Battle’s grin widens as he nods, satisfied with my answer. It’s for the best because I was about to swing on my dad for the first time in my life. Over a woman.
Fuck, life is wild.
Rampage stalks over to my woman and with the dramatic flair of a high school theater kid, he falls to his knees at her feet. Again.
“Hey pretty lady,” he holds his hand out to my wide-eyed woman who places her hand in his instinctually. The moment his lips touch her skin, I’m slamming my glass down on the bar.
It shatters spectacularly. Addy’s wide eyes snap over to me, and Rampage looks amused as fuck.
“Seems you won’t have to take it to the table after all,” Dad mutters next to me while Ripper chuckles under his breath.
Rampage isn’t at all deterred. “I’m coming to you with my heart and my helmet in my hands,” Rampage continues, not bothered by my outburst. “Can I take you on a ride, Addyson? It would be an honor.”
“Rampage,” the sound of me growling my brother’s name in warning is deadly as fuck. Everyone freezes except for Addysonwhose head is going back and forth between the man prostrating himself for her, and me, the man about to rip the head off one of his best friends. When Rampage looks over at me, the amusement in his eyes is clear to see. “Get your hands off my woman.”
The moment the declaration leaves my lips, he lets go of her and raises his hands in surrender. He jumps up to his feet from his knees in one powerful, fluid motion.
“You got it, Prez,” he’s barely able to hide the laughter in his voice.
My eyes lock on Addyson and I’m stomping across the room without a single care given to the shattered glass at the bar or how many people are witnessing my unhinged behavior. It’s all because of Addyson.
When I’m looming above her, I grit out through my teeth, “You’re mine, Addyson.”
My hands are gentle as I grab her and throw her over my shoulder because the thought of hurting her makes me sick to my stomach. The gasp she lets out goes straight to my cock and my feet don’t move fast enough as I head toward our room.
I barely even hear the cheers of my brothers in the common area behind us. I’m on edge and I can only hope I can hold off in case she’s not ready after the last few days she’s had. If she’s not, then I’ll wait.
I’ll always wait for her. She’s mine.
And I’m hers.
CHAPTER 10
ADDYSON
When Briggs puts me down, the echo of the door slamming closed behind us pulses through the room while I sway slightly. His large hands are there to steady me. But it’s not just my body he holds.
It’s more.
So much more.
The reason I stayed in Magnolia Point wasn’t because I felt tied to the place where I grew up. I simply didn’t feel the pull to anywhere else. I was content with what I knew, but right now all I feel is possibility.
It’s exciting. And more than a little terrifying.
“What was that?” My voice comes out far weaker than I would like, but I’m kind of at a loss here. Before I can stop myself, my mouth keeps moving, “You’ve gotta work with me here, Briggs. I walked through the doors of the clubhouse last night and youhad a redhead draped all over you. A redhead who, I come to find out, is appropriately named Sin. Her nipples were poking through her top,’” my face twists up in disgust before I can stop myself. “Golly, I wonder why more of the Old Ladies, sisters, and kids don’t hang out at the clubhouse.”
“Jealous?” He arches an eyebrow, the challenge clear on his face.
I give him a long look before shaking my head. “At least you’re pretty,” my voice is mocking and he stiffens and narrows his eyes. I have to ask, “That’s all you got from what I said?”
He shrugs and holds his hand out to me as if offering himself up for sacrifice. Tempting. Very fucking tempting.
“I’m going to level with you, Addyson,” his voice is husky, “and it’s going to make me sound like an asshole.”
I don’t miss the way his eyes rake over my body, and his hands clench at his sides like he has to stop himself from reaching for me. The feeling is utterly mutual.
“I have a feeling asshole is kind of a job title requirement for you in most situations,” I offer, an olive branch of sorts. A small one that gives him some leeway.
