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“Irene thinks she’s being followed,” he says. Before Pope can say anything, he continues. “I know she had some issues in Louisiana and it could just be her imagination, but after the shit we’ve been through these past couple of years, I think it’s worth sticking to the side of caution.”
I want to go to her. Check that she’s okay and make sure she never leaves my side, but I can’t. Not yet at least. She has made it perfectly clear that she isn’t my woman. But I can’t stop the protective instincts from rising in me.
“What do you think, Beast?” Pope asks.
“It may all be her imagination.” The words taste bitter as I say them. But I also know that logically, it is a real possibility. “But I agree with Sparrow. We have had enough shit to know better.”
“What do you suggest?” Sparrow questions.
“She’s here right now so there isn’t any need for action right this minute. But we should get Wolf and talk this through with him too. He’s better at this shit than I am.”
“She starts working at Dusk on Monday,” Pope points out. “I know that none of us like or respect Preacher, but he won’t let anything happen to her while she’s there. I’ll update Wolf and then we can formulate a full plan tomorrow.”
I nod at his assessment and walk away to find my brother. She may not want me around taking care of her, but she loves Justice like a sibling. He needs to be the one who looks after her until she can accept me.
I find him sitting at a table with Bishop, a relaxed grin on his face and beer in his hand. He is wearing his brand-new cut with the full Gypsy Bastards MC patch on his back and I take a moment to just smile. Pride swells in my chest at the fact that my brother is now one of mybrothers.
“You look like a proud papa.” Bishop laughs.
“He’s the closest thing I ever had to one.” Justice tips his beer at me.
“Whatever,” I mumble as I take a seat beside him. If my skin wasn’t so dark, I swear I would be blushing.
“What has you frowning like that?” Justice asks effectively changing the subject and reminding me of why I came here.
“I need you to keep an eye on Irene.”
His smile fades as his gaze zeroes in on where Irene is working behind the bar, a smile on her face as Viking laughs loudly.
“What’s the problem?” Bishop asks.
“Nothing in particular,” I say. “But she was a little spooked tonight, so we’re just being safe.”
Justice nods. “The two of us can take shifts for now.” He nods at Bishop as he pushes his beer aside.
My brother has always been overly protective of the people he cares for, and it’s only gotten worse in the years since our mother passed. He got so bad with Trinity that she threatened to move across the country, and then actually did.
“That would be great.”
Turning, I head toward Irene. She smiles when she sees me and for a moment the world melts into the background and all my worries disappear.
“Can I have a minute?” I ask.
She takes me in from head to toe. “Sure.” She drops a rag she was using to wipe down the bar to follow me into the little storage room. “What’s up?”
“I want to make it clear that I heard you the other day. But I want you to hear me now.” I crowd her back against the shelving that holds beer and other booze. “I want you. I want your problems to be mine and I want to be the one you turn to when you need something. I want you to be my woman and I’m not going to let you simply slip through my fingers.”
“Beast,” she says with a sigh. “This isn’t going to work.”
“You’re not ready to give me a chance yet, and I get it. But know that I’m here, and I will do everything in my power to keep you happy and safe.”
Grabbing her behind the head I slam my lips on hers and kiss her until she is pliant in my arms, making sure she knows I mean every word I say.
“See you soon,” I say before walking away and leaving her on her own.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Irene
