“This is all about what happened with Jacob, isn’t it? You need to let that go, Adam! He didn’t get to hurt me! You saved me, and I’ll always be thankful for that, but now you need to trust that I can protect myself.”

I realize I call him Adam every time I get emotional.

I watch as his expression turns fierce, his eyes sparking with anger. “Don’t even say that fucker’s name to me! He’s lucky to be breathing, and only it’s thanks to you he is!”

Okay, bad idea bringing up Jacob. The atmosphere in the room is now even more tense, and filled with scowling pissed-off alpha males.

Note to self: never bring up Jacob again.

The men glance at one another but stay silent.

“What about Tracker?” I ask, choosing him because he’s the safest. “Maybe I want to fuck him.”

“Thanks for that, Anna Bell.” Tracker grimaces.

I fight a smile. “I’m sorry, you were the first person I thought of.”

“Not happening,” Arrow seethes, finally speaking again. “Not fucking happening.”

Ha! So he doesn’t want me, but he doesn’t want anyone else to have me either.

I look around at all their varying expressions and roll my eyes. “I was trying to make a point.”

Sin looks at my brother. “Like I said, give her some space, Rake, she isn’t a kid.”

Rake’s eyes harden, but he doesn’t say anything.

“She might actually want to come to the clubhouse if you give her a little freedom,” Tracker adds, earning himself a glare from both Arrow and Rake.

“You’re no one’s club whore, Anna,” Rake says between clenched teeth. “I won’t have it.”

I put my hand on his shoulder. “I know that! You’re missing the point here.”

He shakes his head. “No brothers. But I’ll lay off you dating anyone else. As long as he’s good to you.”

There was no one I was interested in besides Arrow, but at least it was something. My eyes find his to see him already watching me, a scowl etched on his face.

I nod, keeping my gaze trained on Arrow but answering Rake. “Deal.”

Arrow didn’t want me, so what the hell? I just saved the next man I dated from my brother and his goons.

It’s the small things in life.

“But, Anna . . .” my brother adds. “If they hurt you, they die. Painfully.”

*   *   *

I bend over, leaning on my knees, laughing so hard that I have to gasp for air.

“What did I miss?” Ryan asks as he walks in carrying a huge box in his hands.

My laughs turn to giggles as I look over at Summer, who is shaking her head at me, covering her mouth with her hand. “Nothing much, just the usual.”

He raises an eyebrow and places the box down on the floor. “This is the usual?”

Summer shrugs and leans back against the bar. “Dude, it’s dead. We have to amuse ourselves somehow, so we were doing a quiz.”

Summer had brought in one of those girly magazines and we were having a good laugh over this month’s quiz: Is He All Man, or Part Pansy? Ryan picks up the magazine and reads one of the questions. “Is it okay for a man to go to the movies alone?”

Summer looks at me and starts laughing again.

I look at Ryan and shrug. “What? I was just saying, who cares if a man goes to the movies alone. As long as he doesn’t have his hand down his pants, it’s okay with me.”

Ryan blinks, then starts laughing too. “You’re something else, Anna.”

My shift goes by quickly, and then Tracker is here to take me to the clubhouse. My stuff is already there. I walk up to Tracker with a smile on my face until I see his own. He has a red scratch mark down his jaw, fingernails by the look of it.

“What did you do?” I ask, cupping his jaw for a closer inspection. “You let that bitch hit you?”

He walks with me to his bike before he speaks. “Don’t worry about it.”

“Since you can’t hit a woman, can I do it for you?”

He smirks. “Thank you for wanting to defend my honor, Anna Bell, but don’t worry about Allie. I’m done with her.”

“I’m guessing she didn’t take it well,” I say in a dry tone.

I squeal as he suddenly lifts me onto the bike. “You’d be guessing right.”

What’s the bet they’ll be back together tomorrow? That’s how their relationship seems to be. Two people who were never meant to be together yet stuck with each other because they’d gotten too comfortable. But hey, who am I to judge? I didn’t even have anyone special in my life. Maybe Tracker just didn’t want to be alone and Allie was a sure bet who knew his lifestyle and didn’t have a problem with it.

When we arrive at the clubhouse, Arrow walks out to greet us. “Hey, Anna.”

I look around. He’s talking to me now?

“Hey, Arrow,” I say, a little unsure. I walk in with him and Tracker on either side of me. No one is around, for which I’m grateful. “Where is everyone?”

“Getting ready to go on a run,” Arrow replies, opening my room door for me. I walk in and toss my handbag on the bed before flopping onto the mattress.

“So who’s going to be here? How is this safe when no one is even here, and what exactly is the danger anyway?” I ask.

He closes the door and comes and sits next to me on my bed. “I’m staying, and a few of the prospects are staying. Everyone else is needed.”

“Why do you get to stay?” I ask, looking into his eyes.

“Just because,” he answers a little gruffly. “It’s my turn to stay behind.”

“And the danger? If you say club business I swear I’ll scream.”

A lip twitch. “Something’s going down, that’s all you need to know. If another MC sees a weakness, they will take that opportunity to use it against us and we can’t take the chance. Because of where you work, people know you belong to the club, and they might use that to their advantage.”

I remember Reid saying something similar.

“Why do they call you Arrow?” I blurt out, something I’ve been wondering for a while now. Is he good with a bow and arrow? Maybe he has an arrow tattoo. For some reason he finds the question really amusing, his eyes sparkling with humor. I can tell he’s trying not to laugh.

It’s a good look on him.

Really good.

Damn him, he isn’t making this easy on me.

“If you ask Faye, I’m sure she will tell you why,” he starts. “But she would be wrong.”

“What does Faye think?” I ask, assuming it’s going to be something dirty. Has he been with Faye? In my mind I picture myself strangling her.

He smirks. “Doesn’t matter what she thinks, the truth is much less interesting.”

“Well, come on,” I say, nudging him with my shoulder. “Keep going.”

“My surname,” he says.

“Arrow is your surname?”

He shakes his head. “My surname is Arrowsmith. Killian Arrowsmith.”

I bite my bottom lip. “You’re right, that is boring.”

He laughs this time. “I know. I think Faye’s story is a lot more creative.”

I make a note to find out just what that is.

“Why are you in such a good mood?” I ask him, feeling suspicious. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him this lighthearted, especially around me. “You’re usually grumpy.”

He stands up and holds out his hand. “A man’s not allowed to be in a good mood now and again?”

I place my hand in his large callused one. I wonder if this Jill is the reason for his sudden happiness. That thought instantly kills my good mood. “What are you doing, Arrow? You’ve stayed away from me all this time and suddenly we’re best friends?”

“I’ll be keeping an eye on you for the next few days. Don’t make this difficult,” he says, letting go of my hand as he opens the door.

“Is Lana going to be safe?”

“Lana isn’t on anyone’s radar, of course she’s safe,” he says patiently. “Come on. Faye wanted to see you as soon as you got here.”

“I don’t know Faye.”

“I know; that’s why she wants to get to know you.”

“Why?”

He looks at me then. “’Cause you’re family, darlin’.”

Well, when he says it like that, it doesn’t sound so bad after all.