Page 44 of The Vipers' Vow

“Your dad shouldn’t be getting himself in those situations.”

He’s right. As leader, my dad should send his men to do that kind of thing, not try to be there himself. If anything happens to him, it leaves the club leaderless and vulnerable.

I raise an eyebrow. “Try telling him that.”

Phoenix snorts. “I can see how well that would go down.”

“Exactly.” They know my dad almost as well as I do. “I'm trying to protect him, but he isn't having it.”

“What are you thinking?” Zoo asks, cracking his knuckles.

“I leave before first light, and I take you two with me.”

Zane is right next to me. He shifts his weight from one foot to the other, and I glance at him. He nods, though, meaning he’s onboard with this.

“Your dad's gonna be pissed.” Phoenix gives a low whistle. “He might kick us out of the club.”

I feel bad that I’m putting them in a difficult position, but I don’t have much choice.

“Yeah, he will be, but if you tell him I said either you two come with me, or I’d go it alone, I think he’ll understand. He’d prefer to know I had some of the club with me rather than no one.”

Phoenix and Zoo exchange a glance, and Zoo gives the tiniest nod.

“We don’t want to see you heading into a dangerous situation without backup either,” Phoenix says. “If the option is you going alone or you going with us, then it needs to be us.”

I smile at them both. “Thanks, guys. I appreciate it.”

Of course, I wouldn’t be completely alone—I’d have Zane and Saint—but in my dad’s eyes, that’s as good as nothing. I also want to protect them as much as I want to protect my dad.

“What time do we ride out?” Zoo asks, stuffing his hands into the pockets of his leather cut.

“Early hours. How does three a.m. sound?”

“The witching hour.” Phoenix sounds approving of my choice of time. “We’ll be there.”

Zoo adds, “We’ll bring some heat.”

I smile at him. “Good thinking. Now, guys, if we’re riding out so early, we need at least a couple of hours sleep, so I’m gonna say goodnight.”

I have the stupidest urge to walk Zane back to his room to make sure he’s okay, but he’d hate that, so I don’t. I simply head back to my own room, giving him a wave and trying not to giggle because I know he’ll follow me sooner or later.

When I reach my room, I’m torn. I’m exhausted and need to sleep, but I also want to be wearing the butt plug when Zane gets here. It will drive him feral, and I’m up for that. I won’t get much sleep, anyway, and really should get into bed and take the damn thing out, but I’m tempted to wait and see if he arrives in the next thirty minutes.

I paid attention when I was walking back to my room and didn’t see anyone around watching my space, and no one is stationed outside, but that doesn’t mean my dad hasn’t asked the guys patrolling the compound to keep an eye out. If Zane sneaks into my room, he’s taking a big risk, which somehow makes it all hotter.

It’s not because my father thinks I’m still a virgin, or at least I hope he’s not that naïve. He knows I’m seeing Zane because we’ve talked, and I’ve made that much clear, but Zane coming to my bed on my father’s territory would be a huge ‘fuck you’ to him.

Shit, maybe I ought to message Zane and tell him to stay put? It’s not worth him getting a broken arm, or worse, just for us to have a bit of fun. But oh, what fun it will be.

Undecided, my fingers hover over my phone?—

A dark shadow beyond my window makes me jump. What the hell? There are lights at the edge of the compound, near where the fence runs by the road to the gates, and they’re blanked out for a moment as a large shape cuts off the light source.

I freeze and stare at the window. A familiar face appears outside. Zane! I thought he’d come to the door. I’m not on the ground floor, damn it. He could fall. Oh, my God, he’s crazy.

I head to the window, shaking my head, but also smiling at his audacity. I pull the window up. He’s lucky it’s old school and opens like a sash window, and not one of these modern windows that you can only open a tiny crack. He’d be hanging on the ledge all night if that were the case.

Once the window is open enough for him to fold his huge body in half, he climbs inside and jumps to the floor.

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