Untitled Book 2 (12 page)

Mumbles of agreement.

I lean back in my seat and study the men. “I don't know how to fix this for her, but I'm going to try. If shit goes down though, it will be me handling it. If I have to kill someone to protect her, I will, but the blood will be on my hands, not yours. I don't want this touching the club if possible.” I pause. “Although it probably will.”

Who am I kidding? It definitely will.

“I think we should wait until they know we're protecting her before we set up a meet to find out exactly what these fucks want,” Arrow says, running his hand down his beard. “The last thing they'll want is a war with us. Whether it's the Kings or whoever else. The two men I killed were Kings, so I know those bastards are involved.”

I love how he says it like it's already a sure thing, when they haven't even voted yet.

“I'll destroy any of these fuckers who step into my path. None of them are innocent,” I say, my hands clenching into fists at the thought of them with their corrupt hands on Shay.

“Anyone else ever hear Vinnie be so cold?” Tracker asks the room, as always lightening the tense mood.

I didn't think I was being cold, I was being realistic. And any of the men in this room would do the same to protect their women, or each other's women. I've seen it time and time again.

Shay just came into my life. I don't know where it will lead, if anywhere, but I know that my gut is telling me to protect her, that she's mine.

And I always go with my gut instinct.

She's worth taking a chance on.

I don't give a fuck how whipped that makes me sound, and I know that most of the men at this table right now, powerful men you don't want to fuck with, know exactly how I'm feeling. When you find something good, you fight to keep it. Even if it means fighting dirty. You look after it. You cherish it. And you don't let anyone fuck with it. Could Shay do better than me? Probably. Will she get the chance to find out? Fuck no. She became mine the second I decided to bring her into my clubhouse.

“All right, men. Yes or no to keeping Vinnie's woman under our roof, protecting her like she's our own?”

I glance at each man as they vote.

When it's Sin's turn, he says, “I just want to say that I'm voting yes because at one time or another, Vinnie, you've always been there to look after the women. You've saved Faye's ass more times than I can count, and now I'll be here to save Shay's.”

“Thank you,” I tell him.

The voting continues.

And it's unanimous.

Shay is staying.

“We good?” Sin asks the table.

Everyone nods.

“Shay is staying here, and under our protection. Vinnie, let us know what you need us to do.”

I leave the room feeling like a weight has been lifted.

*  *  *

Shay is fast asleep in my bed, snuggled under the covers, when I return to my room. I decide to join her, undressing and sliding under the sheets, spooning her from behind. I release a deep breath, thinking about how nice it is to be able to relax, to hold her like this and know that for now, we're safe. I close my eyes and soon fall asleep with her scent in my nose.

*  *  *

“This is the cutest shit I've ever seen,” I hear Faye's voice whisper. “Seriously, Anna, how adorable are they?”

“Are you just going to stand here and watch them sleep? That's pretty creepy,” Anna whispers, making me open my eyes and glare at the two of them. “And I think Vinnie's naked. I don't want to see his bits.”

“His bits? You're best friends with a romance author and that's what you come up with?” Faye snickers.

“It's Vinnie,” Anna says matter-of-factly, “to me, he doesn't have a cock, or a dick. He has bits.”

Faye starts laughing so hard Shay stirs, and the last thing she needs is to wake up with these two in her face.

“Can the both of you please get the fuck out?” I ask quietly, but loud enough so the two of them can hear.

Instead of listening, they both come closer, lean down, and kiss me on my cheek.

“Welcome home,” Faye says, while Anna just smiles down at me.

You can't even be angry at the two of them.

“Good to be back.”

“There's food for both of you in the kitchen,” Anna says, then grabs Faye's arm and pulls her to the door.

“Food?” Shay says, lifting her head, her hair all messy and cute.

Faye and Anna stop.

“They were just about to leave,” I tell Shay, burrowing back under the sheets. I then lift my head, realizing I was being rude. “Shay, this is Faye and Anna.”

“Nice to meet you both,” Shay says, sitting up and smiling at the women.

“You too,” Faye says, beckoning. “Come and eat with us. There's pizza in the kitchen, along with garlic bread and a whole lot of desserts. Oh, and there's some katsu chicken sushi too.”

“A woman after my own heart,” Anna comments, opening the door. “I'll be in the kitchen.”

Shay turns her head and looks at me. “You got me all that food?”

“I didn't know what you felt like,” I say, nuzzling her thigh. “Plus nothing will go to waste here.”

Especially with Rake in the house.

“Are you going to come and eat?” she asks, lifting the sheets and getting out of bed, trying to tame her hair with her fingers.

“I'm not hungry, but I'll come with you,” I say, not wanting her to be overwhelmed by everyone.

“Jesus, Vinnie, she's fine,” Faye says, rolling her eyes. “I'll even sit next to her and hold her hand. You rest, I'll make sure she's fed and well taken care of.”

“I'll be fine,” Shay agrees, walking toward Faye, who loops her arm through Shay's. The thing about Faye is, she doesn't try to be intimidating. She doesn't do the whole hard, cold, mean, president's old-lady thing I've seen with some other clubs. She doesn't have to—her reputation speaks for herself. All she does is be herself, someone who is funny and kind, but everyone knows that if you fuck with her or anyone she loves, you won't even see her coming, she'll just destroy you. Her baby bump isn't very visible, especially with the loose dress she's wearing. I don't think anyone would guess that she's pregnant with baby number two. This woman is the closest thing I have to a sister, and there really isn't anything I wouldn't do for her.

“You sure?” I ask, not knowing if I should stay with Shay until she gets used to everyone, or to let her find her own place here in the club, without my hovering over her.

Faye shoots me a look that clearly says she thinks I'm being ridiculous.

I smirk and snuggle back in bed as the two of them leave my room.

“H
E
called her a what?” I ask Bailey, who was introduced to me as Rake's old lady.

“A mad bitch,” she says, eyes alight with humor.

I take a bite of the slice of pizza in my hand. “So she was going down on him and he called her a mad bitch?”

How much has changed in the dating world since I've been out of it? Apparently a lot.

“She must have mad skills,” Faye says from the other side of me, “for such an awesome compliment in the bedroom.”

We all laugh. I can't believe how open the women are with one another, and no one makes any judgment. If anything, they laugh about it with the person, not at the person. I've never had friends like this in my life. I went to an all-girls private school, and most of the girls were bitchy, catty, and competitive. I wonder if they know how much their acceptance is worth, because some people look for it their whole lives and never get it.

“Any other fun Tia stories?” Faye asks her, closing the pizza
box. “Tell me before Lana comes, unless you want it to end up in a book.”

Bailey was telling me all about her best friend, Tia, and how funny she is.

“I have more than enough stories, but none of them are recent. She's been good as of late. She's actually seeing someone, I think, but she won't tell me anything.”

“AKA boring,” Faye snickers, then turns to me.

Before she can speak, however, I have a question of my own. “Wait just a second. Vinnie said he knew Zada Ryan, and you just said her stories could end up in one of Lana's books. Which means . . .”

“Fan, are you?” Faye asks, looking at me and laughing. “I'll take your expression as a yes, then. Yes, Lana is Zada Ryan.”

“Oh my god!” I whisper, wide-eyed. “Her books are awesome.”

I need to not fangirl right now, because that is going to be awkward if I make a total fool out of myself in front of everyone.

“Wait until you meet her,” Faye says, smiling fondly. “She's sweet and quiet. Very unassuming.”

Anna walks back into the kitchen and sits down next to Faye. “Should we tell everyone to come over to welcome Shay? It's like half the women are missing.”

Rake walks into the kitchen and grabs a chair, turning it the other way and straddling it. “Irish said Tina will be here soon. Jess will probably come after work. Who else are we missing?”

We're still missing Zada Ryan
, I think to myself.

Faye looks at her watch and stands. “I have to go and get Clover. Are we just going to hang here all night? I might do a
store run and get enough stuff for dinner. What do we feel like? How about a barbecue?”

“Yes,” Rake immediately agrees. “I like this plan. Do you want help? Bails, do you want to come with?”

“No, I'll stay here and keep Shayla company,” Bailey replies, winking at me.

“Yeah, sounds good,” Faye says, looking at Bailey. “Don't let anyone scare Shay off, will you?” She pauses. “And maybe protect Lana from her.”

“Very funny,” I say, grinning. “I might have a few questions, but that's all. Such as where she got her inspiration for Colt.”

Tracker walks into the kitchen and Faye points at him. “Right here, Shay. Right here.”

“Right here what?” he asks, taking Faye's place.

“She's asking about Lana's inspiration for Colt Smith.”

Tracker snaps his head to me and flashes me a slow-spreading smile. He kind of reminds me of the guy from
Tangled
with his smolder right now. He even flexes his biceps. “In the flesh.”

I roll my eyes and say, “That's not something Colt would say.”

Faye laughs and pulls Rake's arm. “You tell him, Shay. Colt's ego isn't as big as Tracker's.”

“Colt is the improved Tracker,” Anna adds, touching his man bun. “Although you do have some great hair.”

“Traitor,” Tracker mumbles, grabbing some pizza and taking a huge bite. “So, Shay, why don't you tell us all something about you? Favorite sexual position?”

Bailey almost chokes on her pizza.

Anna slaps his shoulder. “You can't just ask people that,
Tracker! Not everyone lives with Lana and discusses shit like this in casual conversation. Don't listen to him. Yesterday she started asking me about how many times Arrow usually makes me come in one night, while we were at the grocery store. An old man pretended to look at grapes for five minutes just to listen.”

Tracker smiles, eyes gentling. “She's something, isn't she?”

No wonder Lana writes amazing, sexy love stories. She has a man like Tracker, who obviously loves her and is proud of her.

“She is,” Anna agrees, then laughs. “Speak of the devil. . . .”

A pretty, dark-haired girl with glasses walks in, dressed in jeans and a plain black T-shirt. “Sorry I'm late. What's the big drama that's happening? I'm supposed to be finishing this book but I didn't want to miss out.”

I raise my hand and say, “I guess I'm the big drama.”

I can't take my eyes off her. This woman's mind is so creative, so twisted, I'd love nothing more than to get inside it. How does she come up with all the plotlines? She's crazy talented and I really want to hug her right now, but I don't want to freak her out.

“Hello,” Lana says to me, smiling.

To me!

Zada Ryan said hello to me.

“H-hi,” I say, waving ungracefully. I'm not usually this awkward, but how does one act around someone she feels like she knows through her books, but doesn't actually know at all? I know her mind, her thoughts, because she's shared them with me.

“This is Shay,” Tracker says, watching me with amusement playing all over his face. “Vinnie's woman.”

“Vinnie has a woman?” she asks, eyes going wide. “I'm so glad I came! Someone needs to tell me everything, pronto.”

She puts her bag down on the table and looks at me. “How did you meet Vinnie?”

“She's the marker,” Tracker says, pulling Lana onto his lap. “Vinnie went to pay back Talon's marker and he comes back with Talon's cousin. And Talon doesn't know yet.”

“Holy shit,” Lana murmurs, looking at Anna. “Who's going to talk to Talon? And what is he going to do? Does he know she and Vinnie have anything to do with each other? Didn't Vinnie just get there the other day?” She looks back at me. “So many questions.”