“Nah, you don’t need to fuck them. In fact, I’m gonna remind them that there’s no " no touching my sister policy in effect.”
“You’re so funny.” I tell him, smiling just slightly.
“Come on, let’s go. I’m starving, and knowin’ I don’t have to choke on that slop she’s makin’ just made the day a whole lot better.”
We leave the room, moving down the hallway to the main area of the clubhouse. While it’s quieter than when I showed up last night, there’s still people up and moving. Voices, laughter, and the scrape of chairs echo around me.
As we walk, conversations around us come to a halt. I can feel their eyes on me. The men of the club and the women who see me as their competition. One of the men stops Luca, and I stepto the side trying to give them some privacy to talk. I keep my eyes averted, not wanting to look directly at anyone. But with Luca distracted, some of the conversations resume, their voices higher than a whisper.
“She’s still here,” a female states.
“Thought she’d be gone by now,” comes from a deeper male voice.
“She’s gonna be nothin’ but trouble,” someone else says.
I keep my chin up, my face collected. I’m not going to let them get to me.
A hand rests on my shoulder, and I pull away, my head turning toward the owner. A wave of relief washes over me when I see it’s Luca. He pulls me in closer to him, wrapping his arm around my shoulder. He keeps his voice low, as he dips his head closer to mine. “You gotta be careful if you’re walking around alone,” he murmurs. “Not everyone’s thrilled you’re here.”
I glance over at him. “I heard. Is it because of me—or because of you?”
“Both,” he says. “Some of the brothers don’t like outsiders. Some don’t like complications. There’s some who don’t like that I’m the Prez. And the club girls…” he exhales slowly. “They definitely don’t like you.”
“But I’m not really an outsider. I’m your sister. And there’s no one here I want. Being a club girl isn’t a job I’m applying for.”
“If anyone gives you trouble,” he continues as we step into the kitchen, “you come straight to me. You hear me? Don’t try to handle it yourself.”
“I know how to take care of myself,” I remind him quietly.
“I know. But humor me and just do what I’m asking.”
“Fine. So, what do you want to eat?”
A huge grin spreads across his face. “Do you know the recipe for that breakfast casserole Momma used to make for us?”
“I do.”
His face lights up like the Fourth of July. “Can you make it?”
I smile widely at him and make my way over to the fridge to check if we have the ingredients, while he heads to the coffee pot.
Chapter 12
Luke
Thesunshinesthroughmy window. Bright and blinding. Pulling the blanket over my head I reach out aimlessly toward my nightstand, grabbing my phone so that I can shut off the annoying alarm.
Without even thinking, I check. No missed calls. She hasn’t called me.
Then I check the messages. She always sends a good morning. A string of kissing emojis. It’s been two days since I’ve seen them. Two long days. All I have are the same unanswered texts staring back at me, proof of everything I’m trying not to accept.
I call her anyway, hoping like hell that this time will be different.
But it’s not.
My call goes straight to voicemail. I hesitate for a moment then decide to leave a message. “Vee, come on, babe. Give me a call back,” I say after the beep. I could say more, but I don’t. I’ve already said everything I know how to say. I hate this. She wants more than I even know if I can give. Sharing a girl, long term with my brothers, isn’t something I’ve ever talked about. Sure,I’ve fucked a girl with Ryker and Mack before. But that was then. Before Ash. Before Vee. And it was always just a club girl or some random chick looking for a walk on the wild side.
I hate the way things ended between us. How she rushed out without giving me a chance to explain. To talk through things. I know it’s not something I normally do. Emotions and all of that. But hell, for her I’d watch the sappiest of movies.
