TWENTY-THREE
THE next morning, I walked in on something I never wanted to see.
Like an idiot, I’d come into Tracker’s room with a smile on my face and a plate full of food. What I’d come across was a very naked Tracker and Allie dressed in a nurse’s costume, on her knees with his cock in her mouth.
In my shock, I placed the food down on the side table and ran.
Now I am hiding in my room, feeling both disappointed in Tracker and sorry for myself for having seen something I can’t forget.
“Why are you hiding in here?” Arrow asks when he gets back from wherever the hell he goes for the club.
“I saw Allie choking on something.”
“What?” he asks. “Is she okay?”
“It was Tracker’s cock, so yes, I assume she’s okay, but I’m not. I’m scarred for life and I’ll never look at her or a nurse’s outfit the same.”
Arrow stares at me a moment, then bursts out laughing.
“How is this funny?” I ask, tapping my toes on the floor in impatience. “And Tracker said he didn’t want Allie anymore, he really wants Lana.”
Arrow sobers. “Stay out of it, Anna.”
I say nothing.
Arrow takes that as me planning to start something—he already knows me too well. “I’m serious. It’s not anyone’s business except Tracker’s. He doesn’t need to feel judged here. He’s free to do as he pleases.”
“I’m not going to say anything,” I say, knowing the disapproval on my face speaks for itself.
“That’s right, you aren’t,” he says pointedly. “I thought we could go for a ride¸ get some lunch.”
I stand up. “I’d like that. Can we go out the back way?”
He laughs harder. “Babe, stop acting like a prude. Going by the things we did last night, I know you aren’t one.”
My lips tighten. “It’s not about that. I’m embarrassed that I walked in on them! Now I have to look them in the eye. Well, Tracker at least; fuck Allie.”
He smirks. “You’ll live. Not that I like you seeing any other man naked, but come on, you should see your face.”
I square my shoulders. “Ha-ha, very funny. Now let’s get out of here.”
He reaches out and takes my hand, then brings it to his lips, kissing my knuckles.
My heart flutters.
“I’m not fuckin’ eating sushi today though,” he says, grinning at me. “I want a steak.”
“Fine, I suppose I could go for a steak.”
We walk out hand in hand to his bike. I’m putting my helmet on when Vinnie runs over to Arrow and tells him something in a low tone so I can’t hear.
“Fuck!” Arrow yells, then looks to me. “Anna, I’m going to have to take a rain check, darlin’.”
“Is everything okay?” I ask, stepping closer to him.
“Everything will be fine. I’ll see you tonight. Only leave the clubhouse with an escort—I’m not asking, Anna, I’m telling.”
He kisses me quickly, then gets on his bike and rides away.
I’m still standing there when Tracker walks up to me. “Get a nice show?”
I cringe, closing my eyes for a second. “I’m so sorry, Tracker. Impressive body though.”
And it really is. The man looks like Adonis, all smooth skin and sculpted muscles.
Shame he is Tracker.
I see him smile. “Why you standing out here looking like someone kicked your puppy?”
“Arrow had to go somewhere, it seemed urgent. I hope everything is okay.”
It’s hard to just ignore the fact that things happen, but I’m not able to know what they are, or help out in any way. I just need to wait and hope that nothing goes wrong, that Arrow comes home every night.
Tracker quickly slides his phone out from his jean pocket and presses some buttons. “Fuck, yeah. I have to go too. Sin needs me. Go inside, Anna.”
And just like that, I’m dismissed a second time within ten minutes.
I head back inside to look for a new lunch date, but no one’s around except the prospects. Faye has her own house and is only around sometimes. The rest of the permanent couples all have their own places as well. The only people who live here full-time are Arrow, Vinnie, Rake, Tracker, Allie, and the three prospects who come and go, although it isn’t uncommon for members of other chapters to drop by, or for Rake to bring home a harem of women who don’t want to leave. I’m about to give in and just make myself a sandwich when Lana calls me.
“Hey,” I say, leaning the phone between my shoulder and ear.
“Hey, you busy? I thought we could go out and have some lunch.”
I smile. “I’ll come pick you up in ten.”
“Pick me up in what?” she asks, sounding confused.
“One of the guys will bring me in the four-wheel drive.”
“Oh, okay. See you soon then.”
We both hang up, and I go in search of a prospect.
* * *
“Do you think women prefer alpha males? Or cute, geeky men?” Lana asks me after a bite of pizza.
“Why have you been asking these weirder-than-usual questions?” I ask.
She shrugs, looking down at her plate. “Just curious.”
“Alpha males, definitely.”
She rolls her eyes. “We know that’s you.”
I cough. “Ahem. Tracker.”
She flashes me a sheepish smile. “He’s charming. Sue me.”
“What happened to Dash?” I ask. I’d hoped they would hit it off.
“We’ve spoken a few times but haven’t met up. He’s great, but he’s not Tracker.”
That’s probably a good thing.
“I don’t know what to tell you, Lana. Tracker is my friend, but Allie is still there at the clubhouse with him. I guess you need to decide for yourself and know that I’ll always have your back, no matter what you choose. Or who.”
“Do you think he’s still sleeping with Allie?” she asks, frowning.
Fuck my life.
She gasps. “You cringed, I saw it! That means he is.”
“Lana—”
She holds her little hand up. “Say no more, Anna, say no more.”
Thank goodness for that.
I open my mouth to speak when someone takes the seat next to me.
“Hey,” Talon says, swiping my plate and taking a bite of my food.
I stare at him with my mouth hanging open.
“Ummm, Anna?”
I look at Lana and clear my throat. “Lana, this is Talon, my kidnapper. Talon, this is Lana, my best friend. Keep staring at her like that and I’ll stick my fork in your eye.”
Talon smiles. “Nice to meet you, Lana.”
Lana doesn’t look so thrilled. “You’re the one who kidnapped her?”
“Well, Ranger actually did the kidnapping, if you want to get technical. I was just—”
“My babysitter,” I interject.
He nods. “Right. We had some good times, didn’t we, Anna?”
I don’t bother to comment. “May I ask what you’re doing here?”
He shrugs and leans back, his arm casually hanging on the back of the chair. “Was walking by and saw you, wanted to say hello.”
Blade walks in then and sees Talon. His face turns to stone. Before I can even blink, he has his phone to his ear. Probably calling Arrow.
“Arrow is going to be pissed, Talon: you need to get out of here.”
He gives me a weird look. “Do you love him, Anna?”
I swallow. “Why would you ask me that?”
“It’s important.”
“It’s also none of your business,” I snap, wondering what the hell his game is.
He’s quiet for a few seconds before he speaks. “I need to talk to Arrow.”
“So you’re using me again to get the club’s attention? This whole me-being-used-as-a-pawn thing is really getting old.”
He sighs and crooks his head from side to side. “You’re a lot more than that, Anna, trust me.”
“More nonanswers. Just what I fuckin’ need.”
He arches an eyebrow. “Quite a mouth on you.”
Blade sits down opposite Talon and glances around. “What do you want? Leave the women out of it.”
“I’m not going to hurt the women,” he says, glancing sideways at me. “I want a word with Arrow.”
“Why?” Blade asks.
“That’s between me and Arrow,” Talon fires back.
“He’ll be here,” Blade says, his eyes on me. “And he won’t be happy you involved Anna.”
“I’m not a threat to Anna.”
Lana gives me a wide-eyed look. “Yeah, I don’t think I’m going to date a biker after all.”
“Smart move,” I mutter.
Talon flashes a charming smile at her. “Oh, come on now, we’re not all that bad.”
Lana purses her lips. “Right.”
Talon sighs. “I miss the old days where women were afraid of me.”
I grin at that. “I’m sure they still will be, just find ones who aren’t badass like Lana and me.”
He messes my hair. “You are kind of badass, aren’t you?”
“Get your fuckin’ hands off her,” Blade grits out, his face going red.
Oh, dear.
I can see this escalating fast.
Blade’s phone rings, and he looks to Talon. “He’s out front.”
Talon looks down at me, a sad expression flashing on his face. “Take care, Anna.”
My brows furrow. What am I missing here? Something is going on, but I haven’t the slightest idea what it could be.
“Both of you stay here,” Blade says, following Talon outside.
“Holy shit,” Lana mumbles.
I slide my plate back from Talon’s side and take a bite of my salad.
“How can you eat at a time like this?” Lana whisper-yells.
I put my fork down. “What do you want to do?”
She stands up, grabbing her handbag. “Let’s go and see what’s going on.”
I follow her to the front window, where she sticks her face against the glass.
People in the café start to stare.
“Seriously, Lana?”
She turns her head around. “What? All I can see is Talon and Arrow standing next to their bikes, talking.”
I grab her hand and we walk outside.
I see Arrow shaking his head, and Talon reaching into his pocket and pulling out some papers. Arrow glances at them, then slams them against Talon’s chest. Arrow looks down at the ground, while Talon’s lips keep moving, obviously telling him something.
What the hell is going on?
I look at Lana, who looks even more confused than I, then back at Arrow in time to see him punch Talon square in the face. I try to run to him, but Blade appears and holds me back. Talon doesn’t hit Arrow back, but for some reason he looks . . . almost pleased?
Arrow notices us standing there, and storms over, not even looking at me.
“Get them home,” he demands to Blade. “Now.”
Then he walks back to his bike, gets on it, and rides away.
Talon watches him leave, then does the same.
“Come on,” Blade says, herding us into the car.
We drop Lana off first, then drive back to the clubhouse.
I sit on our bed, and wait for Arrow to come home and explain.