Page 197 of Claimed By a King

Zoe’s voice filters away as she hooks elbows with Alana and leads her up the porch steps.

“Cute? Decor?” Slasher smirks.

“Shut the fuck up,” I grin back.

“How long have you had this place?” Slasher asks, watching Zoe unlock the door and disappear inside with Alana.

“A few years.” I shrug before pinning him with a look. “No one knows about it.”

“I fucking know no one knows about it. Why is that?” he asks, but his words hold no mirth.

“I just needed amespace, and then somehow Zoe ended up here with me.” I shrug, taking in the rustic cabin. “And now, you and your girl know about it, too.”

“Why are you telling me?” he asks, and I can tell he’s genuinely confused.

“I don’t want to keep secrets from my second. For now, it’s only us four that know about this place, and you’re more than welcome to come here to have some space from the club when you need it. Maybe sometime down the track I’ll share this place with others, but for now, I need it to be my Nirvana.”

Slasher nods, like he understands exactly what I’m talking about.

“Come on. Let’s get inside before Zoe redesigns the whole place in her head.”

Zoe

Six months later.

“You’re really not going to tell him?” Rose asks, cackling when I shake my head.

“No.” I smile. “This is for me to know, and him to find out if he ever fucking asks instead of acting like it’s a done deal.”

Alana shakes her head, smiling widely. “You know we won’t tell him.”

I already know my Cunts can be trusted. That’s why I allowed them to come with me when I got the tattoo last week while Gray was on a run for the club.

The first tattoo I ever got was the skull head. After I told the Cunts about the Kings wanting them to have honorary tats, they could only wait two days before they all wanted to go get it done. When we went I wasn’t sure I wanted it, but while watching them, I decided to have the skull cover one of the many scars Gunner left behind.

I’ve heard about the addiction of tattoos before, but until I had my first one, I don’t think I ever believed the hype. But I was back the week after, taking Gray with me that time. And I got a black, gothic looking unicorn tattooed on my wrist.

A constant reminder of Leslie, without it being too cutesy. I mean, it’s still pretty, obviously. I’m still me, and I still love prettythings.

“And he still hasn’t noticed it?” Rose probes, pointing to the spot behind my ear I’ve successfully managed to keep hidden from Gray.

I strategically arrange my hair to cover the top of my ear. “It’s not like we play hide the saltine, so why would he ever look behind my ear?”

“And if they did, that’s definitely not where she’d hide it,” Alana screeches with laughter.

Pulling a face, I answer, “Absolutely fucking not.”

“Well, if we’re not going to talk about where to hide the saltine, should we get a move on?” Rose asks, impatient as ever.

I clutch the rule book Cara made harder against my chest. “We might as well get it over with,” I answer.

As we’re entering a new sense of normalcy and everyday life, I want to get rid of this cursed thing once and for all. I know I’ve mentioned it before, but it wasn’t the right time. Now, though, it definitely is.

Especially with the changes Gray has already propelled into reality. Like the Cunts, and me, getting honorary logo tattoos, which is just one of the many changes he and Slasher have brought about.

It might not sound like a big deal, but it’s changed the atmosphere in the club. The Cunts have embraced the honor, in their own way treating it like them being a vital part of the club, which they undoubtedly are.

Now, they share their riches from their fans’ website freely. There’s no more divide in the money. Hell, last month they even decided to hire a cleaner and brought the proposal to Gray without me knowing. Of course, he insisted on vetting the cleaners, but once Cain suggested a company, it was a done deal.

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