I slide my dress down, and it falls to the floor. “Is this answer enough?”
He licks his bottom lip. “So many things I want to do with you. Hmmmmm.”
I shiver at the husky tone of his voice. “Where shall we start?”
“At the top,” he says, staring at my mouth. “Then we will work our way to the bottom.” He stares at my lace panties. “I’m suddenly feeling a little hungry.”
I swallow.
“Then I’m going to bend you over and fuck you until you pass out.”
How I love his dirty mouth.
“So are you going to just talk or are you going to fuck me?” I taunt, feeling bold.
“Baby.” He grins. “You should know better.”
In a flash, he has me on the bed, panties down, face buried.
Every woman needs a Tracker.
* * *
“What the hell is this?” I growl two days later, slamming the magazine down on the table.
Tracker glances at it innocently and sips his coffee. “A gossip magazine.”
“It says Quinn Rhodes got beaten up outside his apartment. They suspect a random act of violence, since nothing was stolen.”
He raises an eyebrow. “You shouldn’t believe everything you read.”
I point. “There’s a picture of him with a black eye.”
“Lana, are you going somewhere with this?” he asks, then takes another sip.
I growl in frustration. “Did you or did you not beat the shit out him?”
“I can honestly say that I didn’t. Babe, I told you I wouldn’t.”
My eyes narrow. “Did you get someone else to?”
“I can’t talk about club business,” he says with a serious expression on his face.
I throw my hands up in the air. “You’re unbelievable, Tracker.”
He slides his mug away and pulls me down to sit on his lap. “And you’re unbelievably beautiful.”
He kisses my neck.
I pinch his biceps.
“This is why I didn’t want to tell you, and you reacted just how I suspected. You get angry when I don’t open up and keep things to myself, but then you don’t listen to what I tell you. I said I didn’t want you to touch him, Tracker.”
He stills. “Fuck, I’m sorry. I couldn’t just let him get away with hurting you. Lana, he doesn’t deserve to breathe the same air as you, okay? He knew he deserved what he got. We went easy on him. I’ll try to be good when you ask something of me like this, but fuck! How can I sit back and do nothing when someone who hurt the woman I love is right in front of me?”
“Well, crap.” I deflate, my anger lessening. “Just listen to my wishes next time, Tracker. Or don’t blame me when I don’t want to tell you everything.”
“Okay,” he says instantly, kissing my lips.
“I really dislike you right now,” I say, trying not to melt into him but failing.
“Can you dislike me later? You have class soon and I have to get to Rift.”
Anna walks in, Arrow next to her. “Lana, do you want to get something to eat before you start class?”
I nod. “Sushi?”
She beams. “And this is why you’re my best friend.”
I kiss Tracker. “I’ll see you later.”
“Let Blade drive the two of you,” he suggests, glancing at Arrow, who nods.
Anna glances at me. “We don’t need Blade. We’re fine.”
“We weren’t asking,” Arrow says, heading to the fridge.
“Fine,” I say, not wanting to be late. “Blade can take us. Come on, Anna.”
She says ’bye to her man, and then asks Blade to drop us off at the Japanese place near my school.
We order, then Anna starts in on the questions. “Quinn Rhodes is your dad? Why did you never say anything?”
“I never told anyone,” I admit. “Mom told me not to. We didn’t want people to know, for the media to find me, et cetera. Plus I was embarrassed, to be honest. My dad was famous and we could hardly make ends meet.”
“You had no reason to be embarrassed,” she growls. “He’s the bastard; you guys did nothing wrong.”
“Does the whole club know now?” I grumble, crumpling a napkin in my hand. “He’s more of a sperm donor. Yes, I know he’s my father, but he’s never been in my life. He didn’t even recognize me when he saw me. I don’t know if he just doesn’t care or what.”
Anna’s face hardens. “Your dad is a famous, rich musician, and you and your mom struggled to make ends meet your whole lives? I remember when you had to waitress to help pay the bills. What an asshole. I’m glad he got his face smashed in.”
“So bloodthirsty,” I quip.
She flashes me a sheepish smile. “I spend all my time with Arrow, what do you expect?”
I laugh at that. “Rubbing off on you, is he?”
“Why does that sound dirty?”
“Because you’re dirty,” I retort.
“So are you,” she says, smirking. “Like we can’t hear your screams echoing through the clubhouse.”
I gasp, my face heating. “You so cannot!”
“Can too.”
“Not.”
The food arrives, interrupting our immature discussion.
“Any luck finding a place?” Anna asks after a few bites.
I nod. “Saw two listings I like. I’m going to see them this week.”
“You know Tracker wants you to move into the clubhouse,” Anna says, looking amused. “You should. I’m there; it’ll be fun.”
“I don’t know. Isn’t it a little too soon to be moving in with him? And you’ll be moving out soon anyway!”
“There aren’t any right or wrong rules, Lana,” she says. “Just do whatever feels right. Fuck what people think. Besides, you’re pretty much there every day anyway.”
All valid points.
“Still. There’s so many people coming in and out of there. There’s no privacy unless you stay in your room.”
“That’s true,” she admits. “But it’s fun too. There’s always something going on.”
“How do you get any work done?” Anna is completing her master’s program while working at the zoo.
“If I go in my room I’m left alone,” she says, chewing and swallowing thoughtfully. “That’s private space, you know? No one will just come in. They knock and wait.”
I know that. Okay, I can’t think of any other excuses.
“If you’re not ready to live with him, that’s a different story. I know you like your own space. There are some cute apartments near the school.”
“Remember I said I had to tell you something?”
She nods, giving me her full attention.
“Have you ever heard of Zada Ryan?” I ask, feeling nervous.
“That romance author Faye talks about?” she asks, eyes flaring. “Yeah, apparently she writes good sex. Why?”
I widen my eyes at her, then smile sheepishly, waiting for her to get it.
“Get the fuck out of here!” she yells when she has the lightbulb moment. “You . . . What . . . Holy shit, Lana!”
She asks questions, and I answer everything, telling her how it came about from the very start.
EIGHTEEN
I CAN’T believe my father actually has the balls to come back to the clubhouse. I overhear him talking to Sin.
“Jim wouldn’t have allowed any of his men to lay a finger on me,” I hear him say.
“Jim’s not here,” Sin replies dryly. “But I am. From what Tracker told me, he was standing up for his old lady.”
“So he sent Rake to beat the shit out of me?” he growls.
Rake’s the one who did it?
“Lana didn’t want you hurt. Trust me. Tracker wanted to come himself but kept his word to her to not lay a finger on you.”
“So he got someone else to,” my dad says in a dry tone.
“Yeah,” Sin says, sounding amused. “Pretty genius.”
“I want to see her,” he says in
a low tone. “I haven’t seen my daughter in years, of course I didn’t recognize her when I saw her.”
“Speak with Tracker,” Sin says. “His old lady, his rules on how to deal with this.”
“She’s my daughter—”
“Doesn’t look that way,” Sin snaps, then sighs. “We consider you a friend of the club. Jim respected you, I know this. Talk with Tracker and we can go from there, all right? Just know my brothers will always come before someone who is just a friend of the club. You aren’t the club. So remember that before you try and piss off Tracker with any bullshit. One word from him and we will cut all ties.”
I hear him leave and only then do I walk out into the game room, where Sin is sitting alone, a glass of Scotch in his hands. He lifts his gaze to me as I walk in.
“Sorry about all the drama,” I tell the Wind Dragons president. “You must hate me.”
He chuckles. “Sweetie, you wouldn’t be an old lady if you didn’t cause any trouble. All of them do.”
I allow myself a small smile. “But still. I guess I’ll talk to him and sort this mess out.”
His eyes cut to me. “After you talk to Tracker, right?”
I nod. “Right.”
“Good girl,” he comments. “You’re good for him. He’s usually restless. Never seen him this grounded before and I’ve known him for years.”
“He was pretty angry,” I say, shifting my weight on my feet. “I should have hidden my reaction and told him everything afterward. Maybe it would have gone better.”
Sin chuckles. “Lana you should have told him about this before. Why the fuck didn’t you? If you don’t mind me asking,” he adds quickly.
“Ummmm. I tend to suffer in silence and keep everything to myself. My problems, my issues. I don’t know. I’ve always been like this,” I try and explain.
“You need to open up to Tracker or you’re gonna drive the man insane.”
“I’m working on it,” I say, smiling. “I’m going to head to class.”
“Tracker said Blade has to take you,” Sin says, sipping on his drink. “He’s out front.”
“I know,” I say, turning and rolling my eyes.
“Oh, and Lana?” he calls. I stop and turn around.
“Yes?”
He cringes. “Clover made me promise to say . . . Hello, Lana Bear.”
I grin. “I miss her. How is she liking being back at school?”
“She loves it,” he replies, eyes softening. “She misses spending so much time with you though.”
“I’ll come see her after class,” I say. “Will she be here or at your house?”
I noticed that she doesn’t come here much anymore.
Sin smirks. “My house. She only came here while you were looking after her because Tracker made that happen.”
My eyes widen. “No shit?”
“No shit,” he replies. “You think Faye wanted her kid around here all day?”
I laugh at that. “To be honest, I don’t think she minds.”
He says nothing to that, so I make my way outside.
* * *
Dancing to the music with my eyes closed, I put my hands above my head and shake what my mama gave me. Rift is packed tonight, but I’m glad Anna and I decided to come. Tracker and Arrow are at the bar, keeping an eye on us and handling business at the same time, whatever their business here is. Rake is in the VIP lounge, and Irish is somewhere around here as well.
“I love this song!” Anna says to me, swiveling her hips. She looks stunning in black jeans, a white lace top, and her hair curled. I’m also in jeans, mine distressed and matched with a black top that shows off some of my stomach. My hair is down and dead straight, framing my face. Anna cheers when she sees Faye walking up to us.
“Who’s looking after Clover?” she asks Faye.
“Dex is,” Faye replies. “I deserve a night out.”
We cheer.
Faye dances with us, and I notice everyone giving us a wide berth, male and female. I also notice Tracker and Arrow keeping a close eye on Faye, as well as on Anna and me. Faye and Anna sandwich me, one in front and one behind. We’re having the time of our lives when Tracker cuts in, pulling me to his side.
“Give me a kiss,” he demands.
On my tiptoes, I kiss his lips while his hands find my ass. With a possessive squeeze, he says, “Stay with Anna and Faye. I’ll be out back for a bit, all right? Arrow is at the bar, keeping an eye.”
I nod, and he presses a kiss to my forehead before disappearing. Rejoining the girls, we start busting out our moves again. Several songs later, we head to the bar for drinks. Anna joins Arrow, and he quickly wraps his arm around her and whispers in her ear. Rake wanders out, smiling when he sees us.
“So this is where they’re hiding all the pretty ladies tonight.”
Anna rolls her eyes at her brother’s charm.
“Already been through every woman here, Rake?” Faye teases.
Rake brings her closer to him. “Not every woman.”
Arrow chuckles. “Sin is probably on his way to kill you right now.”
Rake grins and scans the dance floor, probably looking for his next victim. When he sees someone who catches his interest, we lose him in the crowd. Glancing around myself, I still when I see a familiar face. “Is that . . . ?”
I nudge Anna and point.
“Shit,” she says quietly when she spots him. Talon is on the dance floor. As the president of the Wild Men MC, he is a complete badass. He is also Rake and Anna’s stepbrother. Their father was the last Wild Men president. The one Arrow killed. Talon seems like a good man, and he’s friends with Anna. Arrow didn’t like it much, but he dealt with it to make Anna happy. I see his arms tighten around Anna almost mechanically. I’m not even sure he realizes he does it. Talon makes his way over to us. I notice he’s not wearing his cut, just leathers and a black T-shirt. He’s good-looking, with shaggy white blond hair, green eyes, and a lean build. He too is covered in tattoos, and they look good on him.
“Anna,” he says warmly, then nods at Arrow.
“Hey, Talon,” Anna says, smiling at him. “How’ve you been?”
“Good, good,” he replies, then smiles down at me. “Lana.”
“Hey, Talon.” I smile.
“No one told me he’s this hot,” Faye says, arching her eyebrow. “I’m Faye. I don’t believe we’ve met.”
Talon smiles. “The queen of the Wind Dragons.”
Faye laughs. “In the flesh.”
“What brings you here?” Arrow asks in his gravelly voice. “You knew we’d be here.”
“Want to talk to you,” Talon says. “In private.”
Arrow nods. “Stick together,” he tells Anna, then kisses her before walking away and expecting Talon to follow.
Anna and I share a glance, then shrug. Who knows what that was about.
“Tequila?” Faye asks.
“Why not,” I reply at the same time Anna says, “Fuck yeah.”
We order a round, then do another one. Yeah, it was going to get a little messy.
Irish joins us at the bar, winking at us. He’s obviously our new babysitter.
Back on the dance floor, my eyes widen when I see another familiar face. “Is that Bailey?”
Anna snaps her head to the dance floor, staring at Rake’s old high school sweetheart.
“Holy shit, it is,” she says, smiling in amazement.
We both loved Bailey but haven’t seen her in years. We rush over to her, Faye staying behind with Irish. Anna says hello first, Bailey’s expression one of shock and happiness.
“Anna Ward? Oh my god!” she beams, then looks to me. “Lana Brown I should have known the two of you would still be friends. Do you want to go outside so we don’t have to talk over the music?”
Anna nods, and we all walk out the front. The bouncer eyes us warily until Anna says, “We won’t leave this spot.”
We all start speaking at once.
“How have you been?�
�� I ask her. It’s been years since we’ve seen her.
“Good,” she replies. “Just got out of a relationship, getting back into the dating scene.”
“How’s that going for you?” Anna asks with a cheeky grin.
Bailey winces. “I feel like I’ve been thrown back into the dating pool with no floaties.”
We all laugh at that.
“I can be your float,” Anna jokes.
“You’re not single,” I remind her.
“Oh,” she says. “Is that a rule? Do I have to be single to guide her in the right direction?”
I giggle. “No, but you have to know what you’re talking about.”
Anna scowls while Bailey and I laugh.
“I got Arrow, didn’t I?” Anna says defensively, hands on her hips. “And trust me, it wasn’t easy.”
Bailey asks for details, and Anna shares the basics.
After about ten minutes, Tracker storms out of the club, coming to a halt when he sees us standing there.
“Christ, Lana. Pretty sure I told you to stay where you were,” he growls, looking at Anna, then Bailey. “Who are you?”
I roll my eyes at his rudeness. “Tracker, this is Bailey, an old friend of ours. Bailey, this is Tracker.”
Tracker smiles, his natural charm taking over. “Nice to meet you.”
“You too,” Bailey replies, glancing at me with wide eyes.
Yes, I know. I did well.
My eyes crinkling at the corners, I turn back to Tracker, “We came out here to catch up.”
“I can see that,” he murmurs. “Do you guys want to go into the VIP room? It’s much quieter and safer than standing out here where any man who drives past can see. Rake’s in there, but you can just ignore him.”
Anna and I share a glance. Bailey obviously doesn’t know Rake as Rake; she would know him as Adam. I didn’t think it was fair for us to drag her in there in case she didn’t want to see her ex-boyfriend, which she probably didn’t.
“Can you give us a second?” I ask Tracker, eyes pleading with his.
He nods, says something to the bouncer, then heads back inside.
“You’re dating a biker?” she asks me as soon as Tracker disappears.
“I am,” I say slowly. “So is Anna.”
Bailey turns to Anna. “No shit? What does your brother think of that?”
Tracker's End Page 14
