I arched an eyebrow at her. “The way I remember it, it was hardly torture for you, darlin’.”
Her eyes blazed as she held me in place with her angry stare. Charlie scooted off Rider’s lap and took a seat next to Penny. “He’s right. The Highwaymen will protect you if you’re one of us. Hardy can’t do anything about it. And your dad won’t suspect it was anything to do with our club if you’re claimed by one of them.” She took one of Penny’s hands in hers. “Rider’s a clever man, darlin’. If he says this is the only way, then this is theonlyway.”
Fuck me, she looked like she was going to cry.
She glared at me, her full mouth turning into a full pout of displeasure.
My stomach sank.
Shewasgoing to cry at the prospect of being my woman.
Was I really that much of a piece of shit that she’d rather cry than be my old lady?
Wow, well that hurt more than I thought it would. Not that I cared, because like I’d said, it was all for show anyway. She wouldn’t really be my old lady. It was just to save both our asses.
I scowled back at her.
“If you two fuck as hard as you hate each other, I’m going to get Casa to set up a camera,” Gauge said with a chuckle.
“You’re not helping,” Rider growled.
“Oh come on. Look at them!” Gauge laughed louder. “She hates him and he can’t stand her. This is going to be fucking hilarious. Penny, you ever need a servicing, you come straight to me.” He winked. “Like this dumb motherfucker just said, it’s all for show anyway.”
I glared at him and stood up. “I need another beer.”
“Grab the whiskey,” Gauge called.
I stormed into the house, still hearing their low whispers outside, trying to convince her that being my old lady was the only way that this would work. That being with me was the only way she’d be safe from both of our clubs. I didn’t understand the ache in my chest at the thought of that—the idea that she’d need to be convinced to be with me.
I hadn’t ever wanted a woman as my old lady before, and I still didn’t. I lived a dark path and no woman should be on that with me. But if I had ever wanted a woman of my own, it would have been her. There was no doubt in my mind.
When I headed back outside, the four of them were quiet. I sat back down and handed the bottle of whiskey to Gauge. I’d grabbed a beer and I drank half of it down in one go.
I felt angry, restless, bitter. Resentment stirred in my gut, making me want to lash out.
“Are we agreed?” Rider asked.
I looked across at Penny, the light from the fire dancing across her face. She nodded, looking deeply unhappy, and I reached over for the bottle of whiskey from Gauge.
Fuck this shit.
Fuck the Vipers.
Fuck the Highwaymen.
And motherfucking fuck her.
“We’re agreed,” I replied bitterly.
~ 26 ~
Penny
So this was really happening then.
I was being claimed by a Highwayman. By my dark angel, no less, and he looked like he was about to kill himself at the very thought. I wasn’t sure what made me more angry—that he was so repulsed by the idea of me being his old lady, or that it was the only way to save myself.
I’d left the Vipers, and my daddy, to get away from men controlling me. To stop myself from being claimed by someone I didn’t want. So I could make up my own mind. Carve my own path. Choose my own future. And yet there I was, barely a day later and already forced into being claimed by the very man that had kidnapped me.
