Page 57 of Tempted

“What do you mean youlikeher?”

“I want her.”

“But…she’s just a child!”

“She’ll be eighteen in a few days. I’m notlooking for your blessing or for you to be okay with it. I justneed you to know it’s happening.”

“Are you claiming her?”

Her bottom lip trembles and tears well in hereyes.Shit.

“Look…don’t blame her. For a long time, sheblew me off because she knew you were into me. I pursued her.”

“You said you didn’t want an old lady.”

“I didn’t.”

“But now you do. I waited…I waited all thistime for you…”

Waited? What the fuck?“What do youmean?”

“When I got here…you were the first. Ithought…the others I did because I thought that’s what you wanted.You were supposed to come back for me.”

What the fuck is she talking about?Ididn’t ask or force her to become a Hound. And if she thought I wasgoing to claim her, why would I want her to fuck the whole town?She’s already crying, though, so I really can’t say that toher.

“I’m sorry if I said or did anything to leadyou on, but you need to stop. Even if it wasn’t Raven, it would besomeone else. Not you.”

“Gage…please…”

“I’m sorry, Lonnie.”

I walk away and signal the guys to getmoving. Raven looks up at me with a worried frown when I get backto her.

“Everything okay?” She asks.

“Yeah. We’re good.”

“You sure? She’s not going to kill me in mysleep, is she?”

“You think she’d hurt you?”

“I’m just kidding.” She smiles, but itdoesn’t hide her concern. She’s worried about this causing troublebetween her and Lonnie. “I’m with you every night anyways.”

“True,” I agree.

We leave the gas station behind and ride foranother hour before we arrive at the venue. The blood pumps fasterthrough my veins. This is my kind of scene. Bikes and bikers as faras the eye can see. Before Raven, I would have added in thebitches, but I can’t seem to see anyone but her these days. Ron andChrissy walk over to us and I watch the two girls together. It’sstrange. They’ve only known each other for a few months, but theyseem more like sisters than Raven and Lonnie do. But then I noticesomething else.Shit.

“Girls, listen. You’re not wearing cuts, sodon’t stray far. Stick to one of the brothers at all times.”

“Cuts?” Raven asks.

I point to Marlowe and Renae who are standingtogether a few feet away. They’re Crow and Motor’s old ladies, sothey’re wearing their patches. Raven and Chrissy just nod and turnback to each other. I don’t need any trouble. No cuts mean they’renot claimed and to other MCs, that makes them fair game.

“Waben!”

She turns around and her face lights up whenshe sees little Mikey running toward her.

“Come here, jit!”