Page 5 of Link's Property
“The rooms are all taken at the moment.” He looks down the hall to where the sweetbutts stay. “But we can make a couple of the girls double up. She’ll have to stay with you tonight, though.” Not a problem. I’ll give her my bed and come sleep on the couch. “As far as a job goes, we’ve been in search of a bartender for a while. Need the prospects tending to other shit. So, if you’re interested in making her the offer, she can stick around for a trial run. She’ll get free room and board for helping out like the other girls: cooking and cleaning and what not. Double minimumwage for the hours she’s serving us drinks. Fridays through Sunday are mandatory.”
I nod my head. “I’ll extend the offer to her and see what she says. Girl has had a rough go, so I appreciate it. She’s a good kid and won’t cause trouble.” She better not. I won’t stand for her pullin’ shit like she used to. Though, I doubt she’ll be spray-painting the restroom in this place or starting fires in the garbage cans. That shit was her way of rebelling against the system. The girl was terrified of being placed in a foster home. Then again, the group home was the only home she’d ever known. It was an understandable fear, which is why I always tried to help her out, make sure I got the lightest punishment for her crimes.
“She don’t look like a kid,” Dagger speaks up, shaking his head. “Did you see those…”
I cut him a glare that would cut a diamond. If he finishes that statement, he’s gonna end up with a broken nose. Thankfully, he’s smart enough to bite his tongue. He better keep his thoughts and his hands to himself if he knows what’s good for him.
“Don’t want any of you laying a finger on her.” I send the message around the room with my narrowed warning. “The girl has already dealt with enough shit. She doesn’t need a bunch of you bastards trying to get up her skirt.”
And I know they would. Shayna is sexy as fuck. I’m not blind or ignorant to the fact. But right now, that girl needs a safe place to land and to lay her head at night. She needs protection and security, not men fawning all over her. The thought of them touching her has my spine tightening up with tension, which is why the next words come out of my mouth. “You consider her my family. Just like Rory, and all the other club kids, no one is allowed to touch. Now, I’m gonna go tell her she can stay.”
Before they have a chance to argue my claim and I start throwing blows, I make my exit, heading back down the hall. As Inear my bedroom door, the tension grows even tighter, prickling under my skin. Shayna used to be a scrappy little thing with eyes too big for her face and legs too long for her frame. She was skin and bones the last time I saw her. Now, she’s long legs and luscious curves with a face that even under all that streaked mascara is undeniably gorgeous. The girl is striking. And it’s striking down my nerves.
“You decent, kid?” I knock once, trying not to punch through the wood with my fist.
“Yeah, I’m good.”
I open the door and stop in my tracks. Shit. Gorgeous isn’t quite how I’d describe her now that she cleaned up all that black makeup off her face. A fucking knockout is what she is. Brown eyes, a splattering of freckles, and blush-colored lips, which are plump and full. The girl shouldn’t be bartending; she should be walking a damn runway. Lord knows she’s got the legs for it. And all the curves to fill out anything they put her in. Shit, the sweatshirt’s doing nothing to hide her tits. And I can tell she’s not wearing a bra. Damn, the sight is puttin’ me on edge.
“Spoke to King.” I clear my throat, trying to find a focal point other than her face or her tits to stare at. “He said you can stay.” I opt for picking up my dirty clothes around the room and straightening the bed to keep me from staring. “Also offered you a job as a bartender if you’re interested. As long as you’re willing to help out around the clubhouse, cook and clean a bit, you’ll get free room and board. And of course you’ll get paid for serving our asses. Weeknights are easy. It’s usually just us. But weekends are when we have a full house. It can get pretty rowdy in here, but you won’t find any shithead trying to stick his hand up your skirt without permission.” Or at all because I’ll cut their hands off if they even try. They don’t have permission to touch, and I’m gonna call church in the morning and make it known to everyone who wasn’t here tonight that she’s off-limits.
“Really?” Her pretty eyes turn even bigger, glistening under the light. There’s only one time I’ve seen tears in her eyes before this, and man, did it turn me inside out. “Thank you.” She rushes to me, wrapping herself around my frame. I’m almost too afraid to hold her, afraid I’ll feel those plush tits against me, but I’m not gonna leave her high and dry. “You have no idea how much this means to me, Officer Price.”
“Link,” I grunt, giving her a quick squeeze then releasing her. If I hold her any longer, the tension will grow even tighter. It’s already chafing in parts it shouldn’t.
“Sorry, Link. It’s going to take me a moment to get used to the new name.” It’s gonna take me a moment to get used to her new body. “But thank you. I’ll do whatever you guys want. Cooking, cleaning, anything. I’m just so grateful for this, you have no idea.”
She better not doanythingthe guys want, because I know exactly what they’ll be wanting from the girl. If they thought she was fine as hell all drenched in rags, they’ll be drenching their drawers when they see her like this. Shit. Messy bun, baggy sweatshirt, and leggings. Who knew it was better than lingerie?
“Only rule is no sleeping with any of the men. Don’t need to piss where you eat. And we don’t need any drama ruining your chances here.” And I don’t need to find myself in a war with one of my brothers. I need her on the same page so she’s not trying to tempt any of them into her bed. She may find herself attracted to one of my men—a thought that has me gritting my teeth.
“Believe me.” She shakes her head. “That’s a non-issue. My ex did a number on me, and I still haven’t recovered.”
I may need to get the name of her ex too and pay him a visit. I’d inquire further, but it’s late and I can see the exhaustion taking over her features. The adrenaline looks to be finally crashing and taking its toll. She’s been through one hell of a night, so we can talk more tomorrow.
“We’ll get your room sorted in the morning. For tonight, you can stay in here. If you need anything, just holler. I’ve got drinks in that mini fridge if you’re thirsty, and the remote is over there. Anything else, I’ll be out in the common room.”
“I don’t want to take your bed. I can sleep on a couch.”
No fucking way. Not everyone got the memo about her being here. One of the guys is liable to come out of his room for a drink and mistake her for a sweetbutt. Besides, I’d never have this girl sleeping on a sofa.
“Sweetheart, I’d feel a hell of a lot better if you slept in here. Now, you get some rest, and tomorrow I’ll show you around and introduce you to everyone.”
“Thank you again, Off… I mean, Link. I truly appreciate it. You have no idea.”
I do have an idea. If anything, this girl has always shown gratitude for the scraps of kindness anyone showed her.
“It’s all good, kid. Glad you came here instead of going to a motel.”
My nerves spike thinking of what would’ve happened to her had she not come here.
“You know I’m twenty-two now, right?”
Yeah, I’m well aware, but I’m doing my darndest not to think about the fact that she’s legal. I’m trying to recall the troubled kid I’d met all those years ago. The little girl without a family, feeling completely lost in this world. I’d vowed to protect that girl, and that’s what I intend to do. So these unwanted feelings trying to tighten between my legs need to take a hike.
“Like I said, you need anything, I’ll be out there.”
I shut the door, and release the trapped tension on an exhale, trying to steady my nerves before I enter the common room and face all the men again. I don’t need to go walking in there with a stiff one between my legs and have them asking questions. What I need is a stiff drink.
