“You can sleep as soon as we get back to the clubhouse.”

“Alone.”

“Not happening, Anna. I don’t care how mad you get at me, you’re sleeping right next to me, where you fuckin’ belong,” he says. “Don’t push me.”

“Don’t push me,” I mock him, digging through my handbag looking for my phone.

He sighs.

I look up when I hear someone approach us. A woman stands next to Arrow, but not too close, and licks her lips. “Hi, I was wondering if you guys were having a party tonight at the clubhouse. My friends and I would like to come.”

She sticks her chest out and I watch Arrow—but he doesn’t move his gaze from her face.

“Why don’t you go in the bar and see if any of my brothers are interested,” Arrow tells her, sounding bored.

“Oh,” she says, face falling. “I was kind of hoping—”

“Do you not see me standing right here?” I ask loudly.

She turns to me, as if only just noticing I was there. “Oh, I just assumed—”

I step closer to her. “Right, well, next time don’t assume. I’m not in a good mood, and it would be a shame if I had to take that out on you, wouldn’t it?”

“Anna,” Arrow snaps, stepping closer to me and grabbing my arm. “Cut it out.”

Blade pulls up at that moment, and Arrow all but throws me into the backseat. He gets in next to me and closes the door.

“Hi, Blade!” I greet him too loudly.

“Hey,” he says to me, twisting his body around, then looks to Arrow. “Clubhouse?”

“Yep,” Arrow replies. “Thanks, man.”

“No problem. Good night?” he asks Arrow.

Arrow glances at me, then replies, “Could have been better.”

“Mine could have been better too,” I add sulkily. “Much better.”

Blade chuckles until Arrow tells him to shut up.

The two of them talk as I close my eyes, the motion of the car making me feel slightly nauseous.

“You okay, Anna?” Arrow asks. The car comes to a stop and he carries me into the clubhouse. The place is still loud, with music and laughter being heard as soon as we exit the car.

Gently he lays me down on my bed. “Stay here. I’ll get you some water,” he says, then disappears. I use that time to clean up and use the bathroom, then strip down to nothing.

I walk out of the bathroom and scream.

Tracker stands there, grinning and staring at my naked breasts. Realizing he isn’t going to leave or close his eyes, I grab the sheet and cover my body.

“Okay,” he says slowly. “You don’t look anything like Rake.”

I purse my lips. “You pervert! You could have turned around.”

He holds his hands up. “I was just coming in to check on you. Now I’m leaving before Arrow—”

“What the fuck?” comes the growl from behind us.

Great.

“Just leaving,” Tracker says, leaving in haste.

“How come every time I turn around that bastard is with you?” Arrow asks, his jaw tense.

“He’s my friend. Who puts my feelings first,” I can’t help but add.

“Fuck, you’re stubborn,” he adds, handing me a cold bottle of water.

“And you’re an asshole.”

“Never claimed I wasn’t.”

“I’m going to bed,” I say after I take a sip of water. I get comfortable, then turn to the side and close my eyes.

Arrow slides in and curses. “You’re fuckin’ naked under here and Tracker was in here? I’m going to kill that fucker.”

I inwardly roll my eyes.

I’m about to fall asleep—in that dreamy state just before you lose consciousness—when I hear him say in a soft voice, “I know you didn’t say or do what she said. You’re not a liar, Anna. But she’s all I have left of Mary. I feel responsible for her.”

His voice wavers a little when he says her name.

WHO was that man you were talking to at the bar?” I ask Arrow the next morning. I am still angry with him, but I am also curious. My curiosity wins out.

“You didn’t recognize him?” Arrow asks me. “He’s famous.”

“Nope. Who is he?”

“He’s a local legend. Rock star. Before your time, I suppose.”

“So you were with him the entire night and couldn’t even send me a message?”

He cuts his eyes to me at my tone. “We had some issues; I was busy. Now cut it out.”

“Cut what out?” I ask in a sugary-sweet tone.

“Being a bitch.”

Well, then.

I narrow my gaze on him. “Trust me, you haven’t seen me be a bitch yet.”

He rolls his eyes heavenward.

“God isn’t going to help you,” I mumble under my breath.

“Yes,” he replies, suddenly sounding amused. “I’m starting to see that.”

I pick up my piece of toast and devour it.

“Will you take me home, please?” I ask him once I’m done. Rake walks in, looking like he’d had a wild night.

“Is that a hickey on your neck?” I ask him. “Who were you with? A sixteen-year-old who wanted to show off that she’s sexually active?”

He isn’t amused. “Anna, not so fuckin’ loud.”

I smirk. “You want me to make you some breakfast?”

He sets his puppy-dog eyes on me. “Would you?”

I stand. “Yes I would. Go take a shower. You stink.”

He leaves the room.

“Yeah, for him you’re sweet,” Arrow grumbles.

“Yes, well, Rake didn’t ditch me last night,” I snap. I remember the words he said to me last night about Janet being all that he has left of Mary, but I still feel like he shouldn’t have treated me the way he did. I also feel like Janet knows how guilty Arrow feels and is using it to her advantage.

“Anna, I told you—”

“What did you drop off with Janet that day we stopped at her house?” I ask him, wanting to see if my theory is correct. Janet is using Arrow, and I’m sure he’s been supporting her too.

“Why?” he asks, like it’s of no consequence.

“Answer the question, Arrow.”

He shrugs, playing it off. “She was behind on her rent.”

Aha! I knew it.

I turn my back on him to hide my expression and start to fry some eggs for Rake. Arrow comes up behind me and presses his front to my back. “You need to curb your jealousy, Anna.”

I scoff. “Like you can talk.”

“I’m a man.”

He is a man.

A man with a currently hard cock pressing into my ass.

But that is no excuse.

“Are you saying that just to piss me off?” I ask, purposely rubbing my ass against him.

“Darlin’, don’t fight with me for the sake of fighting, because you’re going to lose,” he whispers in my ear.

Two women walk by and Arrow calls them over. “Can you finish this breakfast off for Rake? Anna is about to become very busy.”

They nod.

Arrow leads me to his room, leaving the women to the task of feeding my brother. He slams the door behind him and sits on the bed, lifting me on his lap so I’m straddling him.

“Stop being angry about last night. I wasn’t choosing her over you, okay? She was Mary’s sister so I keep an eye on her, because I know Mary would want that. You’re strong, baby, she’s not.”

“I don’t deserve to be anything but first place, Arrow,” I tell him. “Janet lied. I would never say anything bad about Mary. I’ve only ever heard good things about her, especially from Faye. Janet is a manipulative bitch, and I’m not going to put up with her shit just because you have a soft spot for her.”

He licks his bottom lip. “You are my priority, Anna, and I’m sorry I’ve made you think otherwise. I’m telling you now, you’re who I want; I’m not fuckin’ touching anyone else, and I don’t want to. Janet doesn’t mean shit compared to you. If I’m honest, it was my guilt taking care of her, since it was my fault Mary died.”

“It wasn’t your fault,” I tell him. “She knew what she was doing, getting involved in an MC.”

He makes a deep sound in his throat but doesn’t reply. I know he doesn’t believe what I’m trying to say; I guess it’s something he’s going to have to figure out for himself.