Untitled Book 2(30)

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

SIXTEEN

 

 

Vinnie

 

 

“OKAY,” 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.”

 

Mumbles of agreement.

 

I lean back in my seat and study the men. “I don’t know how to fix this for her, but I’m going to try. If shit goes down though, it will be me handling it. If I have to kill someone to protect her, I will, but the blood will be on my hands, not yours. I don’t want this touching the club if possible.” I pause. “Although it probably will.”

 

Who am I kidding? It definitely will.

 

“I think we should wait until they know we’re protecting her before we set up a meet to find out exactly what these fucks want,” Arrow says, running his hand down his beard. “The last thing they’ll want is a war with us. Whether it’s the Kings or whoever else. The two men I killed were Kings, so I know those bastards are involved.”