Page 190 of Outlaws of Tulsa

Nees’s face pales and he clears his throat. “I don’t remember the rest.”

The pussy runs—actually runs—away from me. Bizzy’s tubby ass chases after him. Hell, that’s the only time I’ve ever seen that man run.

What.

The.

Fuck.

Anger swells up inside me and I march after them into the garage. Dragon is no longer working his ass off and instead is leaned against the wall guzzling water, his eyes on Copper and Cove. Bizzy and Nees follow Erin and Halo into the house, running like their pants are on fire.

“What’s everyone’s problem?” I demand, meeting Dragon’s fiery green-eyed stare that doesn’t make me cringe anymore.

“Ask your brother.” Dragon’s lip curls up and then he spits some water to the concrete at his feet. “He’ll tell you.”

Slowly, I drag my head to where Cove is sitting beside Copper. Neither of them is talking now. Copper’s brow is slightly arched as though he’s waiting. Cove’s chin is lifted in defiance. Sitting there in their matching cuts, they seem comfortable as hell together.

Wait…

Matching cuts.

Cove’s cut has a prospect patch that practically glows at me.

No.

Hell to the motherfucking no.

“Absolutely not,” I seethe, storming their way. “He’s too young. No, Copper. Whose idea was this? Who put him up to this? Are you guys fucking serious right now?”

Copper, used to my tirades, lets me get it out of my system before he replies. “He’s old enough to make his own decisions. You know that.”

Fuck him and his logical reasoning.

“But…” My eyes burn with unshed tears. But he could barely handle being kidnapped. But he would have died by Dragon’s hand had I not intervened. But he’s just a little boy.

Copper stands and approaches me. Once he’s close, he pulls me to him. “But nothing, little storm. It’s done. We’re going to look after him. It’s what we do. You know better than anyone that this club protects their brothers. He doesn’t need his bigsister to fight all his battles anymore. Now, he can fight them himself and when he can’t, he has the Royal Bastards to have his back.”

I pull away slightly to look at Cove. He may seem soft and young to me, but the fierce determination in his eyes can’t be missed.

“What about college?” I ask weakly.

“I never fit in anyway. Not like Calla,” Cove replies. “After…” He sighs, breaking my gaze. “I have to prove to myself that I’m a man who can take care of himself.” His blue eyes lift to meet mine again. “A man who can protect his sisters.”

I open my mouth to argue that I’m the big sister and that’s my job, but Copper presses his thumb to my lips, dragging my face back to meet his handsome one.

“Let the kid be a man, baby.”

Against my better judgment, I nod. Copper is right. Cove needs a support network and protection. Who better to provide that than these mean-ass motherfuckers?

“Oh look, no one died,” Koyn says as he struts into the garage, a cigarette wobbling between his lips. “My money was on Nees because he’s easy pickin’s.”

Nees bangs on the window from the garage to the kitchen. “I heard that, asshole.”

Koyn laughs and flips him off. “Copper, you gotta minute?”

When Copper releases me, after a chaste kiss to my lips, I make my way back over to Dragon, who continues to thrum with pent-up energy.

“You doing okay?” I cock my head to study his features up close.

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