Chapter Seven
Midas
After that night,I made sure whenever we were in the same room, Legs was by my side, because avoiding her after work clearly wasn’t working.
She’d been at Au for almost a year now, and for the most part, I managed to keep the other brothers away. And the times it didn’t, I’d kept my word and fucked the memory of them out of her.
It’s not lost on me that in not claiming Legs as mine, we’d somehow fallen into this fucked-up relationship. I’ve gotta give her credit, though. She’s rolled with the punches, never demanding more, even when I went too far. And I’ll admit, there were times I did. I’m not good at thinking shit through. I’m a react-first, regret-later kinda guy. Sometimes I was so far out of line that if our roles had been reversed, I would’ve walked. No way I’d’ve handled half that shit with the kind of dignity she did.
I look over at the sound of her giggle and see her leaning on Lil’s shoulder, both of them doubled over, laughing at something. I keep an eye on them, ready to step in if I see anybrother get too close, giving her the illusion of space while I control the perimeter.
“You ever going to claim her?”
I jolt at the sound of Conan’s voice. “Jesus Christ. We really should get you a bell, you’re like a fucking ninja.”
He grins, sipping his beer. “You didn’t answer my question.”
“Don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He shakes his head before turning to look at the prospect behind the bar. “Grab me another beer, Puck.”
“You got it, Conan.”
He nods to the prospect, then turns back, beer still in hand.
“Where’s the rest of your crew?”
“Don’t know what you’re talking about.”
I grin. “Touche, asshole.”
He tips his beer and takes another sip.
“Well, I don’t know what the fuck to call you. I know Sunshine’s your old lady, but what are Blade, King, and Inigo to you?”
“You mean other than pains in my ass?”
“Well, yeah?”
“They’re just my brothers. I guess it’s not much different from what Mac and Toot have going on. We don’t cross swords, and none of us are interested in each other sexually.” He grimaces at the thought, making me chuckle.
“What we have is normal for us, especially me, King, and Inigo, because Kings of Carnage have always had multiple men with a single old lady. It’s a protection thing, and something we take very seriously. But that doesn’t mean it’s for everyone. And looking around at some of my Raven brothers, I know it wouldn’t work here. Maybe if the club was born into the culture like Carnage, it’d be different.”
I tip my head, conceding his point just as Crane walks up to the girls. I fight the urge to storm over to them, but with Conan watching me, I hold back.
“If you hate seeing her with anyone else, do something about it.”
“It’s not like that.”
He snorts, turning to face the bar. He picks up his fresh beer and takes a swig as I turn and signal to the prospect to bring me a bottle, too.
“It is like that. You’re just too fucking blind to see it.”
“Look, I know you think you’re trying to help, but you’re not. I like Legs, sure. She’s a great fuck, but that’s all she’ll ever be to me.”
“Um… can I get a Coke, please?” Legs’s soft voice comes from just behind me, and I freeze. Conan mutters something under his breath, but I ignore him. I turn and see Legs’s wounded face.
“Legs—”
