looking in all the wrong places. Or maybe refusing to admit what you already know. After all, Joe and the crew seem to have done pretty fine for themselves, haven’t they?”
“Yeah.” Eli cleared his throat. “About them…”
His dad didn’t come to his rescue. He waited the pause out.
“Shit. Dad, did you know they’re into group stuff?” He winced as he considered the reaction he’d get or what the guys might do when they realized he’d spilled the beans on their complex relationship.
“It wasn’t obvious?” Tom reclined in his chair, spreading his legs wider as he relaxed. “Hell, for a second there you had me worried. I thought you were going to tell me something awful.”
“Wait, how could you tell?” And doesn’t it freak you out? he wanted to add.
“It’s obvious from the complete comfort they’ve always had around each other. Plus the way their wives folded right into that bond. Even if that weren’t enough, it would have been impossible to ignore right about the time James and Neil blabbed everything to me. They were worried when all the other guys had found a woman that the crew wouldn’t get together anymore.” Tom waved a hand in the air. “Like the guys would be able to stay away after so many years together. I remember the days of being twisted up so tight you can’t think straight, but seeing it from the outside… Yeah, a whole lot of drama over nothing. When it’s right, it’s right, and that’s all that matters in the end.”
“Oh. Well, fuck.” Eli started to laugh. “I guess this might be easier than I thought to tell you, then. Maybe.”
“Just spit it out already. Is it you or Alanso who’s fooling around with Sally and making his best buddy jealous as hell?” Tom didn’t usually gossip, but he scratched his head as he asked.
Eli closed his eyes, took a deep breath and borrowed a page out of Alanso’s book. He’d fucking put it all right out there to the Hot Rods before. Eli admired him a little more after tonight. “Actually. It’s Alanso and me who’ve kind of tangled it up a bit. Not as much as he wants, though. Not yet.”
“Oh.” Tom paused for a second. He blinked. “I see. I guess I don’t quite understand why you boys are fighting then.”
“That’s all you’re going to say about it?”
“I don’t think I’m ready for details just yet.” Tom chuckled. “Gotta give a guy a minute to work things out first. I’m not surprised you two love each other. Just not sure I figured you’d jump straight to that without easing your way in first. For so long I’ve wondered about Sally, I guess I didn’t see it. Actually…something happened when you went out there to help the crew. After the accident. Didn’t it?”
Eli swallowed hard and nodded.
“This is starting to make sense.” Tom tapped his fingers on