“I’m not hiding,” I state. “I never said I was. I want everyone to know that Lainey is protected. And not just by the surveillance Piggy has on her shop.”
He snorts, no doubt thinking I’m a crazy bastard, but I don’t really care. Iama crazy bastard. I’m also not going to risk Lainey’s life. She deserves to sleep peacefully every night, without a single ounce of worry.
And I aim to make that a reality.
“What are your thoughts about telling her what’s going on?” he asks.
I let out a heavy sigh and clear my throat, though I don’t immediately respond. I’m not quite sure what to say. I don’t want her to know that she’s got a fucking target on her back—because Lorenzo wants her for one of his men, to make a fucking great goddamn match and live happily ever after.
She would absolutely lose her shit.
And I’m honestly pretty fucking close to losing mine as it is. Lorenzo is trying really fucking hard to make a match with his new protégé, Paul. I studied what he looked like so I could be ready for him when he makes his appearance, because I know he will. Lorenzo has made his mission perfectly clear.
I’m under no illusion that he won’t steal her ass from inside her bakery, while she’s walking to her car, from her apartment, wherever. I don’t think he’ll try to woo her the way Goffredo did. That ship has fucking sailed.
“And scaring her? I don’t think so.”
“What are your thoughts on talking to Piggy and claiming her for yourself?”
I like that he asks me as if he knows that’s exactly what I want to do. It’s not like I haven’t been dreaming about it for years. She doesn’t need my bullshit hang-ups, and she definitely doesn’t need me and Piggy fighting it out. Because I’m pretty sure Piggy would never allow that shit to fly.
“I’m thinking Piggy would shoot me before I even got a full sentence out.”
“Probably, but it’s better than waiting for this shit to go down.”
“Is it though?” I ask. “He’ll kill me; you know he will. We already had all that drama with Goose and Ivy. I don’t want to go through any of that shit again, and I don’t want to be in themiddle of it. This is a brotherhood. My dick getting wet isn’t as important as the club.”
And that’s a lie. A whole fucking lie. But it’s one I’m not willing to confess to. Probably never will.
CHAPTER TWO
VIKING
When the bakerycloses for the day, I watch through the windows as she cleans up. She sprays down countertops, sweeps floors, and then wipes out all of her cases. I can’t take my eyes off her. Every movement she makes is dripping with unintentional sex.
I still want her.
So damn badly.
I thought maybe if I watched her, if I saw her day in and day out, it would get better. That it wouldn’t be exciting. She would be just another woman, any woman. Maybe I would get bored. I tend to do that, get bored after I’ve been around someone a while.
I think the major issue is that I haven’t fucked her. The new hasn’t worn off, because I haven’t worn her in yet. And I can’t do that without putting my life on the line and my brotherhood with Piggy at stake. Neither of which I’m comfortable doing.
I respect Piggy too much to fuck him over like that. And he doesn’t respect me enough to give me permission to pump anddump his sister. So here I am, watching her and wondering if I’ll ever get tired of it.
I’m not sure I will. Not until I actually fuck her. It’s consumed my thoughts, and now I’ve built it up so much that it feels like if I don’t, I might actually lose my fucking mind. So I’m basically completely fucking fucked.
Generally speaking, that is.
Tilting my head to the side, I watch as a black car pulls up to the front of the building. It might block my view if it were a lifted four-wheel drive, but since it’s a fancy little Audi, I can see over it.
But that isn’t what has my attention. It’s Lainey opening the bakery front door, slipping out, and then locking it behind her just as the door to the car opens. The bakery is absolutely ridiculously girlie. It’s all light green and pink. I don’t know the exact shades, but I think my balls shrivel a little every time I walk through the door. It’s perfect for her.
Lainey’s curls are free from being bound up, and she looks even more beautiful with her wild curls free. A man unfolds from the front seat. He stands up straight, careful to keep his back to me. I know he’s seen me, no doubt clocking me the second he turned down the street, and he’s being purposeful in his actions.
I also know, from his stature, his haircut, and specifically the suit, exactly who he is without him even turning around.
It’s Paul.