CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
*Baylor “Bae” - Secretary*
None of us say anything at all until we know for sure that Lace is gone and not listening in. As an extra precautionary measure, Coty cracks the door open and peeks out once more before making our impromptu meeting official.
“I need exclusivity,” Coty announces, walking over to the desk and plopping his ass into the chair.
Kal walks up to him and kindly removes him from the seat with a gentle yank on his jacket collar. Coty relinquishes the spot, jerking away from the grip. He sits beside me instead, his gray eyes flashing me a quick glance before focusing on Kal again. Kal responds with the obvious: “Zane is the last officer initiate. All he needs is to pass the vote. Then Lace is all yours.”
I lean my elbow against the armrest, angling toward Coyote.
“Not good enough,” he states.
Kal tilts his head down and pierces Coty with a cold glare, jaw ticking. “You got something to say, say it.”
“I want to own her. Permanently.” Which explains why he mentioned Chaz being in on this. Even if Coty uses his own funds, both Cash and me would be responsible for doing the leg work.
Kal has to approve. And his patience with Coty today is already wearing thin, especially after he came to the saloon despite Kal instructing him specifically not to yet. But beyond that, their loyalty to each other, and our loyalty to Lace, comes first. Kal lets the topic breathe for a bit instead of shutting Coty down immediately. “There are several things wrong with that. One, we work against, not for, that lifestyle. Two, the ownership will consume you, and you will fucking spiral.”
Coty props his ankle on his knee and sinks deeper into the couch. He’s well aware this idea of his is far from healthy, but he pretends otherwise, feigning coolness.
Kal continues. “Three, relationships are too big of a risk. Commitment is against club rules, you know that. No contact with any of these women between rallies. You’re the one who came up with that one. Or have you forgotten already?”
Coty grabs and jostles himself. “An elephant never forgets.”
It is at that moment I realize he is drop dead serious. She really did a fucking number on him. “You” — my eyes open wide — “are you high? The moment Kal officially introduced you to Lace, you vowed to help us keep her safe. That vow did not include her becoming your goddamn slave.” Since Stoney started letting him attend Rolling Stones meetings at a young age, Kal has known that they have some sort of interest in her family. Even though she never met Kal back then, he has kept a quiet eye on her for years. We all expect he knows more than what has been passed on to us, but none of us dare ask for information he is clearly not willing to divulge. Besides, helping him keep an eye on her is no skin off our back.
Kal, watching astutely, slowly rocks in the chair while Coty begins to sway his foot lightly.
Coty ignores my question, so I ask a different one instead. “Why?”
He still refuses to answer, eyes remaining locked hard on Kal.
Kal is similarly silent.
“Fine,” Coty responds. “I will take it wide.”
I nearly choke. The problem with taking it wide is that even though none of us like this obsession he has with her, we understand it. A good portion, if not all, of the club members will give a yes vote to protect Coty from himself and to protect Lace from Coty.
Kal vibrates. If it was possible for a human to explode, Kal would, right here, right now. I stand and step to the center of the room, head swiveling between the fueled men, just in case I want to die tonight.
Coty’s teeth grind and nostrils flare.
Kal doesn’t pull the Prez card often because he prefers unity. All for one, one for all type of shit — anything that curves the ball where one-percenters are concerned. But I can see it simmering in his hot gaze moments before it comes out. “Not for the first time today you seem to have forgotten who technically runs this club.”
“You seem to be misunderstanding my purpose here, Prez.” Coty’s foot drops back to the floor, and he stands. “I came in here and asked. Or am I fucking daydreaming this shit? Purchase Lace. Yes or no. Your part is simple.”
I stay between them, but they both look past me as though I’m not even here.
Coty bores his gaze into Kal, pulling a very Lace-like call on the Universe to provide.
That stare wills a certain answer, and Kal bends to that will easily. “Yes.”
Too easily.
My attention cranks toward him.
Right then and there, I realize that somehow Kal manifested from the cosmos, not Coty.