NINETEEN
HOW long are you going to be mad at me?” I ask Rake, hand on my hip. I came to the clubhouse this morning to resolve two things. One, Arrow still isn’t back from wherever he is, and two, Rake is avoiding me.
“I’m not mad,” he says, eyeing but not eating the breakfast I brought him.
I throw my hands up. “Are you not going to eat the food I brought you because you’re holding a grudge against me?”
He pouts, actually pouts.
I point at the bag filled with his favorite breakfast foods—a croissant, a bagel, and a couple of hash browns. “Please eat it, or I will.”
He slowly moves the bag closer to his chest so I can’t take it.
I hide my smirk.
He sighs.
“Adam,” I say, wanting to get through to him. “This is my family too, now. Think about it—I’m safer with Arrow than on my own.” I lower my voice. “I love him.”
His eyes dart to mine. “I don’t want to see what happened to Mary happen to you.”
“Anyone could have died that night,” I say. “It wasn’t Arrow’s fault.”
He lowers his head. “I know that! Fuck. You’re my baby sister, Anna. It’s me who fucked up. I’m the selfish one. I wanted you around me, so I brought you here, and now you’re shacked up with one of the baddest motherfuckers in the club.”
He looks at me. “You couldn’t have chosen Tracker or someone, could you?”
Tracker? Did Rake think he was the best out of them all? I think over the rest of the men and realize, sadly, that he may be right. Tracker was a good guy, even though he had his own issues with Allie.
I step closer to him and wrap my arm around him. “I love you, you know that, right? I never want to hurt you, or disappoint you, and it kills me that you’re avoiding me right now. You were my only family, Rake; you were all that I had. Now you’ve given me your MC family, and at first I wasn’t too thrilled,” I admit. “But I wouldn’t have it any other way. So thank you. And Arrow has been a perfect gentleman to me.”
Except in the sheets—but he doesn’t need to know that.
“A gentleman?” he repeats, sounding incredulous. “I’ve heard Arrow called many things, but definitely never that.”
I smirk. “Now will you eat your breakfast?”
He smiles and looks down into the bag. “I suppose so.”
I kiss him on the cheek. “Will you spend the day with me?”
He nods and takes a huge bite out of his croissant, half of it disappearing into his mouth.
“Good. Any idea when Arrow gets back?” I ask, hiding my annoyance that he didn’t mention he would be gone for longer than a night.
Rake looks up at me and grins boyishly. “Not so great to be an old lady now, is it?”
Old lady? No one said anything about that.
“Hmmph.”
He chuckles. “At least now I won’t have to threaten you to get you to the clubhouse.”
Tracker walks in at that moment with Trace, Jess’s husband.
“You,” he says, pointing at me.
“Me what?” I ask, looking around.
“I have a favor to ask you.”
I instantly become suspicious.
“I’m listening,” I reply warily.
He walks over to me and casually puts his hand on my waist. “Let’s talk about this in my bedroom.”
My eyebrows rise at that. “I don’t think so, buddy, unless you want me to finally get the chance to punch Allie in the face.”
He rubs the back of his neck. “She isn’t here—just come.”
He grabs my arm and walks me to his room. I glance back at Rake, who just shrugs his broad shoulders.
“So, what?” I call out to him. “Before, no club members could touch me, now any of them can lure me into their rooms?”
He laughs at my poor excuse of a joke. “You’re Arrow’s now. No one would dare touch you.” In his room, Tracker turns and looks down at me. “I want to ask Lana out,” he says.
I should have seen this one coming.
“And?”
“And I want you to tell me where her favorite place to eat is,” he says, blue eyes pleading with mine.
I cross my arms over my chest. “You know I love you, Tracker, but for fuck’s sake, Allie still lives here with you! I don’t think you should ask anyone out, especially Lana, until you sort out your shit.”
His expression darkens, but I don’t regret my words. They’re the truth—whether he wants to hear them or not.
“You don’t think I’m good enough for her?” he grits out, jaw tense.
“Tracker—”
He laughs mirthlessly. “Look, I know no one is probably good enough for Lana; I see what she’s worth. But it’s nice to know that someone I consider a good friend doesn’t see my worth.”
“Tracker—”
He opens the door to his room and walks out, leaving me sitting here alone, feeling like complete shit. I sit there for a few minutes, thinking. I see a pad of paper and a pen by the bed. It’s pink, so I’m assuming it’s Allie’s. I rip off a sheet and write Tracker a note.
You’re wrong; I know what you’re worth.
But do you?
I’m sorry I’m a jerk.
Love, Anna Bell.
Why does he keep Allie around? As a safety net? Is it a comfort thing? I have no idea, but I realize I’m being judgmental and poking my nose into shit that’s not really my business. I’m very protective of Lana, but I should be asking her if she wants this. It’s not my decision to make. I leave the note on his bed, then go to find Rake.
We have some catching up to do.
* * *
Wetness on my face.
I force my eyes open and stare up at Rake, who is dripping water on my face from a water bottle.
“What the hell are you doing?” I ask, sitting up and looking for something to throw at him.
“You fell asleep,” he says, shaking his head. “Some party animal you are.”
“What time is it?” I ask, rubbing my eyes with the bottom of my palm.
“One a.m., Anna, let’s go out!” he says cheerfully, bouncing on the balls of his feet.
I blink. “Are you on drugs?”
It’s a legitimate question with the way he’s acting.
“You want to go where?” I ask. We’d hung out all day, went to see a movie, spent some time playing pool, and had dinner. Then, everyone started drinking and I may have joined in for one or two drinks.
Or five.
“Let’s go to the club,” he says. “Rift, remember?”
“The one you guys dragged me out of last time?” I ask in a dry tone.
Good times.
“Yep,” he says, starting to tip more water on me.
“Do it and die!” I yell, standing up and pushing my hair out of my face. “Let me get dressed.”
“You have ten minutes,” he says. “I’m going to round everyone up.”
I look at him and only just notice he’s dressed and ready to go, in jeans and the black T-shirt I bought him when I first came back.
“Fine,” I say, following him to the door and locking it as he leaves. I’m wearing jeans and a plain white top, which won’t do. Knowing I don’t have time for a shower, I wash my face, brush my teeth, and put on some light makeup. My hair looks like I just got fucked, but there’s no fixing it. I get changed into tight jeans and a black top that shows off my stomach. I slide my feet into some stiletto heels, spritz a little perfume, and grab my handbag on the way out.
Rake, Tracker, Trace, Sin, and Vinnie are standing in the game room, laughing and drinking. They all look at me as I walk in.
“What?” I ask, feeling a little self-conscious.
“You actually got dressed in like fifteen minutes,” Tracker says, any earlier anger vanished. “Impressive. Arrow is a lucky fucker.”
That earns him a slap on the back of the head from Rake.
I roll my eyes and look at Sin. “Is Faye coming out?”
He shakes his head but gives no explanation for her absence.
Okaaaay then.
“Where’s Arrow?” I ask Tracker. He still hasn’t contacted me since last night, and I’m really put out over it.
“He’ll be at Rift,” Tracker replies, then snaps his head back to me. “And you need to be on your best behavior because men from other Wind Dragon chapters are going to be there tonight.”
“Define best behavior.”
“Have fun but keep your mouth shut,” he replies. “And stick to us at all times.”
I can do that.
Maybe.
He hands me my drink, and I take a sip.
Then I cough. “Holy shit, Tracker!”
He chuckles. “What? Can’t handle a little vodka?”
“Not straight! I’m not an alcoholic, you bastard!” I snap, putting my drink back down.
“Why are you grumpy?” he asks. “You had a nap and everything.”
Rake laughs.
I pick up a pool cue and threaten them with it.
They laugh harder.
“Why am I the only woman going out tonight?” I ask the group of them.
They all look at one another.
“The other women know their place,” Tracker inserts, laughing at his own joke.
I slap his shoulder. “How you get women at all, I have no idea.”
“Probably my huge pierced cock,” he replies. “Or my charm.”
My eyes widen as I look down at his crotch area. “Your dick is pierced?”
He undoes his button. “Yep. Want to see?”
Another slap from Rake.
The truth was, I did want to see. But I didn’t want to get Tracker killed.
Vinnie walks over and takes a gulp of my vodka, then pours in some juice and hands me back the glass. “Thanks, Vinnie,” I tell him.
I pound the whole glass.
“That’s the spirit,” Rake says, wrapping an arm around me. “Let’s do a shot, then get out of here.”
I slam the glass down and nod.
Why not?
* * *
One of the prospects, Blade, drops us off at Rift. A few of them tried to argue with me and wanted to take their bikes, but I made a big scene over it. No drunk riding. When we walk in, the vibe in the club is different from last time. There are a lot of bikers around, and a lot more practically naked women. Tracker stands to my left, Rake to my right. I feel like I’m walking in with a group of bodyguards. I see Arrow standing at the bar, his back to me. He’s talking with a man I’ve never seen before, also wearing a cut. The conversation doesn’t look too friendly, and I don’t want to interrupt.
“I’m going to the bathroom,” I tell Rake, raising my voice over the music. After having broken the seal before we left, I know I am going to have to pee a hundred times tonight. I do my business in the bathroom, then wash my hands in the sink. A woman walks in, and I realize she looks familiar. Where have I seen her before? I try to rack my brain but come up with nothing.
“I know you,” she says suddenly, smirking as she looks at her own reflection in the mirror. “You were waiting outside my house when Arrow came by.”
So that’s who she is. I remember now, Arrow said he had to make a stop while I waited by his bike outside.
I shrug. “That doesn’t mean you know me.”
Her lip twitches. “You’re nothing like Mary. I guess he went for her opposite this time.”
I pretend that doesn’t hurt, unwilling to let this woman see any weakness in me.
I stare her right in the eye. “If you have something to say, then say it.”
She smiles then. “Arrow won’t ever love anyone the way he loved my sister.”
She’s Mary’s sister? I didn’t see that one coming.
I force a smirk. “Why are you here, then? Trying to pick up your sister’s seconds?”
She raises her hand to hit me, but I catch her arm and twist it back.
“I’m not someone to fuck with,” I grit out. “I’ve never said one bad word about your sister, and I never will. But if you want to be on my bad side, you’re going to need a whole fuckin’ army to take me down, because I’m not like any other woman you know.”
“Let me go!” she gasps.
“Do you understand me?” I ask, steel in my tone.
She nods.
I let her go.
I check myself in the mirror, then glance at her one last time.
“Have a good night,” I tell her in a saccharine sweet tone.
Then I walk out, leaving her wide-eyed and cradling her arm.
Bitch.
The worst part is that I think she may be right.