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.
FOUR
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.