Page 66 of Riot

Normally, I’d be delighted with that kinda news. The Vault is the gentlemen's club we own downtown, which is a polite front for a high-class strip joint.

Something about being around naked women all weekend doesn’t sit right now that I’m with Halo. In fact, it turns my stomach.

“Fine,” I mutter. It isn’t like I can argue with the boss or say anything with my brothers present. Maybe I’ll see if someone can swap shifts and I could man the shipping yard or even the Grill.

We get up to leave and I shove Nevada into the door when he tries to get past me first. It’s a ritual that we’re both used to,and it’s an excuse not to get peppered with more questions when we leave. Just as he shoves me back, I see my sister over by the doors to the kitchen and she’s… really fuckin’ close to Manny. They’re both smiling and I narrow my eyes. To say I’m protective of my little sister is putting it mildly. She’s been through a lot, the post-traumatic stress took years for her to break through. Hell, she hardly spoke a word in the months after our parents were gone.

I watch them for a second.

Manny boops her nose and I narrow my eyes.

What in the ever-living fuck?

I start moving toward them before I even know what I’m doing. Okay, my sister may be old enough now to know what she’s doing, but I can’t exactly see her with Manny. He’s been around long enough to know getting involved with a brother’s sister isn’t exactly the way to keep your face from being rearranged. My sister has never been much of a wild child, at least, she didn’t act that way growing up. I guess sometimes it really is the quiet ones you have to worry about.

“Lace?” I call out.

She jumps at the sound of her name, her hand moving to pat her chest. All the while, Manny’s still looking down, smiling lazily while he gets a full view of her rack. Jesus.

“God, Riot! You scared me half to death!” She rolls her eyes, but my gaze is fully trained on Manny. Why is he so happy? Is this why? Oh God, did he and my sister…

“You good, brother?” I eyeball him, but as usual he just looks amused.

“Yeah, how’d you like those muffins?” He winks, then to my sister he says, “I just fluffed up the best recipe of my life, wanna try?”

My sister, of course, jumps up and down with glee.When the fuck did this happen?

“I’d say that’s a hard yes from me.” Lace beams.

Wait, is that innuendo?

Manny grins. “I like how your mind works.”

“Wait, are you guys…” I palm the back of my neck.

I feel my sister’s glare, but I don’t meet her gaze. I want to see Manny’s reaction.

He gives me a deadpan look. “Jeez, Riot. Every time I so much as look at a woman, there you are, appearing in front of me likeI Dream of Jeannie. Time to chill a little.”

“So that’s a no, nothin’s goin’ on?”

“Riot!” Lace whacks me in the chest. “Stop being so rude. And I’m twenty-seven years old, I don’t need you telling me what I can and can’t do!”

This time, I do level her with my gaze, and it ain’t pretty. “You do if you’re in my clubhouse.”

Manny waves his hands in the air. “Woah, this is getting really heated really fast.” The asshole has the audacity to slap me on the back. “We’re just talking and I’m about to go make pigs in a poke.”

They share a look, and I know that’s code for something disgusting.

I turn to my sister, ready to blast her little socks off. I point in her face. “You told me you were seein’ someone.”

Her cheeks flush pink. “Riot, shut the hell up! I told you, it’s new, and frankly none of your business. Is it because you’re a year older now, and grumpier than usual, you’re riding my ass for no apparent reason other than to embarrass me?”

“I’m not grumpy.” I point at Manny. “But I don’t need you gettin’ involved with a brother?—”

“Technically I’m not a brother nor am I patched in. I just work here.” Manny shrugs. “And I think we can both agree that I’m probably the most trustworthy of all thebrothersin this clubhouse. I mean, you wouldn't want your cute little sister tobe left in the hands of some of the single men in this club. Let’s see… Pipes. Bronco. Chains. Bandit. JJ. Hustler…”

“Hustler? He’s older than Cash.”

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