while I tighten my lips. âCan you even have intentions with someone youâve known only a few days?â
âHeâs saving your ass right now, isnât he?â Tracker says, not in a mean way, but matter-of-factly.
âI didnât ask him to,â I say quietly, not wanting them to think this was my idea. âA lot has happened in such a short period oftime. I donât even know how to process everything to be honest. I guess all I can say is that my intentions are pure.â
Both of their phones go off at the same time. âThat was quick,â Rake murmurs.
âDecision time,â Tracker says, standing up. âDo you want to wait in Vinnieâs room, Shay? I donât think this will take too long.â
âOkay,â I say, standing and walking out of the kitchen. They stop at Vinnieâs room and wait to leave until Iâm inside. Tracker gives me a comforting touch on my shoulder, which I actually appreciate. I lie down on Vinnieâs bed, just waiting.
I only hope he comes back with good news, or we might have to leave here straightaway. I donât 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
âO KAY,â Sin starts, glancing around the table at the men. âAs we all know, Vinnie owes Talon a marker, and he left to pay it. As heâs just told me, heâs brought the marker back with him to the clubhouse.â
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.
âVinnie,â he says, waiting for me to speak.
âThey 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 hasnât done anything wrong, and says she doesnât have anything. Talonâs protection plan for her is fucked, and her location keeps getting leaked. I canât just leave her, knowing I could help her better than he is. The problem is I donât know exactly who is after her. We thought it was the Mafia, but now we think the Kings are involved as well.â
âI told him it wasnât his problem,â Arrow rumbles, studying me.
âI want her to stay here with me,â I declare to the table.
âShe yours?â Sin asks, his words short but heavy. This is the question that the brothers will want to know the answer to more than anything.
âYeah,â I say, swallowing hard. âSheâs mine.â
âIs Talon going to be an issue?â Rake asks me, a muscle working in his jaw. âHe always seems to be a fuckinâ issue.â
âI donât know,â I reply honestly. âAnd I donât really give a fuck what he has to say, to be honest.â
Mumbles of agreement.
I lean back in my seat and study the men. âI donât know how to fix this for her, but Iâm 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 donât want this touching the club if possible.â I pause. âAlthough it probably will.â
Who am I kidding? It definitely will.
âI think we should wait until they know weâre protecting her before we set up a meet to find out exactly what these fucks want,â Arrow says, running his hand down his beard. âThe last thing theyâll want is a war with us. Whether itâs the Kings or whoever else. The two men I killed were Kings, so I know those bastards are involved.â
I love how he says it like itâs already a sure thing, when they havenât even voted yet.
âIâll destroy any of these fuckers who step into my path. None of
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