ROMAN (Lane Brothers Book 5) (4 page)

The temptation to call her is strong right now. I hated having to dismiss her calls, and I hate it even more that she could be afraid and thinking that I no longer care enough to look out for her. I know Mel. She would already have started cursing me to hell and back and doubting my commitment to her.

Hell, she’s probably on the same train as my brothers, wondering if I’m a willing participant in this racket.

I don’t relish her thinking poorly of me, but if she hates me and stays away, she’ll stay alive. That’s all I want at the moment.

I’ll get her back after it’s all done and ensure that she never has a reason to doubt me again.

Melissa

Getting off of the Lane estate was not easy by anyone’s standards, considering the million and one guards patrolling the place like cyborgs on the hunt.

I wouldn’t have even made it down the central staircase if not for Tracy, Jace’s wife. For whatever reason, the woman decided to sneak around in the middle of the freaking night and help me. I am grateful that she did. She caught me on my third foray in as many nights and did me a solid by pointing out a weakness in the perimeter. I got to of there so fast that I left marks on the grass.

The only deal I had to make with her was to promise that I had a decent plan in mind and would stay safe and keep the baby growing inside me safe as well.

I promised her without batting an eyelash, because I do have a plan—a good one that I know will work.

I have no intentions of dying anytime soon.

I intend to get to Roman so I can kick his dumb ass, and then I intend to have my kid and the white picket fence that women all secretly want but won’t admit to.

So here I am now, right where I belong and where I know those crazy-ass extremists will see me, and I feel safer now than I did locked behind the walls of the Lane estate.

I’m back at the bar I’ve been working at for three years, surrounded by some of the roughest people in the area. It’s the one place where I feel protected because I know that no one can touch me here, not with Will Sparrow and his crew of bikers keeping things safe.

Here I am one of them, and they’d kill anyone who even dared to take a step in my direction.

This place is also one of the best gossip mills in the state. I’ll find the information I’m after, especially while working the bar. I already know a shitload from just three hours of work (thanks to my old boss, Milton, letting me come back), and that’s just from dropping a few muttered hints and seeming put out because my boyfriend disappeared and left me.

For instance, I know that everyone is whispering about Ronny’s disappearance and wondering if she finally got the message that her aunt Cleo is batshit crazy.

If people only knew that the little blonde is safe and sound on the Lane lands, cuddling up with her beefy boyfriend… They’d never believe the woman capable of loving another human being.

I saw her, though, and it was disgustingly sweet.

Another thing I learned is that Will and his crew aren’t too enthused that Cleo and her people are trying to take over the town. Don’t get me wrong, he doesn’t give a shit that they’re running around planning attacks on the unsuspecting citizens of our fair country. Will is the kind of man who believes in free enterprise and letting the “pigs” earn their wages. But he
is
pissed that they set up shop in what he considers his territory. From what his VP Little Lonnie was saying earlier, they’re about ready to take out the Patriots for daring to claim territory that isn’t theirs to claim.

I’d be ecstatic if they did take out the Patriots. In fact, I could kick myself for not thinking about playing this angle sooner. The only problem is that Will doesn’t play favorites. If he thinks Roman is one of them, he won’t hesitate to take him out along with the other filth.

I can’t have that, at least not yet. I need to see Roman and make sure he’s still the same man I fell in love with before I make my next move, which is giving Will the file that Daddy was compiling before he died.

It gives a few hints at some of their safe houses and even names Cleo and her mysterious secret partner whom no one knows about. I have that now that I managed to escape the Lane brothers and retrieve it from Daddy’s safe without interruption.

What I need now is for Roman to answer his Goddamned phone before I turn the stuff I have over to Will to take care of. Roman will be pissed that I’m bringing outsiders into the mix, but I don’t care.

Will and his guys may just appear to be a crew of misfit bikers, but these men are organized and ruthless, as well as determined to keep their patch of “land” safe from other parties. I know they’ll at least put a dent in the Patriots while the Lanes move in.

If nothing else, I’ll have a way to get to Roman, and that’s all I’m looking for right now. I need to see him, hear him…something.

I’ve lived with this dark cloud over my head for years now, and I just want it gone so that I can have my life and my family in a safe environment. I refuse to give birth to my baby while cowering in some backwoods cabin. Meanwhile, the father of my child runs around thinking he’s some super hero.

Super hero my ass! He’s already dropped the ball once in the form of Daddy dying, and I refuse to let him disappoint me again. Not when the last promise he made was that he’d stay alive.

“Yo, Mel, get me a beer and some food, would ya, doll?” Little Lon yells from his place at the end of the bar.

I hop to it and place his order at the rinky-dink kitchen window before making my way to him with a cool one and a smile that I have to force.

“Here you go, Lon. So, how are things with Lettie and the kids?”

Small talk. My least favorite thing.

“Good. Vella is doing some dance class recital or some shit, and Kim wants a new drum set. They’re driving their mama nuts, but I thank God I ain’t home long enough to have to actually say no to my little princesses.” He laughs, taking a healthy swig of his beer before turning to me. “I’m mighty sorry to hear your old man took off on ya, Mel.”

I snort at that and roll my eyes because the fool is grinning so wide, I can see his tonsils. He’s still convinced Will and I would make a great couple. While I can’t disagree that we’re similar and both hot enough to make great babies, I’ve never seen the man as anything more than a friend.

“No you aren’t. You still think I need to give your fearless leader a shot,” I gripe, squinting into the dark interior of the bar as I hear the door open and a chorus of grumbles.

“Oh shit.”

Lon raises a brow at my muttered curse and turns just as Miah and Jared Lane come sidling up to the bar, followed by a scowling Jace and an even angrier Tracy.

“You want me to get rid of the money, little darlin’?” Lon asks sweetly and I resist the urge to roll my eyes at the man.

It’s no secret that the Lanes are badasses and Lon will likely get his kindly ass kicked all over the place before these men let anyone stand between them and their prey.

I gulp a little when they take a seat right in front of me and just sit, glaring holes through my skull as I crack a few beers and plonk them down with a frown.

“Chill, Lon, I’m fine. I may need some privacy, though,” I say when it looks like he’s getting comfortable enough to stay for the whole confrontation.

“Mel—”

“Now, Lonnie. We have some shit to discuss and I’m not feeling too great about having my ex’s family here as it is. Skedaddle, man. I’ll be fine.”

The other patrons are all watching the scene as if it’s the event of the year, and I can almost hear their pitying thoughts as they pretend to turn away and mind their own business.

All I am right now is the poor chick from the wrong side of the tracks who got her ass dumped by one of the rich boys.

“What are you doing here?” I ask through gritted teeth when Lon finally gets the message and ambles off towards the pool tables.

Jared stares at me while Miah shakes his head and sighs.

“I could ask you the same thing, Mellie.”

Oh Lord in heaven, give me some of the patience you neglected to hand out at birth.

“I’m working, asshat. What the hell does it look like I’m doing? Contrary to what you may believe, I am no one’s charity case and I will not be sponging off you rich dudes because your brother decided to knock me up and pull a runner.”

Sorry, Roman
, I think silently when the other patrons just grin and throw me understanding looks.

Miah’s scowl deepens and I can practically feel the anger radiating from Jared at the slur I just cast out.

“Mel—”

“Stop. Just stop it,” I say so only they can hear me. “You’re making things harder for me than they already are, and I’d appreciate it if you didn’t. If they all think I’m in with you Lanes, I won’t get a scrap of information out of a soul in these parts and you know it.”

I know that they think they’re doing me a favor by showing up here, but we adhere to class rules in this place. The Lanes are rich punks and the rest of us are family.

“Dammit, Mel, you can’t be running around between these criminals while—”

“These criminals are my family and I’d thank you not to insult them that way, Miah Lane. Every one of them would die protecting me and don’t forget it,” I warn, closing my eyes in resignation when Will sidles up and leans into the bar right beside Jared.

The man is hot with his blond hair, blue eyes, and muscled body, but he’s the most contrary person I know and I foresee an unpleasant night now that he’s involved.

“Well, fancy seeing you boys here. I believe the swanky bars and fancy houses are on the other side of town. Y’all lost or something?” he asks conversationally. I see Jared’s hackles rise before his arm shoots out and he wraps a hand around Will’s throat.

“I ain’t lost, Sparrow, just looking in on family is all. Now why don’t you skedaddle on back to your little crew of misfits and mind your own business,” he growls, letting go so slowly, I hear every bone in Will’s throat pop as he releases him.

The action causes a wave of fury and Will’s men quickly begin to circle the brothers.

“Dammit! All of you stop this shit right now and go on back to your own business!” I yell, feeling my temper ignite anew.

This is why I am so pissed at Roman. The man is missing in action and not here to tell people that I can take care of myself. I know that a lot of his liberal thinking is actually him giving me a little rope before he “convinces” me to do things his way, but I like that about him.

The threats keep coming and I see Lon grab his piece when Miah rises.

That does it!

I have the shotgun out from behind the bar and I’m aiming it a minute later, my hands steadier than they have a right to be, considering I’m about to lose my cookies because my stomach is quaking so hard.

Tracy, meanwhile, is lounging back and looking on as if she doesn’t have a care in the world while Jace rises to his full height and towers over Lon.

“You know how to use that gun, big man?” Jace asks easily and I see Lon stiffen when the Lanes all chuckle darkly. “I bet I could dismantle that baby before you got off one shot.”

That makes Lon stiffen and narrow his eyes in that way he does before he gets serious and I know I have about half a second to get things simmered down before bullets really do start flying.

“I’ll give y’all to the count of ten to sit your asses down and calm your flow or I’ll put lead in every single one of you assholes,” I growl, cocking the shotgun for emphasis.

I’ll give them all new breathing holes in a blink if they so much as make another move toward each other. At this range, I can guarantee some of them will be going to the hospital to have buckshot tweezed out of their stubborn asses.

I see Will and Lon tense as the rest of the crew back up a step, still recalling Gervais Aimes who grabbed my ass one time and ended up running for his life when I unloaded old Bertha in his direction.

It was the last time that man ever darkened my doorstep, and I’m certain they all remember that I am not a chick who makes idle threats.

“Whoa now, darlin’, we’re just having a friendly conversation,” Lon coos, holstering his piece with a grin when I turn my gun and my simmering eyes on him.

“Oh yeah, Lonnie? Well why don’t you shake their hands and buy them a beer to prove it?”

He stiffens and I see him swallow his spit before a grin lights his face and Will’s lips start twitching.

It doesn’t escape me that these fool Lanes are all grinning as if I just handed them all winning tickets to the national lottery.

Men. Jesus, give them a woman capable of violence and they all think it’s cute or something.

Give me strength.

I have the need to shoot them all just for thinking I’m not serious, but I calm the urge and lower my gun when they all start laughing. I see Will clap Jared on the back in commiseration.

“That brother of yours had better come claim that woman, ya’ll hear me? I can’t have a hormonal pregnant lady with a shotgun working my bar for the next nine months. The last time she lost her temper, I spent a few grand cleaning up her buckshot and getting rid of a man.”

Miah grins and the situation dissolves so quickly, I’m left flapping my lips in the breeze.

“You assholes—”

“Now, now, Melissa darlin’, don’t go getting too upset. It ain’t good for babies and I won’t have my godson marinating in stress hormones or whatever that shit is Dr. Oz was talking about. Now you put old Bertha away and get your family another round on the house while me and the boys talk about this mess our town seems to be in,” Will says kindly, waving the Lane brothers to his table.

“Hoo, boy, that was more entertainment than I’ve had in weeks! I think I like it here. You hiring?” Tracy trills, leaning over to wrestle the gun out of my hands and back beneath the bar with a grin. “How about that beer and some girl talk while the Neanderthals talk death and cars, huh?”