Untitled Book 2(55)

 

“I still can’t believe you named your dog after one of my book characters,” Lana says, laughing. “That’s crazy.”

 

“She practically named him after me,” Tracker says for the millionth time.

 

Everyone ignores him.

 

“He’s going to be massive,” Rake says, patting Colt. “The kids can probably ride him.”

 

“I need to get him leash trained before he gets big enough to drag me,” I say, wincing. “Which will probably be very soon.”

 

“Should have got her a pug, or something,” Rake jokes to Vinnie.

 

“I’m sure a pug will protect her,” Lana says, sitting down on Tracker’s lap. “A pug with small-man syndrome. Those small dogs can be pretty vicious.”

 

Everyone heads back inside, but Vinnie grabs my arm. “Two things I want to talk to you about.”

 

“Yeah?” I ask, brow furrowing.

 

“The accounts you did for your dad, you didn’t mention that you did work for the Kings MC.”

 

He’s right, I didn’t mention that, and I’m pretty surprised that Talon mentioned it to him.

 

“Vinnie, when they say accounts, it isn’t some code word for dodgy shit. I legitimately did their accounting. I helped Dad with the numbers; I don’t know about anything else that went on with them.”

 

“Why didn’t you mention it?”

 

I sigh and try to explain it to him. “I just don’t want anything to do with all of that anymore. I didn’t do anything wrong, and I didn’t know my father was doing anything wrong until it was too late and men wanted me dead.” I tilt my head to the side and study him. “You knew all this, yet you didn’t say anything, and you accuse me of being a liar?”

 

To a man like Vinnie, loyalty is everything. Although I didn’t do anything wrong, I also didn’t tell him small details like that. I kept everything to myself, even though I wouldn’t have lied about it if I was asked. Keeping things to yourself protects people. I don’t want any more people to get hurt because of me. I just want everything to be over with.

 

“I go with my gut, Shay,” he says, eyes gentling. “I don’t think you have it in you to deceive me.”

 

We look into each other’s eyes, something passing between us.

 

“What else did you want to talk about?”

 

“Talon said you should go to your father’s house to sort out the estate and shit, figure out if you want to sell it or what. I told him I can take you out there next week. Is that all right?”

 

“Yeah, sounds good,” I say, my heart feeling heavy. The thought of going there . . . but it has to be done. What did I want to do with the house though? I definitely didn’t want to live there; I guess I’ll just have to put it on the market.

 

“Is it safe for me to go there though, won’t everyone be expecting it?”

 

“I’ll make it safe,” Vinnie assures me, pulling me by my hand toward him, so our bodies touch. He grabs my hair in his hand and uses it to lift my head back. “Now give me a kiss.”

 

He leans down and catches my lips with his, his tongue delving into my mouth and making me feel weak in the knees. When he pulls away, I grip his T-shirt for balance. He kisses my nose and then my forehead. “I have to go to Rift. Do you want to come with me?”

 

“Yes,” I say quickly, making his eyes smile. I look down at my shorts and T-shirt. “Let me go get changed though and do my hair and makeup.”

 

“It’s not like we’re actually going clubbing,” he say, eyes dancing. “You can look around, have a drink, but no one is there except staff.”

 

“Yeah but I still need to look decent,” I say, patting Colt and then heading inside. “Just give me fifteen minutes.”

 

“It better be an actual fifteen minutes,” he grumbles from behind me. “Oh, and we’re taking my bike, so keep that in mind.”

 

“Will do,” I say, excited to be going on the back of his bike with him. “I think I want to learn how to ride one day.”

 

“Really?” he asks, brows almost hitting his hairline. “I can teach you if you like.”

 

“Yes, please,” I say, walking into our room and pulling out a pair of jeans and a tight black top. I start to undress, throwing the clothes I was wearing into the laundry basket. Vinnie sits on the bed, enjoying the show. “You just going to sit there and watch, are you?”

 

“Yep,” he replies, lying back with his hands behind his head. “Can’t help it when the view is so amazing.”