them are innocent,â I say, my hands clenching into fists at the thought of them with their corrupt hands on Shay.
âAnyone else ever hear Vinnie be so cold?â Tracker asks the room, as always lightening the tense mood.
I didnât think I was being cold, I was being realistic. And any of the men in this room would do the same to protect their women, or each otherâs women. Iâve seen it time and time again.
Shay just came into my life. I donât know where it will lead, if anywhere, but I know that my gut is telling me to protect her, that sheâs mine.
And I always go with my gut instinct.
Sheâs worth taking a chance on.
I donât give a fuck how whipped that makes me sound, and I know that most of the men at this table right now, powerful men you donât want to fuck with, know exactly how Iâm feeling. When you find something good, you fight to keep it. Even if it means fighting dirty. You look after it. You cherish it. And you donât let anyone fuck with it. Could Shay do better than me? Probably. Will she get the chance to find out? Fuck no. She became mine the second I decided to bring her into my clubhouse.
âAll right, men. Yes or no to keeping Vinnieâs woman under our roof, protecting her like sheâs our own?â
I glance at each man as they vote.
When itâs Sinâs turn, he says, âI just want to say that Iâm voting yes because at one time or another, Vinnie, youâve always been there to look after the women. Youâve saved Fayeâs ass more times than I can count, and now Iâll be here to save Shayâs.â
âThank you,â I tell him.
The voting continues.
And itâs unanimous.
Shay is staying.
âWe good?â Sin asks the table.
Everyone nods.
âShay is staying here, and under our protection. Vinnie, let us know what you need us to do.â
I leave the room feeling like a weight has been lifted.
*Â Â *Â Â *
Shay is fast asleep in my bed, snuggled under the covers, when I return to my room. I decide to join her, undressing and sliding under the sheets, spooning her from behind. I release a deep breath, thinking about how nice it is to be able to relax, to hold her like this and know that for now, weâre safe. I close my eyes and soon fall asleep with her scent in my nose.
*Â Â *Â Â *
âThis is the cutest shit Iâve ever seen,â I hear Fayeâs voice whisper. âSeriously, Anna, how adorable are they?â
âAre you just going to stand here and watch them sleep? Thatâs pretty creepy,â Anna whispers, making me open my eyes and glare at the two of them. âAnd I think Vinnieâs naked. I donât want to see his bits.â
âHis bits? Youâre best friends with a romance author and thatâs what you come up with?â Faye snickers.
âItâs Vinnie,â Anna says matter-of-factly, âto me, he doesnât have a cock, or a dick. He has bits.â
Faye starts laughing so hard Shay stirs, and the last thing she needs is to wake up with these two in her face.
âCan the both of you please get the fuck out?â I ask quietly, but loud enough so the two of them can hear.
Instead of listening, they both come closer, lean down, and kiss me on my cheek.
âWelcome home,â Faye says, while Anna just smiles down at me.
You canât even be angry at the two of them.
âGood to be back.â
âThereâs food for both of you in the kitchen,â Anna says, then grabs Fayeâs arm and pulls her to the door.
âFood?â Shay says, lifting her head, her hair all messy and cute.
Faye and Anna stop.
âThey were just about to leave,â I tell Shay, burrowing back under the sheets. I then lift my head, realizing I was being rude. âShay, this is Faye and Anna.â
âNice to meet you both,â Shay says, sitting up and smiling at the women.
âYou
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