Custom Built (Fast & Fury #1) - Chantal Fernando Page 0,47

lawyer about his will and money, even though he sent me an email trying to set up an appointment. I know I’m going to have to deal with the house and all the money and everything, but I’m just not ready yet. I want to find out who killed him before a single cent leaves his account.

“Must be nice,” Cam agrees, placing the design down on the table and looking towards the garage. “I better get some work done.”

“Me too.”

Abbie comes in for lunch, and it’s nice to see her face.

“How are you?” I ask, giving her a tight hug.

“I’m good. I brought us all lunch,” she says, placing Chinese food down on the table. “I feel like I haven’t seen you all in ages; I’ve been so busy with exams. Crow has been keeping me up to date on everything, but how are you feeling? If you need anything you know I’m just a call away, right?”

“I know,” I reply. “To be honest, I’ve just been keeping busy with this whole thing, and it’s distracting me. And Crow has been amazing. I don’t know how I would have gotten through this without him.”

“He is, isn’t he?” She smiles, opening the food and spreading it all out. “You two are going to get married and have lots of kids. I can see it now.”

I look down so she can’t see my expression at the mention of kids. “I don’t know about all that, but I’m pretty damn lucky that I met him. Which I suppose I owe to you.”

“You don’t owe me anything. I’m just glad you’re in our lives, Bronte,” she says as she gives me another hug. “Seriously, I didn’t realize anything was missing in my life until I met you. I can’t wait for you to meet my sister when she comes down next. She’s going to love you.”

“I’d like that,” I reply, beaming at her kind words. “And you guys are my family now, so I’m grateful for each and every one of you.” I lower my voice and add, “Even Chains.”

Abbie laughs out loud. “He’ll grow on you. Slowly. Kind of like a fungus. He’s hard to get to know and guarded as hell, but once he knows you’re here to stay, he’ll accept you. And he will be there for you.”

I decide to ask Abbie something that has been on my mind for a while now.

“So...are you basically the queen of the MC?” I ask her. “Temper is the president, so that makes you on the top of the food chain, right?”

Abbie looks surprised at first, and then starts laughing. “I mean, I’ve never really thought about it like that, but yes, I’m the president’s old lady and everyone shows me respect. I give that respect right back, though, so there’s never been any kind of issue. I don’t feel any different than the other women. We’re all friends, so yeah.”

I blink slowly. “So...you’re the queen.”

She laughs some more.

“What else do I need to know about MC life?” I ask.

“Well, the men all have their own positions in the club. Their tasks and responsibilities, all of which could change at any point, are given to them,” she explains, giving me the rundown. “They have to listen to Temper, as he’s their leader. And whatever he says goes. They have private meetings and they do all kind of biker things, like club runs, charity events, which I sometimes host, and whatever other personal business they attend to.”

Sounds like a pretty good life, being Temper, but I guess when something goes wrong that’s all on him, too.

“So it’s basically like...a totalitarian, illegal country club?” I ask, trying to understand it all.

She laughs even harder.

“What?” I ask, her laugh making me laugh too.

Chains walks over and eyes her. “You’ve broken her,” he says to me.

Once she’s calmed down, we all sit together and eat. Like a Fast & Fury family.

Chapter Seventeen

When Crow knocks at my apartment door I meet him in a black teddy, stiletto heels, and nothing else.

“Wow” is the first word he says, taking me in from head to toe. “Fucking hell, Bronte, you trying to kill me or what?”

Grinning and loving his reaction, I pull him inside and close the door behind him, pushing him back against it. “I missed you.”

“So did I,” he grits out, running his hands over the lace covering my breasts. “You are so sexy, you have no idea. I’ve been thinking about you and all the things I want