Rake's Redemption (Wind Dragons MC #4)(10)

FOUR




AFTER our terrible rendition of “Man Down” by Rihanna, we give up the microphone to others. I meet Summer and Taiya, Reid’s and Ryan’s wives. Both are so beautiful and charismatic, I can see why the men chose them over all others. They could clearly get any women they wanted, but they’re obviously in love with these two incredible ladies.

“That was f*cking horrible,” Reid says as we sit back down at our table. He sounds extremely amused, and I can tell that he really doesn’t mind the fact that we’re here, no matter how much he tries to pretend otherwise.

“That was f*cking great!” Summer disagrees, hugging her baby bump. She’s five months pregnant and dressed in a cute black baby-doll dress. After watching Reid with her all night, I feel a pang in my chest. He’s so protective yet sweet. Gruff, but to her he turns into someone completely different. Yeah, that’s love all right.

“I’d like to see you do better,” Anna challenges back. Reid simply grins and shakes his head, wrapping his arm around Summer and affectionately kissing the top of her head.

“Wouldn’t want to make you all look bad,” he says smoothly.

“Cop out!” Anna calls out.

“Come on, Reid,” Summer says to him. “We won’t even give you shit for how terrible you’re going to be.”

He kisses her to shut her up and it works.

We all try again to get Reid to get up onstage to sing, but he turns us down flat.

“No way in hell I’m getting up there,” he says, standing up. “And my beautiful wife and I are going to make an exit before you guys get back up there again. I’m pretty sure Rihanna is f*cking crying right now after hearing you annihilate her song.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” Summer says, moving to the music. “I want to stay with the girls!”

“Summer,” Reid says, waiting until she looks at him. “You’re pregnant and tired. Let’s go home and rest; you can see the girls another time. You know we can’t get rid of them, they’re bound to come back.”

Summer glances at all our faces. “Will you come back and see me?”

We all agree.

“And I like the ladies’ night idea,” she says, winking.

Reid groans and shoots Anna a look that promises retribution.

Anna simply gives him a thumbs-up.

The two of them head off, leaving us to our own devices.

We’re talking about the good old days when Lana suddenly stands up and points. “Holy crap, look who’s here.”

We all look in her line of sight.

I see a tall, lean man with shaggy white-blond hair coming toward us. Next to him is a larger, scarier-looking man dressed in leather and sporting a Mohawk. As they come up to our table, I see the blond man has beautiful green eyes, while his friend’s are dark and ominous.

“Talon!” Anna squeals, jumping into his arms. Talon wraps her in his embrace, his muscled, tattooed arms holding her almost tenderly. Who exactly is this Talon? I glance at Lana, but she’s too busy smiling up at the man. He lifts Anna in the air before putting her down, then hugs Lana.

When he lets her go, he looks down at me. “And who do we have here? Did you two finally find a new friend?”

Gently pulling me up from my chair, he pulls me against his chest. “I’m Talon.”

Feeling a little awkward at being held by a complete stranger, yet oddly attracted to him, I look up at his face and say, “Nice to meet you. I’m Bailey.”

“Slice, I’d say it’s nice to see you again, but that would be a lie,” I hear Anna tell Talon’s friend.

Slice laughs deeply in return. “Don’t be like that, Anna.”

“Let her go, Talon,” Anna chastises, grabbing my arm and pulling me away from him. “She’s off-limits.”

“Ah, come on,” Talon grumbles. “You just made her forbidden. Do you know what that does to a man like me?”

I look at Anna. “I thought you said no bikers were going to be here tonight beside our guard?” I look toward the door. “Speaking of . . .”

Where is that guy?

“I meant no Wind Dragons,” Anna replies, nodding her head at Talon. “These guys just seem to pop up everywhere.”

My brow furrowing, I ask Talon, “You’re not a Wind Dragon?”

Talon scoffs, sitting down next to me and laying his arm on the back of my chair. “Definitely not, gorgeous.”

The men aren’t wearing any cuts, a word I’d only learned tonight, but they sure do look like bikers to me. If he isn’t a Wind Dragon, I guess he’s with a different club, or something like that.

“What the hell did you do to him?” Anna asks, glancing around the bar.

“He’s currently being distracted,” Talon replies, flashing me a wink.

“Talon, I swear to God—”

“He’s fine,” Talon interrupts. “I just wanted to see you. It’s been a while.”

Anna’s expression softens. She sits down, Slice next to her. “Yes, it has. How have you been?”

“Good,” he says, then looks at me. “Even better now.”

Anna does not look happy, her eyes narrowing and her mouth tightening. At her suddenly sober expression, I can’t help thinking that she needs another drink or two. “She’s Rake’s ex.”