Chapter Twenty-Five
Twenty-Five
Forge
The sight of Kash happy was good for my soul. Even if, at times, I envied him. I also owed him one for coming out here. Being alone with Lula Mae wasn’t what I’d signed up for, but then did I ever get to choose my jobs? That would be a big fuck no.
“I need a drink,” Lula Mae said with a breathless laugh.
I dropped my hands from her waist and started to turn toward the drink cooler we kept stocked out here when the door opened again. I glanced back, expecting to see someone coming to rescue me since I had more than done my entertaining duty with the Louisiana branch’s princess.
It wasn’t.
I stilled at the sight of Elsie, followed entirely too closely by Wayon Davidson.
“Don’t let us interrupt. We were coming to watch,” Wayon said, then placed a hand on Elsie’s lower back, “or join.”
It was as if ice had begun crawling up my spine. Both fists clenched at my sides as my focus darted from his touch to her face. The tense way she was holding her shoulders and the uneasy expression on her face were all it took to get me moving again.
I was in front of her in seconds. Her eyes went wide as she stared up at me. Taking her wrist in one hand, I tugged her away from his fucking hand, then shot him a warning glare.
“She doesn’t like to be touched,” I informed him through clenched teeth.
I didn’t know that for sure, but I did read her well, and she hadn’t been happy about it. That was all I needed to know.
“I’m sorry,” he replied, sounding concerned. “I didn’t mean to overstep.”
I tucked her slightly behind me. “She doesn’t know you.” I stated the obvious.
“Well, I had brought her out here to change that.”
This fucker was pushing it.
“It’s okay,” Elsie said behind me.
No, it wasn’t okay. Like hell it was okay.
“Forge”—Lula Mae laughed, but it was fake as shit—“I know Than might have issues with Wayon, but he is a good guy. It’s fine. Get me a drink, and let’s go for a swim.”
I’d been tasked with keeping her happy and out of the way. I didn’t see why Locke couldn’t do it. I’d been waiting on him to come take my place, thinking we were doing this in shifts. Gathe would love to keep her busy, but his ass wasn’t here. Where was the playboy when you needed him?
“We aren’t in our swimsuits,” I told her, not moving or taking my eyes off Wayon.
A fingernail ran up my arm, and I hadn’t realized Lula Mae had made her way over to me.
“We don’t need them,” she said in a sultry voice, leaning closer to my ear. The heels she was wearing gave her more height.
I shrugged her off, not liking the way she was talking to me … in front of Elsie. I’d dissect that shit later. Right now, I had to get her away from Wayon without causing a problem. As much as I hated it, we needed the Davidsons to get to Telos. We needed Lula Mae to get to him. Dammit.
Wayon’s gaze dropped to witness my action, then looked to the side of me, where I was still holding Elsie’s wrist.
“I see,” he said as if he understood something he didn’t.
“I doubt it,” I replied just as obnoxiously.
He smirked then and tilted his chin up in his sister’s direction. “You might want to keep her happy.”
“I agreed to come out here with Wayon. There was a lot of people in there, and this seemed less intimidating.” Elsie spoke up.
I didn’t like her response. It wasn’t helping matters.
I could hear my teeth grinding as I continued to glare at Wayon.
“Forge,” Kash said.
I barely flicked a glance at my brother. His brows were drawn together, frowning like Oz. He could go back inside. He wasn’t required here.
“What?” I clipped. This wasn’t his business.
“You’re overreacting,” he told me. “Elsie seems perfectly fine.”
This time, I leveled my gaze on him. “I didn’t ask for your opinion.”
His eyebrows shot up as his eyes shifted from Elsie and back to me in question.
“Seems I might have stepped on toes. I wasn’t aware there was a claim on Elsie,” Wayon drawled.
“What?” Kash asked, cutting his eyes from Wayon to me.
I sent him a warning look. Little shit needed to butt the hell out.
“Not your concern,” I told him.
He didn’t move, but studied me for a moment and the hold I had on Elsie.
“I, uh … we didn’t mean to interrupt your dancing,” Elsie said, jerking her wrist free and stepping away from me.
What the actual fuck?!
I snapped my head around to see what she was doing, and she jutted out her chin defiantly.
“I wanted to come out here with Wayon,” she informed me. “I don’t need protecting from him. I was told he was a family friend. Isn’t that right?”
The challenge in her eyes was making my dick hard. Dammit. Where the hell had this come from?
Wayon held out his hand to her. “Perhaps we can go find another place to get to know each other.”
I started to move between them, but she was faster. Her hand darted out, taking his. Seething, I drew in a breath while she moved closer to him and away from me.
“Forge,” Kash said.
I tore my eyes off Wayon touching Elsie, trying to stop the threat clawing at my chest. The question in Kash’s gaze was clear. He was trying to figure out what this was. Why I was acting … acting … territorial.
“Come on. Let’s go swim,” Lula Mae said, reminding me she was still here.
I’d forgotten about her again.
“That sounds like a good idea,” Kash agreed. “Lula Mae and Wayon are here to help Elsie.”
The reminder wasn’t needed, but I understood his reason for saying it. Lula Mae wasn’t one to handle rejection well. We’d heard the rumors of how she had pursued Storm Kingston in the Georgia branch once. Her insanity had caused issues for him and his now wife.
I didn’t move as I watched Elsie and Wayon go over to the sitting area near the fireplace and take a seat. Too close. I started to move, but Kash’s hand clamped down on my upper arm, squeezing tightly. Right. I was supposed to be entertaining Lula Mae. They were going to help us get to Telos.
I jerked free from his hold. “Let’s get your drink,” I said through my teeth to Lula Mae, then stalked toward the bar.
I wasn’t going swimming. We were going to stay right fucking here, and we could all … visit.