Reid? Hot name for a hot man. Shame he’s kind of rude. His eyes soften when they land on her, his whole expression changing.
That’s love, right there. I wonder if I’ll ever see a look like that pointed in my direction.
“I know, babe,” he says in a gentler tone than he used with me.
She glances at me, and I grin widely. “I’m looking for a job.”
* * *
“I’m so old,” I mutter as I look at the time on my phone. One a.m. and I’m ready to go home. It’s kind of sad really. I look for Lana, who is currently on the dance floor with some guy. I don’t know who was more shocked when she said yes to his invitation, me or her. I’m assuming the many drinks she’s consumed have something to do with it. I, on the other hand, stopped drinking at bar two and am now ridiculously sober. I guess one of us had to be the responsible one. Who knew it was gonna be me? I sit back on the barstool and look around, my eyes widening when I see a familiar face. Everyone around him gives him a wide berth, and with good reason. Behind him trails Tracker and my brother.
Fuck.
“What are you doing here?” I ignore Arrow and ask Rake, who is staring at me through narrowed eyes.
Rake’s lips tighten. “You didn’t tell me you were going out tonight.”
“And I shouldn’t have to.”
Rake glances around the bar. “You know who owns this place, right?”
I shake my head. “Nope.”
Arrow grins, all teeth. “We do.”
I try to act like I’m not surprised. The bar is called Rift and, according to Lana, only just opened last week. We’d been here for about an hour, our third stop for the night. “So? Am I not allowed to be here? Last I checked, it is a free country.”
“What the fuck?” Tracker growls. I look at him to see him staring out at the dance floor. Guess he spotted Lana, and I don’t like the way he’s looking at her.
Not one bit.
“Leave her alone, she deserves some fun,” I tell him, my tone letting him know I am serious.
“Anna, if you’re going out, let us know. I don’t want to have to be worrying about where you are every weekend,” Rake tells me, running a hand through his hair in frustration.
I grit my teeth. “Rake, I’ve been on my own for a long time. You don’t have to treat me like a fucking baby.”
I get that he cares, but seriously? I’m not a kid anymore, I can take care of my damn self. Do I want my brother’s attention? Yes. Do I want to be a part of his life? Of course. What I don’t want is to be under his thumb. I know he is looking after me the only way he knows how, to protect me and make sure no harm comes my way, but I don’t want to be told where to go, or to have to check in with him to let him know my every move.
Or even more ridiculous—ask for approval.
I watch as Rake’s face turns to stone. “You’re going home. Now.”
“The fuck I am!” I yell, even though I was planning on leaving anyway.
Rake gives Arrow and Tracker a look.
They both grin, evil glints in their eyes.
Tracker heads to the dance floor while Arrow lifts me in the air and throws me over his shoulder.
My mouth drops open in shock, while my body reacts to being pressed against his.
Okay, maybe it’s time to go.
PUT me down, you rat bastard!” I yell, pummeling my fists on his ass. It’s a very nice ass, but still, that’s beside the point.
This is ridiculous.
And embarrassing.
Tracker puts Lana in the car. Unlike me, she never resisted when she was escorted out. However, I know that if I give in now, they will think they can do shit like this all the time. They will try to control my life. I can’t let that happen.
I won’t.
“Arrow, seriously! My jeans are falling down!”
I can feel a cold breeze on my ass.
He puts me down, grabs my nape, and steers me toward the car. “Maybe next time you should wear jeans that don’t show your ass.”
I wisely ignore his comment. “Where’s Rake?”
“He’s inside talking to the manager,” he replies, his warm breath on my neck giving me thoughts I shouldn’t be having.
I’m pissed at him!
Control yourself,Anna.
“Is that how you found out we were here?” I ask, straightening my posture as he removes his warm hand from my neck.
“Yep,” he replies, sounding almost cheerful about that fact. “We told them to keep an eye out. The second you entered, we got a text.”
“If any of you brutes so much as look at Lana the wrong way—”
“Lana is fine,” Arrow replies calmly. “Retract your claws.”
“I’m serious! She’s not used to your overbearing, assholish ways.”
“And you are?” he asks as he opens the backseat door.
I give him a pointed look. “Rake is my brother. I’ve been dealing with him my whole life.”
“That’s a nice way to put it,” he muses, lip twitching.
I fume. “You guys need a life. Find something better to do on a Saturday night.”
He sighs, and then his signature scowl returns. “Trust me, I was busy. Had a fine-looking woman on her knees, my cock deep in her throat, when Rake called me, telling me we had to go find his little sister. So don’t push me right now.”
My mouth drops open.
“Well, don’t let me keep you. I’m sure she’s a real catch,” I manage to get out. Like I needed that image. Bastard.
And screw the whore too, whoever she is.
I look away from him and am about to get in the car, wanting to leave his presence, when I see someone I never wanted to see again, in my life.
Ever.
I quickly look around for Rake, hoping he doesn’t remember what he looks like.
Jacob.
Fuckity fuck.
Jacob was the guy I dated in high school. I was fifteen and just entering the dating world. Rake pretty much scared off most of the boys who looked my way, but Jacob was different. He was two years older than me, and a year older than Rake. He was good-looking, with blond hair, hazel eyes, and he had a six-pack. Now, back in those days, a boy having a six-pack at that age was a big thing. It was like winning the lottery. So when Jacob asked me out, I was thrilled. He was a popular boy, liked by all the girls, and into sports. When Rake found out about the date, however, he wasn’t so happy. In fact, he told me I wouldn’t be going.
I begged.
He said no.
I cried.
He gave in and said yes.
But there were conditions.
He told me he would be meeting Jacob before the date and waiting up for me to come home, and if I was home even a second later than ten, he was beating the shit out of my date.
His words, not mine.
I agreed. Deep down inside I liked that Rake was looking out for me, so I never argued when he placed rules on me. I was a young girl with no father and a mother who didn’t give a shit, so when Rake cared, I needed that.
He met with Jacob before my date, and I could tell he didn’t like him. But me, being young, idealistic, and naïve, thought he was a great guy. We went to dinner and the movies, and then he dropped me back at my house. The problem was, we came home early. Rake was expecting us at ten, and we were home at nine. What I didn’t know was, Rake was seeing a girl of his own and was planning on coming home by nine thirty to make sure he was here to see that I was home safely. So when Jacob walked me to the door and asked to come in for a drink, I didn’t think anything of it. I’d called for Rake when we’d walked through the house but soon realized we were alone. I got him his drink and we sat on the couch, where he kissed me. I was okay with the kissing. It was when his hands went wandering that I told him no, I wasn’t ready. But the bastard didn’t listen. Rake came home just in time to stop something that could have been a hell of a lot worse than it was. Still, he blamed himself for not being there earlier. I remember just being happy I still had my virginity.