“Fascinating,” I heard and looked back to see Low once again studying me. Mimi had already sat beside Josie while I stood there like an idiot staring at Ruin.
I didn’t comment back. Instead, I took the seat next to her and leaned back in the chair, acting calm when all I wanted to do was drag Ruin away from that woman. It would have been best to have picked a different seat. From this position, I had a good view of the people in the bar, including of the sweet look Ruin was giving the woman.
“Wolf,” Ryo said before placing a gin and tonic on the table.
“Thank you,” I replied, and quickly took up the drink for a long gulp while he went to Mimi to hand hers over.
Why did I want to come?
I sighed internally since I wanted to know more about Ruin and see him around his people.
“That’s Rommy,” Low said, and I lifted my gaze from the glass to see she was looking at me.
“Sorry?” I asked just when Ryo took the seat next to me.
Low pointed from Ryo and me, bluntly asking, “You two together?”
Ryo choked on his sip, shaking his head.
“No,” I replied. “Ryo is my assistant.”
Low’s brows rose. “An assistant who works this late and comes to bars with you?”
“Low, stop interrogating them,” Josie said.
“I think it’s fun,” Mimi commented.
I glared over at her. “Ryo is also my personal guard.”
“You must be important,” a blonde woman asked. “Sorry, my name’s Mena. I’m with Dive, and this is Della. She’s with Handle.”
“Nice to meet you all. I’m Wolf, and this is Mimi and Ryo. To answer your question, I run the Takahashi family. We have a lot of businesses.”
“Must have some enemies to have a guard with you,” Low said.
I smirked. “Some.”
She hummed under her breath and pointed over to the men. I glanced there to see Ruin at the table with the other bikers, his arm around the woman. Another man stood with them. “As I was saying, that’s Rommy with Ruin. She’s mine and Dodge’s girl. Good friends with Ruin.”
Friends. Were they only friends?
I went to turn my attention back to Low, but something else caught my eye. The man named Beast had his hand gripping the back of Knife’s neck in a claiming manner. Knife turned to look up at Beast with a warm smile. He said something that had Beast’s eyes heating.
Low knocked my arm. “Yeah, they’re together, but it’s best not to stare too long because one or both of them will rip your head off if they think you’re into one of them.”
“Together?”
“That’s what I said.”
I leaned closer to Low and asked, “Pick introduced Josie as his and Billy’s.”
Low laughed. “Lucky bitch has got the both of them twisted around her finger. They’re all totally devoted to one another.”
A new feeling expanded in my chest. I didn’t quite understand it, but it was part jealousy and envy, if I had to guess. They could all love who they wanted and didn’t care what anyone thought. I was only becoming that way after many years. This was what I wanted for my family, but I doubted I could ever have a connection of trust and acceptance within the family like these people had.
Mena started speaking with Ryo, and Mimi was still distracted by Josie and Della when Low leaned closer. “You’re into our boy Ruin, hey?”
Was it that obvious?
I didn’t say anything in case it would upset Ruin in some way. Low snorted. “It’s cool. You don’t have to say anything. I can tell.” She put her elbow to the table and rested her chin on that hand, looking at me. “Just know that if you hurt him, there will be many coming after you.”
I clenched my jaw. “You have nothing to fear from me. Ruin isn’t into men.” I was an idiot. I fell right into her trap and gave my feelings away anyway.
She hummed under her breath. She picked up her glass and held it out to me. “Cheers to the future.”
This woman puzzled me, especially that glint in her eyes. I clinked my glass against hers and answered, “Yes, cheers.”
I was happy for Ruin and what he had with these people. His family. They cared, and it was certain they would continue loving him no matter who he ended up with.
Did I dare hope it would be me?
Not yet.
Chapter Ten
Ruin
We’d been there about an hour. Mimi looked like she was having fun with the women since she hadn’t come to seek me out, staying with them the whole time—even when others had switched tables and mingled.
I hadn’t moved from the brothers’ table, though, because Wolf was still sitting over with Low, and now Dodge, speaking with them.
Every time I saw him since that night on the balcony, I got flustered, having dreamt about him ever since. He had really gotten into my head, and I didn’t know what to do about that. I didn’t know how to act, besides being a fool whenever I saw him in the house, where I quickly ducked into another room to avoid him.
Once, and with the worst possible timing, Katon saw me just after I’d army rolled into a room he was exiting. I’d knocked the poor guy over. Fortunately, I’d caught him before he’d done any damage, but hearing Wolf and Ryo approaching, I’d panicked and covered Katon’s mouth.
I’d apologised for my actions, and thankfully, from his smile, he’d thought it was funny, but I felt like the biggest idiot. Quickly, I’d realised I had to stop dodging Wolf and deal with whatever this was between us. It had been the next morning that Wolf caught Mimi and me in the kitchen and invited himself to the pub.
“Another round?” Dive asked as he stood.
“I’m good, brother. Gonna ride back.”
“I’ll take one,” Knife said, and Beast signed he wasn’t going to have one since he’d be driving. Dive tipped his chin up and went off to the bar where Fang was serving. Billy pulled out a chair beside me, flipped it backwards, and sat down.
“You know,” he started, “that Wolf guy can’t keep his eyes off you.”
My face burned. I had a feeling of being watched but hearing it from someone else confirmed it. There was also the fact that every time I glanced over there, Wolf was already looking my way.
“You’re seein’ things,” I told him stupidly.
Knife snorted. “Brother, I’ve noticed it as well.”
I shrugged. “Then you’re both crazy.”
Beast rose a brow at me. “Not crazy,” he signed.
“He a problem for you?” Billy asked.
“No,” I muttered. Even though he was because I couldn’t stop thinking about him.
“You know it’s cool if you like dick,” Knife said.
I choked on my own saliva. “What the fuck, man?”
His hands went out. “What?” He smirked.
“Fuck off.” I glared.
“Ruin,” Billy said. “You won’t have a problem with any brother if you’re thinkin’ about somethin’ with him. We know his background. We know he runs drugs and guns. As long as none of it brushes off on Hawks, you can take a chance.”