Lily tried to make an escape out of the shower, her face an amazing shade of red, but he turned the water on, handing her the soap.
Lily quickly washed then hurried out of the shower. Shade let her, staying right behind her as she practically ran back into the bedroom. Grinning as he dressed, he watched Lily throw her own clothes on, trying to get dressed before Knox and Diamond returned.
He was putting on his boots before she finally calmed down and realized they were giving her time to dress. Diamond wouldn’t be any more anxious to get dressed in front of him than Lily was Knox.
“Thirsty?” Shade asked when she finished dressing.
*
Lily’s eyes were closed when Shade slid under the covers, pulling them over their bodies. When he tugged her to him, she rolled over, burying her face in his neck as she lay against his chest.
“Shade…” Lily began.
“Knox will always be a brother, but being Sheriff, he has to keep a low profile. Diamond is a lawyer. She’s a good one. She’s going to move up.
“I like to play; Knox likes to play. We all know how to keep our mouths shut. That’s why Viper and Razer talked club business in front of you. You kept Georgia’s secret even though that bitch trashed you all over town. The only time you talked was to protect someone else and to save Georgia’s life after she almost killed you.
“I think Diamond’s an attractive woman, but I don’t want to fuck her. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
“Yes,” Lily whispered.
“If you want to play sometimes with them and only them, we can. You don’t, we won’t. It’s your call.” Shade yawned, putting his arm behind his head. “I thought you and Diamond would get along since you’re not close friends, but you can become friends. You’re both kind of … sweet,” he said tactfully.
Lily lifted her head. “That wasn’t what you were going to say.” She glared down at him. “I don’t know if you or Winter is the most devious.”
“I am, but she thinks she is,” Shade said smugly.
“Heaven help the person you two gang up on; they wouldn’t stand a chance.”
Chapter 68
Shade was sitting at his desk when the first call came.
“You have something of mine, and I want it back.”
“And would this be Ice or Jackal?” Shade replied.
“You know?”
“I know something is going down, and you know what it is. And you’re going to tell us what we need to know, or you’re going to have one less brother under your command.”
“We need to meet.”
Shade gave him the address.
“Bring my brother.”
Ice could demand all he wanted; however, he wasn’t getting anything until he produced the information Shade needed.
“You’ll see Eightball when I decide you get him back.” Shade emphasized Eightball’s name to let Ice know they were aware it was as fake as shit, and it had been a stupid fuckup to get caught by.
“Oh, you’ll bring him, and I’ll bring that pretty little sister of yours.”
Shade didn’t lose control of his temper. He had fucked up himself; he should have expected the move.
“I’ll bring him.” Shade had no choice other than to relent.
“Now that’s more like it. We’ll be there in an hour.” The line disconnected.
Shade got up from behind his desk, opening his door. “Jewell, take over. Rider, Train, you’re with me.”
They were halfway across the parking lot when the second call came in. Shade paused to answer it.
“Later, Lucky. I’m busy—”
“Shade, it’s Lily. She’s gone. I was on my way to my office when someone knocked me out. When I came to … she was gone. I called Knox; he’s on his way over.”
Shade disconnected the call.
“Shade?”
He looked at Rider. “We’ll talk in the house. Gather all the brothers and meet me in the kitchen.”
They ran up the flight of steps. Shade found Viper in the kitchen. It took very little time to have the brothers gathered in the kitchen and the television room. The door stood open toward the living room so all the members could hear.
Shade quickly explained about the meet with Ice and that Lily was missing from the church.
Viper took control. “Razer, call Beth. Tell her to get here and stay here. Train, call the brothers in Ohio, tell them to haul ass here, then call Stud and tell him the same thing. I’m calling in my marker. We’ll meet the Predators, we find out what they know, and then we’ll find out how to find Lily.