Property of Gray (Kings of Anarchy MC: Arkansas #2)

1. Chapter One

Chapter One

The Past

“Stay here.” My brother Curtis snarls at me, shoving me back toward the porch as his buddies fire up their dirt bikes and four-wheelers.

“Granny Mags said I could go. Anything you stupid boys can do, I can do too.” Tears burn in the backs of my eyes as he snaps my hot pink Barbie fishing pole in half.

I stomp my foot and wipe at my nose. “You big, fat meanie. You’re ugly, and no wonder no girls like you.

You stink.” I stomp on his boot and punch him in the belly.

“Stop being a brat. It’s not my fault you don’t have friends,” Curtis gripes, knowing how to hurt my feelings.

“Just let her come, man. I’ll keep an eye on her.” Braxton Gray smiles at me, yanking on one of my braids.

I smile back at him, not caring that I’m missing my two front teeth or that he’s ten years older than me. Braxton is always nice to me and doesn’t care if I tag along. He treats me better than my smelly fart knocker brothers do.

One day I’m going to marry him.

“Whatever. Just stay out of the way,” my brother tells me.

“Stick with me, pipsqueak.” Brax hands me his helmet. It’s heavy and way too big, but I don’t care. I wear it like it’s a crown fit for a princess.

I climb onto his dirt bike, barely able to put my arms around him and hold on for dear life.

He races alongside my other brother, Elijah. He and Curtis are twins. They think because they are older than me that they can bully me and boss me around. One day I’ll show them. When I marry Brax, he’ll kick their asses.

Present Day

I smile at Gray, hoping this is it. Tonight is the night he’s going to claim me.

He’s going to tell everyone I’m his girl.

He stares at me with his piercing hazel eyes that have these flecks of gold and green flaked in them. His lips tip into a crooked grin as he watches me from across the bar. I can still feel the roughness of his facial hair against my thighs.

Last night was everything. Beautiful. Raw. Passionate.

I watch him as he watches me and wonder if he’s remembering the night before the same as I am. Being with him is all I’ve ever wanted and now he’s mine.

All mine.

No more club girls coming between us. No more worrying about what everyone will think or say. He claimed me in every possible way. All but one that is. He’s yet to claim me in front of the club.

He’s talking to my brother, Woods, right now. The club’s president and his best friend. It’s the perfect time to tell him about the two of us. To tell the world that I’m his girl and he’s my man.

There’s nothing I’ve ever wanted more than this. More than him. I’ve dreamed of this moment more times than I care to admit, but he knows I’ve been in love with him all my life.

Gray’s gaze shifts back to my brother. They continue to talk while I gather my nerve.

Every cell in my body is humming with nervous energy.

I twist my fingers around the silver, diamond-encrusted cross hanging around my neck, below my black choker.

I suck in a deep breath. Woods will accept us. He’ll be happy for us.

“Do I look okay?” I do a spin in front of Elsie Jo. I’m wearing a cropped Rolling Stones tee with a pair of True Religion cutoffs, fishnet stockings and my favorite pair of Doc Martens.

She shoots me a thumb up. If anyone knows how I’ve pined for Braxton Gray, it’s her. She’s been my nearest and dearest friend since third grade. She’s dried my tears and celebrated my wins more than her fair share over the years.

“Go get him, tiger.” She flashes me a smile and saunters off in the direction of Swift, the club’s newest tech guy.

I strut toward Gray. ‘Girls with Tattoos,’ by Passengers Unknown thumps through the speakers.

My silver bracelets jingle on my wrist as I sway my hips to the music.

Gray’s gaze catches mine. His smile falters as I get about three feet away.

He tilts his head to the side and gives it a shake to tell me no.

I nod, and his eyes darken.

I close the gap between us and put an arm around his waist.

His lips twist into an ugly snarl. “I’m busy.” He scrapes me off like gum stuck to the bottom of his boot.

Why is he acting this way?

“Sorry,” I mutter and watch in utter horror as not even two minutes later, he pulls Kaylene to his side where I should be standing. He presses those torturous lips that were all over me last night to her temple, kissing her dark hair.

“There’s my favorite girl.” He doesn’t spare me a second glance.

I swallow hard. A million knives stabbing me in the center of what’s left of my heart. Tears burn in the creases of my eyes. I hate him. I hate him with the power of a million suns.

All eyes in the clubhouse are watching me. Waiting for me to cause a scene.

Even my brother gives me a look that says, ‘Are you okay?’

“Brax,” I cry his name.

He steps forward as my heart beats against my chest. “You’ve got to stop this. I don’t see you as anything more than a bratty kid sister. We’re never going to happen.” He snorts and some of the whores laugh.

My mouth falls open as fire and betrayal burn through my lungs.

Gray just rejected me in front of the club, like last night didn’t mean anything to him. He’s looking straight through me like I’m nothing. More worthless than yesterday’s trash. My stomach tightens.

Bile shoots up the back of my throat.

I can’t do this.

I can’t breathe.

Kaylene saunters over. She curls into his side. “You heard him, bitch. Gray is with me. I’m having his baby.”

“You’re what?” Tears blur my vision.

“Fuck. I didn’t want to tell you like this, Low.”

Gray reaches for me, and I push him away. “Stay the fuck away from me. You and your whore.”

I run outside and into the woods. I run until I can no longer hear the music blaring out of the clubhouse. When my legs won’t carry me any further, I collapse to my knees, praying for wings so I can fly far away from here.

I dry heave, wishing the ground would open and swallow me whole. That the devil himself would come drag me straight to hell because being there has to be better than here.

Gray doesn’t love me.

He used me.

He doesn’t want me.

He never did.

A twig snaps behind me. I twist around and see Foolish.

This is so fucking embarrassing.

“Hey, beautiful.” Foolish puts a shot glass in my hand.

“I’m not in the mood.” I sniffle, wiping at my nose.

He grins and wraps my hand around the glass, tilting it toward my lips. “Trust me. It’ll help.”

Heat blooms on my cheeks as the liquor warms my belly.

Gray got someone pregnant.

And that someone isn’t me.

“Best way to get over a man is to get under a new one,” the prospect tells me.

“You offering?” I laugh devoid of humor.

“If I was your man, Low. You’d never have to wonder where you stand with me.”

“What?”

“Fuck Gray. You’re too good for him. He’s never deserved you.”

“And you think you do?”

He shoots me a sheepish grin. I’ve never known him to be shy a day in his life. His tongue darts out, wetting his lower lip. “No. But, babe. I’d damn sure love to try.”

I shake my head and take his offered hand.

“Why don’t we get out of here?”

I follow him back to the front of the clubhouse.

Gray is standing by my truck. “Can we talk?”

Foolish is polite enough to step back to give me a moment, but there’s no need. There’s nothing left for Gray to say.

“Foolish. Tell your VP I have nothing to say to him.”

“Don’t be a brat.” Gray grabs my wrist, pressing his thumb to my pulse point.

“Don’t touch me.” I glare at him, and there’s something in his eyes that almost makes me falter in my resolve.

A glimmer of hope or sadness, but whatever it is, it isn’t enough.

“I would wish you the best, but honestly, I hope the two of you are miserable.” I jerk out of his grasp as he hangs his head, looking almost as though he’s ashamed.

I turn and lean into Foolish, wrapping my arms around his tattooed neck and planting my lips on his. I don’t wait for permission. I thrust my tongue into his mouth, taking all my anger and twisting it into desire.

Foolish grips the back of my head with one hand and squeezes my ass with the other, returning my kiss, giving as good as he’s getting.

So what if I don’t particularly like him? Grannie Mags has always said you can learn to love anyone.

But right now, I don’t care about love. I don’t want to feel anything. I want to get lost.

I want to forget that I ever cared about Braxton Gray.