“When I’m able. Marry her first,” I say.
“When you’re able?” he asks.
I smirk as I reach for a roll and pop it on the plate. “Yeah, prospects can’t brand women.”
He chuckles. “Think Dragon would make an exception, no?”
Shaking my head, I clear my throat as I turn to look over at him. “I think I’ve asked for enough special treatment that I don’t necessarily deserve. I won’t ask for any more. Giving us a place to live, giving me a small monthly salary, letting us live here. It’s more than I could ever ask for. So if I’m ever allowed to be a member again, then I’ll brand my wife.”
Eagle clears his throat, then he lifts his hand and wraps his fingers around my shoulder, squeezing me before he releases it.
“You’ll earn it, brother. Already almost there. Proving yourself every fuckin’ day.”
He doesn’t allow me to respond to his words and I’m glad, because I have no clue what the fuck to say to him. Instead, he turns and walks away. I shift my attention back to the table and continue to load up a plate with a bunch of food. I have no goddamn idea what Pammy even likes to eat.
When the plate is so full it’s about to collapse in my hand, I turn and make my way over to her. Scanning the picnic area, I find her sitting at the picnic table, Presley on one side of her, Esther on the other.
Making my way over to them, I set the plate down in front of Pammy and don’t miss the eyes that are focused on me and the way that the conversation came to a halt at my appearance.
“You want some water?” I ask, my gaze focused on Pammy’s.
She nods her head once. “That would be nice,” she says.
Walking away from the women, I make my way over to the coolers and grab bottles of water for all three of the women. Delivering them, I decide not to stay. They all look like they’re enjoying themselves and they don’t need me around.
“You need anything else, just holler,” I call out.
Pamela’s eyes find mine and she holds them. She doesn’t look worried or scared, in fact, she looks the exact opposite, she looks completely relaxed. She nods her head once, and that’s when I turn and make my way over to the food to make myself a plate.
When my plate is full, I head over to Silver, who is talking to Wolfe and Mountain. “They took her straight to their room. They branded Maria, she didn’t leave that long ago,” Silver announces.
“Mamba and Gator?” I ask. “Straight-up took that chick from the restaurant.”
Wolfe snorts. “Who expected anything different? She’s rebound.”
“She’s a fucking stranger,” Mountain growls.
“Maria left, they’re adults,” I say with a shrug.
“Yeah,” Mountain snorts.
I don’t ask him what he means by that comment, the way he said it, his eyes flicking up and down my body, I know that it had another meaning, but it doesn’t matter. I have to let shit slide right the fuck off of my back, it cannot control me any longer.
“They’ll realize it’s not a woman that they want between them eventually,” I point out.
Nobody says anything and I lift my head from my plate, looking between the three men who are staring at me.
“You know they’re completely in love with one another, yeah?”
“Yeah,” Silver says slowly. “Didn’t know you did.”
“Does anyone not?”
They all three look at their shoes before they lift their gazes up to meet mine. “Doesn’t bother me. Maybe they want to play with a woman here and there. That’s all good, too. But they need to brand one another and just accept the fact that they’re in love.”
“Been sayin’ that shit for months,” Wolfe growls. “Thank you for bringing it up. Nobody here gives a fuck at all.”
“Sure as shit don’t,” Mountain grumbles.
The conversation shifts, but I can’t get Mamba and Gator off of my mind. They do love one another, deeply. It’s obvious to everyone. I’ve been there, afraid to let myself love, still am really, but they shouldn’t be.
They’ve been with one another for so long that they need to just accept it all. Every good, bad, and ugly part of who they are as a couple. Something that I couldn’t do with Della and me. Something that I wish I had done long before I fucked everything up. But then I wouldn’t have Pammy—my Sunny.
Chapter Thirty-Three
PAMELA
I’m surprised that Jaguar doesn’t get drunk. He has a couple beers, but we stay at the party well into the early morning. There is a huge bonfire and the children are shuffled back home as the real party starts.
It reminds me of the Donkey Punchers, except these are all consenting people just enjoying themselves, nobody looks like they’re zombies and lost.
After we’ve eaten and socialized, as soon as the children are sent away, Dylan finds me and keeps me close the rest of the evening. I don’t mind. I like being near him and he’s been gone for a week, a week that felt like a month.
“You ready for bed?” he asks, his lips pressed against my temple.
Looking up at him, I smile. “You don’t want to stay?” I ask.
Something shifts in his gaze and his eyes darken. “The only things happening around here for the rest of the night is a lot of sex and sharing.”
“Sharing?” I breathe in horror.
He snorts. “Sharing,” he confirms.
“You don’t want to… do you?”
Fire ignites in his eyes and he shakes his head slowly. “Absolutely not, Sunny.”
I let out a sigh of relief. He chuckles, looking up at the sky before he drops his gaze back down to meet mine. “Let’s
