Untitled Book 2 (11 page)

“Good girl,” I say, leaning down and pressing a quick kiss to her mouth. “We'll talk more when we get there.”

“Okay,” she replies, sliding out of the seat. “Vinnie?”

“Yeah?”

“You're going to stay with me, right? I mean, until your time
is up.” Her eyes scan mine, as if searching for the truth. Did she really think I'd leave her? How could I?

“Yes,” I reply, pushing her hair back behind her ear. “I will.”

She nods and walks around to the driver's seat. I wait until she's settled before I straddle my bike, happy as fuck to be back on her. Arrow leads, then Shay, me right behind her. She didn't ask where we were going, so I didn't have to lie about the answer, but I have no idea how she's going to react to being taken back to the clubhouse. I never know with her.

We don't know each other at all, yet we're connected in a way I don't understand, a way I've never experienced before. The truth is, I don't know why I want to be around her, I just know that I do, and that is enough for me.

Fifteen minutes into the drive, I realize that she's a really shitty driver. I'm pretty sure everyone on the road does, with the way she speeds up and then slows down, and the way she stomps on the brakes. I decide to move back a little, just so I don't end up crashing into her if she decides to stop suddenly. I enjoy the ride but also keep a close eye on Shay and the cars around us. It feels good to have Arrow here too, another set of eyes, and a trusted brother at our backs. We work well as a team, as we've been doing it for so long, the same with all the brothers.

We're a deadly unit.

In my head, I run through the different scenarios that could take place at the clubhouse, and how I'd handle each one. I don't want Shayla to feel unwelcome, but I imagine everyone is going to be surprised that I'm bringing the woman who was meant to be a job back home to where my family is.

I'm surprised too.

I
PARK
the car next to Arrow's bike and look around. Motorcycles parked next to one another, a big building that looks suspiciously like a biker compound. What are we doing here? Maybe Vinnie wants to get something, or see his friends before we leave again. I look to the left and see Vinnie park his bike on the other side of me. I open my car door, wondering if I am even meant to get out, and stand beside the car. Vinnie removes his helmet and gets off his sexy-looking bike, then pulls me into his chest.

“What are we doing here?” I ask him, glancing up. “Should I stay in the car?”

“No,” he says slowly, a strange look passing on his handsome face. “You're coming in.”

“Okay,” I say, looking toward the entrance. “I kind of do need to pee.”

Vinnie grins as he takes my hand and leads me into his territory. He takes me through the compound while I quickly check out the place. We stop at what I assume is his bedroom, which he opens with a key. “Bathroom is through there,” he says, nod
ding toward the door. “You must be hungry too. I'll see what we have in the kitchen, or I'll get a prospect to pick something up for you.”

“Whatever is fine,” I say, walking into the bathroom. I take a peek at him before I close the door, seeing him opening his drawers, doing something. I really don't want him to hear me pee, so I close the door and run the tap water while I handle my business. I wash my hands when I'm done, checking out my reflection in the mirror. I look tired. I'm going to sleep like a baby tonight, that's for sure. When I return to Vinnie's bedroom, he's sitting on the massive bed, typing something on his phone. He glances up at me and grins. “At least here we can fuck without being interrupted by people trying to kill you, or Arrow checking up on me.” He pauses. “Probably have all the old ladies in our faces though. It's most likely Faye and Anna who will be the biggest pains in the ass.”

“Old ladies?” I know a few things about the lifestyle, because of Talon, but I don't know everything.
Old ladies
is a term I've heard before, and Vinnie has referred to Faye as the president's old lady before too. How many are there? While Talon hardly brings me around his members, and I have no idea how Talon and Vinnie even know each other, I'm picking up on things quickly.

He nods, smiling. “They'll be wanting to meet you, trust me.”

“Why?”

“Because they're nosy, for one,” he says, but I know from the tone of his voice he doesn't really mind.

Speaking of fucking . . . “Do you realize we were about to have sex without a condom? You didn't even ask me if I was on the pill, and no offense, but I have no idea where you've been.”

He lies back on the bed and taps the spot next to him. “First of all, I'm not that fuckin' selfish to put you in any danger like that. I never usually fuck without a condom. And yeah—I kinda just assumed you were on the pill. I wasn't thinking about it too much, to be honest, all I was thinking about was getting inside you.”

“You always use a condom?” I ask, eyebrow raised and tone full of disbelief.

“Where's the faith, Shay?” he asks, putting his hand on my lower back as I sit down. “Yes, I always use protection.”

But he wasn't going to with me, which makes me a little suspicious of his words. “But with me . . .”

“You're different,” he says, standing up and offering me his hand. “I don't think you're gonna try to get pregnant to trap me, are you?”

My eyes widen. “Women do that?”

“Exactly,” he says with a chuckle. “So are you on the pill or not?”

“I am,” I tell him, letting him pull me off the bed.

We stand facing each other, his thumb running across my knuckles. “If anything, it would be me trapping you. You're the rich one.”

He turns to leave and I slap his ass. “Very funny.”

He's laughing at his own joke as we leave his room and walk into a kitchen. There are two men in there, one with blond hair tied back in a man bun, the other also blond, but with shorter hair and green eyes. Both are extremely good-looking. The Wild Men have a few hotties, like Ranger, but these two take the cake. They aren't as sexy as Vinnie though. Then again, no one probably is.

“Vinnie,” Man Bun says, putting down the drink in his hand and giving Vinnie a hug.

“Hey, Tracker,” he says, smiling widely. “Miss me?”

The other man stands and greets him too.

“Rake,” Vinnie says, taking my hand and pulling me forward. “This is Shay. Shay, Tracker and Rake.”

“Hello,” I say, smiling at each one in turn while they take me in.

“Hello, cutie,” Tracker says, looking between Vinnie and me. “And what have you gone and done, Vinnie?”

“I thought you were in some remote place doing something for Talon,” Rake says, looking amused, his eyes wide and his lips kicking up at the corners. “Where did you find her?”

I roll my eyes as they talk about me like I'm not standing right here. Arrogant bikers.

“I think she's what he was doing for Talon,” Tracker says, peering down at me. “She's a little thing, isn't she?”

“
She
is standing right here,” I say, crossing my arms.

“She doesn't look like Talon,” Rake comments, then mutters, “Thank fuck.”

I look up at Vinnie, giving him my best
Are you serious?
look. He rests his big hands on my shoulders, bringing me to stand in front of him.

“Shay's safest here,” he says, kissing the top of my head. “I want her here, if Sin says it's all right.”

I spin around to look at him. “What? You want me to stay here? What did Talon say?”

“Fuck Talon,” Vinnie and Rake say at the same time. Okkkaaayyy, a lot of unresolved anger here.

He changed the plan? What am I supposed to do here? What
happens when I'm found here? The MC would have to fight to protect me. Vinnie is essentially giving me his family's protection, if Sin, who I guess is their president, will allow it. This is huge, and I don't really know how to react. I am grateful, and I realize Vinnie is going out on a limb for me with this, but this could really backfire if someone ends up hurt.

“We can sit with her, if you want to talk with Sin,” Tracker offers, pulling out the chair of the dining table. “Have a seat, Shay.”

Vinnie scans my face, and I silently let him know it's fine. Waiting here while he asks for protection on my behalf is the least I can do. I sit down in the chair quietly.

“Your food will be here soon, Shay,” he says as he leaves the kitchen. He must have organized it when I was in the bathroom.

“What food?” Rake asks, sitting down next to me. “I want food.”

“No idea,” I reply, clasping my hands in front of me. “I guess it's going to be a surprise for both of us.”

He pulls his phone out and starts pressing numbers. “He probably called one of the prospects. Isn't Ronan with them?”

“Yep,” Tracker replies, then sits down on the other side of me and pushes his chair a little too close for my liking. “What are your intentions with my brother?”

Rake makes a grunt of amusement, while I tighten my lips. “Can you even have intentions with someone you've known only a few days?”

“He's saving your ass right now, isn't he?” Tracker says, not in a mean way, but matter-of-factly.

“I didn't ask him to,” I say quietly, not wanting them to think this was my idea. “A lot has happened in such a short period of
time. I don't even know how to process everything to be honest. I guess all I can say is that my intentions are pure.”

Both of their phones go off at the same time. “That was quick,” Rake murmurs.

“Decision time,” Tracker says, standing up. “Do you want to wait in Vinnie's room, Shay? I don't think this will take too long.”

“Okay,” I say, standing and walking out of the kitchen. They stop at Vinnie's room and wait to leave until I'm inside. Tracker gives me a comforting touch on my shoulder, which I actually appreciate. I lie down on Vinnie's bed, just waiting.

I only hope he comes back with good news, or we might have to leave here straightaway. I don't know if my staying or going is better for Vinnie, but I have a feeling it is probably the latter.

I close my eyes and pray that, for once, things turn out well for the both of us, especially for him.

“O
KAY,”
Sin starts, glancing around the table at the men. “As we all know, Vinnie owes Talon a marker, and he left to pay it. As he's just told me, he's brought the marker back with him to the clubhouse.”

She is more than a marker, and I think that is the real issue here.

All eyes are suddenly on me, and I return each of them.

“Vinnie,” he says, waiting for me to speak.

“They think her father gave her information that she can use to implicate them in various illegal activities. They either want her to get that information or they want her to blackmail her father to give it to them. She hasn't done anything wrong, and says she doesn't have anything. Talon's protection plan for her is fucked, and her location keeps getting leaked. I can't just leave her, knowing I could help her better than he is. The problem is I don't know exactly
who
is after her. We thought it was the Mafia, but now we think the Kings are involved as well.”

“I told him it wasn't his problem,” Arrow rumbles, studying me.

“I want her to stay here with me,” I declare to the table.

“She yours?” Sin asks, his words short but heavy. This is the question that the brothers will want to know the answer to more than anything.

“Yeah,” I say, swallowing hard. “She's mine.”

“Is Talon going to be an issue?” Rake asks me, a muscle working in his jaw. “He always seems to be a fuckin' issue.”

“I don't know,” I reply honestly. “And I don't really give a fuck what he has to say, to be honest.”