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“To a tattoo parlor.”
“Why?”
“You’re getting inked.”
“Uh, no, I’m not.”
“You are,” he insisted. “With my name and the Blue Angels logo on your skin, no one will fuck with you.”
“You’re kidding, right? You think a tattoo is going to stop Dev?”
“Mia—”
“You are out of your fucking mind! He knows we’re together, Colt. He threatened you specifically. I don’t care what you think—he’s not going to abide by the no-women-no-children code of honor.”
“Babe,” he said quietly. “If Dev makes a move against you in any way, I can call up brothers in other chapters in other cities. I can’t do that, I can’t ask them to make this shit personal, get involved in a war that has nothing to do with their city, unlessyoubecome my Old Lady. Unless you get my name and my club inked on you. They gotta know that if shit gets real, they’re not fighting for random club ass. Trying to protect you the only way I can, darlin’. And right now that’s by getting my name on you.”
Somehow I’d wound up in his arms. He lifted me up until we were nose to nose. I heard nothing except the thump of my heartbeat, the blood rushing to my ears. I wanted to cover his lips with mine, wrap my legs around him, and drown in sensation. Forget the cold terror that had taken up residence in my body since I’d heard Dev’s voice on the phone. His threats had pummeled me, gotten through the layer of safety I thought I had surrounded myself with.
“I’m askin’ ya,” Colt said softly. “Get my name on you. I can take care of the rest.”
“Prez,” Zip called, shattering the moment.
I turned my head, my nose grazing Colt’s cheek. Four scary bikers had stopped working and were watching our exchange. My face heated when I thought of them hearing us yell out our dirty laundry.
Colt released me and my feet touched the ground. “Truck, babe.”
I climbed into the truck and shut the door. Colt and Zip had an exchange. Zip got in Colt’s face and I swore Colt was about to punch Zip. Colt said something and then they both looked at me. I shrank down into the seat, wishing I was invisible.
Colt stalked toward the truck and nearly ripped the door off its hinges. He got in, slammed the door, and ground the key into the ignition. We sat for a moment in silence; he unrolled the windows to let in some of the Texas spring air.
“Getting your name on me means this is for real,” I said softly.
“Yeah, I know that,” he bit out.
I shook my head. “No, I mean—if I do it, it means I’m one of you. It means,” I swallowed, “I’m asking for people who don’t know me to put their lives on the line for a shit stormItriggered. I couldn’t bear it if…”
“If what?”
“Seeing you get hurt. Seeing any of you get hurt.”
“Hey. Look at me.” When I refused, he said gruffly, “Eyes. I need to see your eyes.”
I looked at him reluctantly, feeling emotion sting my throat. “You haven’t had family in a long time. Families lean on each other when shit gets bad. That’s what we are, honey. Family. I’m giving you my family by bringing you into the fold. This shit with Dev? It’s only gonna get worse. I want to make you a legit member of my family so everyone knows they can’t fuck with you. And babe? If anyone actually is stupid enough to fuck with you, I’ll rain down hell.”
“You’ve never said you loved me, Colt, and now you want me to get something permanent on my body. You don’t think that’s a little insane?”
“I just told you I’d rain down hell if anyone fucked with you. What the hell do you think I was talking about?” he demanded.
“This is a high functioning level of insanity,” I stated. “You know that, right?”
His smile was slow. “Does that mean you love me too?”
“I was actually referring to the tattoo.”
“It’s still throbbing,” I whined. “You totally downplayed how much it was going to hurt.”
“Not gonna lie, babe,” he began. “Can’t wait to fuck you from behind and see my name staring back at me.”
