Page 28 of Fang (Lotus MC: San Antonio #2)

I t feels so weird being part of a couple. I have spent my entire life relying on myself, so to have someone in my life who I look to for comfort is odd to me. I don’t know what to do with myself half the time, but Fang doesn’t seem to mind. He rolls with whatever I throw his way.

The thing that scares me the most, though?

I miss him.

Whenever he isn’t with me, I miss him and wish he were with me. I have no idea when he went from my boss to a guy that I don’t think I want to try living without, but it scares the hell out of me.

I’m not allowed to be this happy. Life has never let me.

Class is long over, and I don’t have a shift tonight.

It’s driving me insane lying on my bed waiting for a text from him.

I know he will text me too because he’s been gone three days, and I always get at least two texts.

One in the morning and one in the evening.

If he can, he will send me more throughout the day, but yesterday he only texted twice.

My phone pings, making me sit up and lunge for my phone. I’m disappointed when I see a phone number I don’t recognize.

Unknown: Hey, it’s Viv. Want to hang out?

I frown. How did she get my number? It doesn’t even matter. If I hang out with her, I won’t be alone. She’s not been like the other women at the club. She’s actually nice.

Me: Sure. What were you thinking?

Viv: The clubhouse is empty tonight. Everyone is off doing stuff. Want to come drink with me?

Me: Sure. I can head over now if you want?

Viv: Perfect.

I don’t bother changing. I have no one to impress, so I walk out of my room in sweats, a T-shirt covered in a hoodie, and some slip-on shoes.

I exit my building groaning when I see a group of guys standing outside with some of the girls from my building.

“Oh, look. Where is little Miss Virgin Cami going tonight?” Zak calls out from the center of the group.

I roll my eyes and keep walking.

“One day I’ll get to see what’s under those clothes. You’ll be gagging on my cock.”

I can feel myself growing angry, but I take a deep breath, heading toward my car as if they aren’t bothering me.

I let myself sag when I slide into the driver’s seat. I’m getting so tired of always fighting. I feel like it never ends.

Starting the car, I head to the clubhouse. I’m surprised to find the parking lot empty. The man at the gate waves me in without question. It makes me wonder if Viv gave him my name or if I’m on the list now. I kind of like the idea of being on the list.

When I step inside the club, I find Viv sitting at the bar waiting for me.

“You got the night off too, huh?” I ask her.

She turns to me smiling, “No bikers here to serve. I have us set up in the entertainment room. Is there anything specific you want to drink?”

“I mean, I’m not old enough to drink, so whatever you think I will like.”

She laughs. “Age doesn’t matter here. I’ll let you in on a secret. I’m not old enough either. I’m only nineteen.”

I laugh. “Hey, me too.”

“I knew I liked you. Come on.”

I follow her down a hall I haven’t been down yet. It leads to a back room that opens to a theater.

“Oh wow,” I murmur.

“Yeah, Bailey wanted a place we could come watch movies. They had it as another sitting room with seating and pictures of naked women on the wall, but she classed it up a bit. This is a family-friendly area now.”

“That’s amazing. I like it.”

She takes a seat, so I take the one next to her. She puts on some television show as she hands me some popcorn.

“We can watch something else if you want, but I figure we would be chatting anyway” she says as she mixes two drinks from her side table before handing me one.

I take a sip and am pleasantly surprised that I like it.

“I don’t have a television, so I don’t watch it often. This is fine with me. Can I ask you something?”

Viv nods. “Sure.”

“How’d you get my number?”

“Fang. He gave it to me and asked me to check in on you while he was gone. Sorry it’s taken so long. I’m not always the best company.”

“I get that. Trust me,” I tell her, thinking about my own faults.

“Fang mentioned that you have some hang-ups.” At the look on my face, she holds up her hands. “Please don’t be mad at him for it. He wanted me to look out for you. I mean, I saw what happened at the patch party. I wanted to know what your triggers were. I’m sorry, that was a dick move.”

I sigh. “No, it wasn’t. It’s not a big secret. I had to live with a lot of violence growing up, so now it makes me panic when I’m around it. Fang seems to live such an outlaw life, I wonder if I’m going to be able to hack it.”

It’s an admission I have felt for a while but not voiced. I feel like I may not be enough.

She shakes her head. “You will be. Fang will take care of it. It’s what they do. Did Fang tell you how I ended up here?”

I shake my head.

“I was born to two people who were in a cult. They raised me on the values of that cult and never let me see another way. When I turned fifteen, I was married off to an older member. I didn’t want to be with him.

He was in his forties and reminded me of my father.

I wasn’t allowed to have a choice, though.

So I did the only thing I thought I could do.

I ran. They hunted me down, but it was too late.

I found the Lotus, and they took me in. They wouldn’t let them have me back.

They raised me here in this clubhouse until I was eighteen.

Then they gave me the option to move out.

They would have supplied me with everything I needed, but this is my home.

I can’t imagine being anywhere else. They saved me,” she says, emotion clogging her throat.

“Wow. I’m so sorry you had to go through that.”

She nods. “I’m sorry you went through what you did.

What I’m trying to say is that sometimes these men can be violent.

I’ve seen it more than I care to admit, but it’s always for the right reasons.

They will never be violent toward you, and if they are, there is a line of brothers ready to step in and handle the abuser. Every time.”

“Thank you. I really think I needed to hear that,” I tell her, feeling something loosen inside of me.

I didn’t believe that Fang would harm me, but I had worried about the other rough bikers. It’s good to know that they aren’t like that.

“Enough of that heavy shit. Tell me something fun.” Viv changes the subject.

I smile, feeling at ease for the first time in my life.

Maybe things are looking up for me.

It’s been six days since I’ve seen Cami. It’s been killing me to be away for so long, but as road captain, it is my job to go on these runs. I am the navigator.

Today is the day we come home, though. Cami doesn’t work tonight. I already asked Happy to make sure she wasn’t on the schedule. Now I’m about to pull up to the clubhouse and take a shower, then I’m going to get my girl.

To my surprise, her car is in the parking lot when I get through the gate.

I don’t bother saying anything to the guys as I dismount my bike and go in search of my woman.

It doesn’t take long. She’s at the bar chatting with Viv.

I stride right up to her, turning her toward me.

There’s surprise in her eyes as I devour her lips like there is no one else in the room.

She kisses me back, her own emotions bleeding into the kiss.

I pick her up, her legs wrapping around my hips as I start to walk.

“No way, sir. Tonight is special,” Viv calls out.

“Fuck tonight,” I murmur, as I keep walking.

“I don’t know. I thought you’d want to attend Cami’s old lady party,” she calls out, making me freeze.

I look down at Cami in my arms. She smiles up at me, all dazed.

“Old lady party?” I whisper to her.

“It was Bailey’s idea. She arranged it with Savage. If you’re okay with it, we thought we would make it official tonight.”

A smile breaks out on my face. “I really want to fuck you right now.”

“Rain check?” She gives me an innocent smile.

“Oh yeah. I’ll be cashing that in later. Come on, let’s introduce you to my brothers as mine.”

She rolls her eyes as I set her down. I walk her back to the bar, nodding at Viv.

“A beer, please. Do you want something?” I ask Cami.

She grabs a red-looking drink from the bar. “Viv’s got me taken care of.”

“Good. Thank you for taking care of my girl while I was gone,” I tell Viv.

“It wasn’t a hardship. I feel like I’ve known her my whole life. We are besties now.”

I groan. “I might live to regret that.”

“Oh, you definitely will,” Bailey says, joining our group.

“Not you too. You three will be nothing but trouble,” I tease.

“Only the best trouble.” Bailey winks.

The clubhouse slowly fills up as we continue to chat. Savage calls me over to him.

“Are you ready for this? You know you only get one,” he tells me, leading me into his office.

“I’m ready. She’s it.” There is no hesitation.

He chuckles. “Good. Bailey had this made for her. I figured you’d want to be the one to give it to her.”

He holds out a cut and a jacket with “Property of Fang” on it. I swallow hard, knowing I’m going to love seeing this on her.

“Thank you. I’ll thank Bailey too.”

“Be sure you do. She wants you to be happy,” he tells me.

“I am.”

“I know.”

We leave his office. I walk over to Cami, kissing the side of her head. Then I turn to address the room.

“Everyone, if I can have your attention, please. I would like to officially introduce you to my old lady, Cami. Many of you know her, but now you will protect her and respect her as my old lady. Cami, as my old lady, you are the only woman who will ever have the honor of wearing my property of patch. Would you do me the honor?”

I hold out the cut to her first.

She stands, turning so I can put it on her. Then I put the jacket on her too.

Everyone cheers as some of the brothers shout for shots.

“Come on, little dancer. I want to dance with my old lady,” I tell her, pulling her away from Viv and Bailey.

She lets me lead her to the middle of the floor as we begin to sway to the ballad that someone put on the radio.

“Is this everything you ever hoped for?” I ask her.

She smiles up at me. “I never hope for anything. My life has always been so hard. I never thought I would be able to be happy. Then I met you. You make me happy, Jensen.”

“Maybe you were getting all your hard days out of the way so you could live in peace,” I lean down and whisper in her ear.

Her breath hitches. “I hope so. I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop.”

“If it does, it won’t matter. You aren’t alone anymore. We do this together. You are mine now. Forever. No matter what, I will be there for you, and now every single guy in this room will show up for you too. You have a family.”

She pulls back, tears in her eyes. “Really?”

I nod. “Really. I think you were put in my path so I could show you what it really means to be loved.”

“I don’t know if I will ever trust it.”

“I’ll keep showing you every day until you do. Even if it takes our whole life,” I promise her.

Before we can go any further, the song changes to a more upbeat one. Then Savage is at our side.

“Can I cut in?” he asks.

Cami looks at me. “I guess?”

“I told you. Family.”

I step back, letting Savage take my spot. I head back to the bar and watch as Savage gets Cami laughing as he spins her around.

“She’s good for you. I like her,”Bailey tells me.

“Me too,” Viv echoes.

As the song draws to an end, Loyal steps up, taking his chance to dance with her.

“I love her,” I admit to them.

“We know,” they say in unison.

After Loyal, Happy pulls her into his arms, making her laugh as he spins her around the dance floor. I watch with joy as brother after brother dances with my girl, giving their own words of reassurance. This is what it means to be in our family.

A figure at the door catches my attention. It’s Biggy. He’s staring at Cami with contempt. I keep my eye on him, not willing to let him dance with my girl, but I don’t have to worry. Savage approaches him, taking him outside.

Like I said. My family will always protect her.