Arrow's Hell (Wind Dragons MC #2)(8)

“I’m good. You wanna head to Toxic?” he asks, eyes darting to me for a second before returning to Rake.

“I’m with my sister,” Rake replies, in an Are you f*cking serious? tone.

Arrow looks directly at me. “I’m sure Anna won’t mind.”

Toxic is a popular strip club, and from what I’d heard, a place Arrow likes to frequent on occasion. He is trying to unnerve me, to make me squirm and shy away. He is challenging me.

I shrug. “Who doesn’t like boobs?”

Was that a twitch of his lip I saw? I feel proud at making this stoic man almost smile.

Almost.

Rake turns to me with a Why me? look on his face he wears a lot since I’ve come home. I shrug at him. “What’s the real difference between a strip club and here?”

Tracker starts laughing, and even Arrow looks amused.

Rake, however, doesn’t. “I’m not going to a f*cking strip club with my baby sister.”

I roll my eyes. “Then drop me home on the way; I have to study tonight anyway.”

He sighs and plays with his lip ring with his teeth. “Why don’t we hang out here a bit first? Or do you want to go out for dinner?”

I smile gently—he really is trying. “Okay, dinner sounds good.”

Tracker nods his head and gives me a look of approval. I really don’t get these men. They’re always giving one another shit, but at the same time always looking out for one another. I grew up around men who looked like them—rough, covered with tattoos and leather. But the men my mom dated didn’t act like them. Growing up without a father was hard. It sucked. Having a shit mom didn’t help, of course, but I always wondered what my life would be like if I’d had a good dad and not the men my mom brought home to try and fill her void. The sad truth is, besides Rake, I haven’t known many good men in my life. Maybe that’s why every relationship I’ve ever had has failed miserably.

The Wind Dragons MC members are good men. I could tell that as soon as I met them, by the way they welcomed me into the family just because I was Rake’s sister. There were no questions asked—Rake was a brother, and by extension I was their family too. That was the moment I understood why Rake had turned to an MC lifestyle—it offered him the family we never really had growing up. I know the Wind Dragons aren’t saints by any means. They’re badass men, and I can only imagine the shit they get into, but they don’t mix me up in it and I get to come here and enjoy the perks of sexy men and good food. I simply feel safe here. I can’t explain it, I just do. Home is wherever Rake is. I missed him while I was away, some days wishing I’d never left. I know they probably do illegal shit, but to me they’ve been nothing but amazing. As long as I don’t see any women or children being hurt, I don’t really care what they get up to. I know that my brother wouldn’t get involved in anything too bad; he has a heart of gold.

I turn my head to see Arrow watching me over the rim of his glass. Nice to see he decided to use one. “Who was the boy talking to you today after class?”

I narrow my eyes. I feel my brother’s gaze on me, now curious.

“A friend,” I reply. “Am I allowed to have those?”

Tracker smirks. “You’ve got those.” He points to himself, and I can’t help but grin.

“You don’t count.”

He puts his hand over his heart in mock distress, then gives up the pretense and picks up his glass again.

“If you’re going to date anyone,” Rake says, “I want to meet him before things get serious.”

I purse my lips and stare at my brother with defiance in my eyes. “And why would I do that?”

“Because I will let you know if he’s worthy of you or not,” he says in a casual tone, shrugging his broad shoulders.

“And if he’s not . . .” Arrow adds, his brown eyes gleaming. “We will handle it.”

We?

We?

Arrow wants to protect me when he spends most of his time ignoring me every time I’m around him? I don’t even know what to say right now, so for once, I shut my mouth.

“No comment?” Rake asks, eyebrows raising.

“I’m not dating anyone right now, so there’s nothing to discuss,” I reply as my eyes scan the room before landing on Arrow.

I don’t miss the way his gaze darts to my breasts and then quickly away before he downs the rest of the gold liquid in his glass. He slams the glass down on the table with more force than necessary, then walks out of the room without another word.

Okaaaaaay then.

“How’s he doing?” Rake asks Tracker quietly.

I lean closer to hear what they’re saying.

“He’s angry. And still feeling guilty, I think. I hope he’ll come around,” Tracker tells my brother.

Guilty? About what?

Rake looks down. “Fuckin’ hope so. All he seems to be doing is drinking and f*cking.”

I grit my teeth at that, apparently not liking the thought of him with other women.

He isn’t mine, I remind myself, yet it doesn’t soften the blow.

“Sounds like an average Friday night,” Tracker adds with a smirk.

They both laugh.

I don’t.

Rake finishes his drink, then looks over at me. “What do you wanna eat? I know this place close by that Faye always likes to go to.”