Page 68 of Coty

“The patched members already know. Now, it’s time to make it official. A couple of weeks ago, Coty Michaels claimed Kayla Chambers as his ole’ lady.”

Lala quickly moves in front of me. I’m still not allowed out of this chair—her orders, not the doctor’s.

“You did what?”

“I claimed you.” I nod to my brothers behind her. “They agreed.”

“Two weeks, and you haven’t told me?”

“Well,” I run a hand through my hair. “I’ve kinda been busy lately.” It’s a lame excuse, but also true.

Worley hands me her property of cut. I turn it around to show her the Viking Warriors emblem Nanny designed in memory of Ariel. I point to my road name, Rodeo, on the bottom rocker. I flip it around and show her the patch with Lala on it.

Sitting up as straight as I can, I hold the cut open. “Come on, Sparky. You know you want this.”

Her eyes drop to the cut and back to mine. “Are you sure?”

“I’ve told you at least a hundred times this week that I love you. Yeah, I’m sure.”

She lowers and slides her arms through the sleeves. Mindful of my ribs and stitches on my arms and back, she leans down and wraps her arms around my neck.

“I love you, too, Coty,” she whispers.

“Vikings!” Mack shouts. “Raise your glass and celebrate Rodeo and Lala! She now has the protection and rights as an ole’ lady.”

The room erupts in shouts and cheers. When Lala tries to stand up straight, I pull her onto my lap.

“Coty, no. You’ll hurt yourself.”

“I’m notthathurt.” She knows it as well as I do. “We need to talk about some things.”

“We do,” she agrees. “But we can do that later tonight. I need to get back.”

“Nope. Parker’s here.” I point to the bar. Ember and Maci have all the help they need.

“Okay. What’s so urgent it can’t wait?”

“I don’t want to stay in your apartment. I can’t go there.” I now understand how Jack feels about returning to his house.

“Why? Trent’s in jail. He’s not getting out for a long time.”

She finally opened up and told me about her relationship with Trent. If he weren’t in jail, I’d hunt him down and give him twice the beating Jack did.

And it’s true. Trent Colby survived the beating Jack gave him. He’s been charged with three counts of assault and battery. Emily Powell is still shaken up, but medically, she’s okay. Skip was knocked unconscious with a blunt object in the parking lot. He complains of headaches, but otherwise he’s okay, too. Trent won’t name the two men who helped him, and I didn’t get a good look at them before I was knocked out. We’re sure Willis Sanford and Adam Lang were his accomplices. Since we can’t prove it, the cops aren’t taking it seriously.

I close my eyes. “I can’t go there, Sparky. Please don’t ask me to.”

“Well, I don’t want to stay in your room here.”

I don’t either. “I’m not asking you to. I have something better in mind.”

“Oh?” Now, she’s intrigued.

“Yeah. Since I now officially have an ole’ lady, I kinda need a job,” I tease.

“A job? Where?”

“My grandfather needs help on the ranch. The position comes with a two-bedroom cabin.” I gently slide my thumb across her cheek.

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