Chapter 28 Isla
ISLA
Hobbling around on my crutches, I pause at the top of the staircase.
Sick of being cooped up in the room, I decided to escape while Skull was in the shower, but I clearly didn’t think this through.
I’m about to turn back around when I see Ghost standing there, watching me with an unreadable expression.
He’s wearing all black—T-shirt, cut, jeans, and boots, his head freshly shaved, and his beard surprisingly well trimmed.
I can smell the hint of a woodsy cologne, but it’s the look in his steel-gray eyes that makes me wary of him.
A human can sense danger, and when I’m around Ghost, my instinct is telling me to run.
“Skull know you’re here, hitchhiking a ride downstairs?
” he asks, crossing his arms over his chest. He has a few silver rings on his fingers.
Has he suddenly put a little more effort into his looks?
Maybe he’s trying to look his best for Xanthe.
Cute. I still don’t know the story between those two, but they say opposites attract, right?
Xanthe is like a sweet little lamb, and Ghost is a hungry lion.
“No. You going to give me a ride anyway?” I ask, and his lip twitches. “Depends. Where you planning on going?”
“I’ll start in the kitchen and then make my way outside to bring Layla back in,” I say, offering my sweetest smile. “No harm, no foul, right?”
He smirks and picks me up in his arms like one would carry a toddler. I hold onto my crutches for dear life, holding my breath until he puts me back down at the bottom of the staircase.
“Thanks, Ghost.”
He grunts in reply, then stands there and watches me make my way to the kitchen.
“You want me to get you something?” A deep voice asks, making me jump. I turn around to see Suit standing there. He has bright red lipstick on his neck, and he’s standing there eating a slice of pizza.
I eye his food, he grins, and pushes it forward. “Pepperoni with jalapenos. Unless you’re afraid of a little spice?”
Rolling my eyes, I steal a piece from his box and take a bite. “Whose lipstick are you wearing?”
“Why?” he asks, his gray eyes looking entertained. “Are we talking about each other’s sex lives? Because I’ve seen way too much of Skull and Bones in action. I already know what they like.”
“I just want to know who you let mark you like that,” I reply, chewing thoughtfully. “You got an old lady?
He almost chokes. “Fuck, no. I don’t have an old lady. I feel like I’m spending most of my time keeping my brothers’ old ladies out of trouble. I don’t have time for my own.”
“You seem to have plenty of time to sleep around,” I fire back. “Maybe you should work on your time management. I’m sure a nice woman would be good for you.”
His eyes widen, and then he laughs loudly. “Fuck me, you’re a riot, Isla.”
“Spitfire! Where the fuck are you?” I hear Skull call from up the stairs.
“Did you escape?” Suit asks, lip twitching. “You’re a naughty girl, aren’t you, little nurse?”
“I’m in the kitchen,” I call back, then take another slice of pizza. “So does the club keep you in full-time work, or do you deal with other criminals?”
He laughs again. “I do have other clients. But yes, the club keeps me busy. I have other chapters that call on me when they need me too.”
“So, you travel around?”
He nods.
“You must have hoes in different area codes then. Everywhere you go, you should let it be known that Skull is now taken. It’s better than it being sprung on them, you know? Give their vaginas time to grieve.”
He rubs his forehead, like he has a sudden migraine coming on.
“Baby, how did you get downstairs? Why didn’t you wait for me?” Skull asks, taking in me sitting at the table eating Suit’s food.
“Ghost carried me down. I was going to get a snack and then let Layla back in,” I explain, smiling up at him. “I can get around, Skull. It’s just the stairs that are a problem.”
“A snack? You’re eating the whole pizza,” Suit mutters, but he doesn’t sound annoyed. Does this man take anything seriously? How is he a lawyer?
“Well, I wouldn’t want you to lose your six-pack, you know? I’m just doing you a favor,” I reply, and Skull frowns.
“You noticed that, huh?” Suit grins wolfishly, lifting his shirt and flashing said abs. He’s covered in tattoos underneath those pressed shirts.
“Business on the outside, party on the inside,” I mutter, and both men laugh. “Okay, I’ve eaten enough.”
Skull helps me up and hands me my crutches. We go outside for a bit of fresh air, and then bring Layla back in with us.
Yeah, it sucks that I’m injured and in a cast for six weeks, but it could be worse. I have everything and everyone I need right here in the clubhouse.
We end up at the bar, having a drink, and I watch the men play pool. Soon, the whole club is here. But when Rome arrives, he whistles, and all the men and women pay attention.
“Now, as most of you know, we were meant to have a party last week, but that was canceled when Isla got hurt. So, to make up for it, we’re all here together now. Skull, get your ass up here, and bring your woman with you.”
What the?
Skull carries me in his arms, leaving the crutches behind. He sets me down next to him on the makeshift stage, standing behind me and taking all of my weight.
“Tonight, we’re making it official. Skull has taken an old lady!” Rome calls out, and the men all cheer.
“Isla, you sure you don’t want the better twin?” Bones calls out, making everyone laugh.
“Depends, can you keep your dick out of other women?” I call out, and the men all start making jokes about Bones not being able to stick to one woman. “You saw how I was at the strip club? You want a piece of that, Bones?”
He dramatically shakes his head, backing away, and I laugh so hard that Skull has to hold me tighter so that I don’t fall over.
Rome hands Skull a smaller leather cut, who lifts it so I can see it. It says ‘Property of Skull’ underneath the Serpents of Chaos emblem, the same one the men have on theirs. When he spins it around, I can see it says ‘Spitfire’ on the front, with a little patch of a dragon shooting fire.
Wow.
I love it.
And I love him.
“Isla, I loved you from the second I saw you. You’re wild, sweet, and all fucking mine,” Skull says, and tears pool in my eyes. “Now it’s official. You’re my old lady. We’re as good as married, baby.”
“I love you too.” I sigh, smiling as he helps me put the cut on.
“Serpents, show her how we welcome her,” Prez calls out, and to my utter surprise, all the men start to form a line in front of me.
“What’s going on?”
“Wait and see,” Skull whispers in my ear.
Lore is in the front, his violet eyes on me. He lifts my hand and presses a kiss to my knuckles. “Protect you with my life, Isla. And happy to have a new addition to the Baddies chat.”
I grin. “Thank you, Lore.”
Ghost steps up next, not touching me, instead bowing down with a blade in his hand. “Protect you with my life.”
“Thank you, Ghost,” I manage to get out, my voice catching. Seeing the low-key, terrifying, giant, broody man kneeling before me and vowing to protect me is emotional.
War is next, leaning forward and pressing a soft kiss to my temple. “You have the Serpents at your back. You have me at your back. Give my life for you.”
“Thank you, War.”
Suit comes up to me next, kissing my cheek for just a little too long until Skull pushes him off me. “Share my food with you, let you watch me doing dirty shit in the pole room, because I know you liked that.” I gasp, and he starts laughing.
“Going to kill you, brother,” Skull growls.
Suit simply smirks and takes my hands into his. “Protect you in all ways, little nurse. Protect you on paper and off, and give my life for yours.”
“Thank you, Suit.”
Angel comes up next. He doesn’t touch me either, but he bows his head. “Protect you with my life.”
“Thank you, Angel.”
One by one, the rest of them come up and vow to protect me with their lives.
The last one to come up is Bones, and I swallow the lump in my throat, seeing him standing there in front of me, those beautiful blue eyes looking right into mine.
“Bones,” I whisper.
“Isla.” He grins, stepping forward and pulling my body into his arms, taking all of my weight from his brother.
And if that isn’t a metaphor, I don’t know what is.
“I’d give you anything you ever wanted, Isla. Protect you from anything that would hurt your spirit. Love you like I would a sister. Well, maybe let’s make that stepsister.” He smirks, and I laugh with happy tears in my eyes. “You’re not just Skull’s property, you’re also mine.”
“Thank you, Bones. I love having you in my life,” I reply, pressing a kiss to his cheek.
I have to wonder, though, what happens when Bones finds his woman? Will she accept the way things are between all of us? And can I accept the fact that Skull might be giving this very same speech to his woman one day?
Skull pulls me from my thoughts by throwing me over his shoulder and carrying me out, the club all cheering for us. He takes us into our room and lays me down on the bed.
“I want to fuck you in nothing but that cut, spitfire,” he growls, pulling off his cut and hanging it on the back of the chair.
He helps me undress, then puts the soft leather back on my skin. With my leg limiting the options we have for positions, I end up sitting on his lap, reverse cowgirl, and I know it’s because he wants to see the words ‘Property of Skull’ as he fucks me.
After we’ve both come, he lays me back on the bed and slides into me again, slower this time.
“Fuck me harder, Daddy.” I grin, remembering the first time we met.
His eyes flicker with heat. “I was hoping you’d call me that again.”
“I love you,” I say against his lips.
“I love you more.”