Page 21 of Royal's Reign
“My sister,” he starts. “She wants to move out.”
“The hell she is,” I holler. “It’s not safe for her to be out there.”
“I know that.” He walks over to the kitchen, opens the refrigerator and takes out a couple of beers. “She’s not happy staying here with you. Cleary, you’re not either. For some reason, you two clash. More than we do as siblings.” He hands me one of the bottles before taking a long pull from the other. “You can’t deny that her being here is a distraction.”
“Are you trying to insinuate…” Shit, he knows that I want her.
“No, no, nothing like that. It’s just… I should never have put you in this position.” Fuck, he’s blaming himself? “You’re the fucking president of this club and Jesus, babysitting my sister, whatever the circumstances are, is not in your job description. Well above your paygrade, brother.”
“Her safety is paramount. Whatever needs to be done. Goes without saying.”
“Yeah, but the lion’s share doesn’t need to be on your shoulders. So, if you’re in agreement, I’ll ask Chasm to move into one of the other rooms, so Gio can have use of his.” He goes on to tell me that club brothers will also be the ones to watch her. “That will then give you back your privacy and free up your time to get back to club business.”
“Absolutely fucking not.”
Chapter
Eight
Royal
“Not going to happen,” I maintain once more after Grinder tried every trick in the book to convince me that Gio moving into another space in the clubhouse was a good idea.
The suggestion of having the other fucks watch over her, has my blood running fast and hot, my head about to blow. Before the words had fully slipped from his mouth, I’d wanted to replace them with my fists. I knew every one of those horny fuckers, and the thought of them having eyes on her, day-fucking-dreaming as to what they’d do to her if they had half the chance, was too fucking much. I would slaughter the lot of them without batting an eye.
I’d curled my hands into hard fists,but hadmanaged to keep them firmly by my side rather than making the punch.
“It’s what she wants,” Grinder pushes me. “Her being under your feet must be a fucking pain in the ass, so I don’t get it. Why are you so opposed to what I’m suggesting?”
“Are you having a fucking brain fart or something?” I force a laugh out. “You’re the one who pushed for this in the first place, and you were right. My apartment is the safest place for her, and okay, I’ve been a little overzealous limiting her movements, but dammit, she’s your sister.”
“Yeah, but I realize it’s too much to ask.”
“Fuck you, Grinder. You know the score. The Saints are one big family, which doesn’t stop at the door. It means the people that belong to us outside of the club — your ma, Giorgia — they’re classed as family too.”
“So, if Creep’s sister was in the same position as Gio, you’d let her stay with you?”
“Hell no,” I grit out. “One, she’s one weird motherfucker. Two, Creep would be hankering to go nomad within seconds of her stepping through the door, and three.” The first was the strongest of all my reasons. “She’s hard as fucking nails, and not one of our brothers would dare say no to her. She’d have them all fucked within an inch of their life within the week. You included.”
“Shit, I just vomited in my mouth.” I swear Grinder looks green at the thought. His mouth turns down in afrown while his Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows deeply.
“Look, I’ll back off, give her more space. Even let her have more time away from the club. I’m sure Manny and Frank wouldn’t mind doing a few extra hours if we can’t cover them. But I am the president of this club, and my word is final. Giorgia stays here in my apartment until any risk to her is well and truly eliminated.”
“Fuck,” Grinder sniggered. “You just played the ‘Prez card’ on me? About fucking time.” He has a shit-eating grin on his face when he slaps me on the back. I laugh with him, even though I might seem like everything is good underneath. I’m still fucking pissed, but Grinder is not the focus of my anger.
“Yeah, it’s taking some adjustment.”
“Like I told you before, Prez. Your uncle would never have put you forward for it if he didn’t think you were the right one for the job, and every single one of your brothers out there is one hundred percent behind you. So, if you’re sure, then okay. Gio stays put, but we also ramp it up, find these fuckers and put an end to it all.”
I wait until he leaves before I storm my way into the bedroom to find Gio standing beside the bed wearing only a bra and panties. Normally I would give myself time to run my gaze over her hot as fuck body, but I’m so fucking mad that I step right up to her. Being at least a foot smaller than me, I lean forward so my face is only a few inches from hers.
“What the fuck are you playing at, Gio?” I growl. “You want out of here? All I’ve done is try to keep you safe, despite you driving me fucking crazy.” I take a step back as soon as I see the fear in her eyes. The last thing I want to do is scare her, but she’s fucking infuriating. When I bring my hands up to place them on my head, she flinches. I don’t miss the slight tremble on her bottom lip either. “Shit, Giorgia,” I gasp out when I realize, she thought that I might strike her. “Come.” I slowly reach a hand out to her and guide her to sit on the bed and take a seat right beside her. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I sure as hell would never hurt you.”
“You already did,” her voice shakes.
“What?” The Gio that had given me so much lip when she’d left earlier tonight was not what I was faced with now. Hands fidgeted in her lap, head dipped, shoulders down. The Gio in front of me now had all the characteristics of the one that had burst through those doors — tearful, fearful and an innocent target to some lowlife street gangster. I place a hand over hers to try to reassure her. “Talk to me Gio, what’s so bad that you felt you had to go to Grinder? To be moved and have someone else shadowing you?”
“You wouldn’t understand.”
