Unknown Number:Did you get the money? I want you to know there’s more where that came from. I’ll get you anything you want, Izabelle. You just say the word and I’ll buy it for you.
“Is that him?” She moves in closer.
I nod.
“But I thought you blocked him.”
“I did. I don’t know how he keeps changing his number. But he does.”
“That’s a bit creepy.”
It definitely is.
“Hey, I have a favor to ask. Would you be able to drop this off at the hospital for me? Tell him that I can’t be bought and to leave me alone.”
She nods, taking the money and tucking it into the locker. Maybe he’ll finally get the message this time. If not, I’m not sure what I’m going to do.
7
Rogue
“Is it just me or is the air in this place stifling?” Bones comes up to my side, his eyes clocking all the couples in the room—everyone is cuddled up and acting lovey-dovey. It’s an intense scene, raising the hairs of my jealousy. Most of the men of this club have old ladies and have settled down, and they’re darn good women too.
“I can’t wait to get back home,” I tell him, tipping my glass back and swallowing down the burn that’s creeping in. It’s not just the overcrowded room; it’s being away from the fresh air and the mountains. Magda’s potpie. Everything out east feels and smells different.
“Did King give a read on how much longer we’re needed here?” he asks.
As of right now, we’re just sittin’ around twiddling our thumbs while Axle and his men gather intel. Bones and some ofthe others are needed for their computer-hacking skills, but my power is in my strength.
“Nah, King didn’t say. Where is he anyway?” I scan the room, but our Prez is nowhere in sight.
“Saw him going down the hall with a hot little number wrapped around his waist.”
Well, shit. Can’t remember the last time the man got himself some action. Good for him. I wonder which of the girls drew his attention.
“You have any clue what’s wrong with Link?” Bones tips his head toward a table in the back corner. Our brother is sitting there drilling a hole in the wood with his stare. Ever since we arrived here, he’s been in a foul mood. Figured it’s because he left his girl behind. Before we left, he had finally made a move on Shayna, and both of them were looking damn happy. He’s probably grumpy about having to come out east just to sit around and watch other couples making out.
“I’m gonna go find out,” I tell Bones, and head straight to the bar to get Link another drink. The bartender immediately starts giving me eyes, but I’m the last man who’d be interested. I’ve sworn off women indefinitely. Kara burned me pretty good, and now my dick runs scared every time a female looks my way.
“Drink this.” I slam the glass down in front of Link then take a seat. “You gonna share what the fuck is going on with you? Or do I need to take you out back and knock you the fuck out of it?”
“Just dealing with some shit, man.” He lifts the glass to his mouth and takes a long, slow pull of his drink.
“This shit have anything to do with the little firecracker you’re in love with?” His eyes snap up, looking shocked that I know. It’s not like it was some big secret. We’ve all seen him sneaking in and out of Shayna’s room in the middle of the night. What I want to know is why he’s hiding that shit. I don’t understand why he hasn’t claimed her yet.
“Don’t act like it’s some big secret. We all have eyes, man. We just want to know why the fuck you haven’t claimed her yet. That girl is the best damn thing to happen to this club in ages. If it weren’t for Shay, ain’t none of us would’ve made it through this last year.”
“It’s not gonna happen, man.” He shakes his head. “We called it quits.”
“What the hell happened? Last week you two were all fucking smiles, sneaking around, acting like you had rainbows shooting out of your ass.” I’d never seen the man smile so much in all the years I’ve known him. Usually, he’s got a tight upper lip and stiff shoulders, pissing rage every time he opened his mouth. But he was at peace.
“I got a wakeup call. Someone from my past reminded me of my role in that girl’s life.”
Don’t know who the fuck this person is or what they said, but I know exactly what role he plays in Shayna’s life. He’s the man who protects her. The man who puts her above all fucking else. And he’s the one she’s in love with. Others have tried to make a move on her, but she has never strayed from wanting Link. That girl wants him to be her man; that’s the only role he should be worried about playing.
“Let me ask you a question, Link, and I want you to dig deep and be real fucking honest with yourself. How are you going to feel without that girl in your life? How are you going to feel when you have to watch some other son of a bitch lay his hands all over her? Huh? How are you gonna feel then?”
I can see the answer burning right in his eyes. The locked tension that just squared off in his shoulders. He doesn’t like the idea of someone else touching his girl. None of us would like to see Shayna with a civilian. She’s ours. And if Link doesn’t claim her, one of us will gladly step in and do the honors.
