Angie's Destiny [Cattleman's Club 7] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Jenny Penn

  “I’m sure you are, and I know this isn’t going to be easy to hear, but…at least, I can answer some of your questions.” Angie tried to put a positive spin on the moment, but all she did was add to Patton’s confusion, which darkened her scowl.

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean”—Angie paused to take a deep breath and then just rushed right through the words—“I’ve been working for the club for years. I supply them with women, and I…am a good friend of Lana’s.”

  “I see.”

  “Patton—”

  “Nope.” Patton held her hands up, cutting Angie off. “I don’t want to hear it.”

  Angie could respect that, but she couldn’t leave it there. “When you’re ready—”

  “You’re going to tell me everything I want to know,” Patton said, cutting her off and speaking loud enough to assure the three brothers covertly watching them as they paced. “No more secrets.”

  That had Chase stopping, offering her a plaintive, “Patton—”

  Patton cut him off, too, not bothering to glance in Chase’s direction even as she pointed toward him with a finger. “I’m not talking to you.”

  Chase growled, his jaw locking for a second before he resumed his pacing. He was like a dog on a leash, not that Angie had any sympathy for him. He deserved what he got. She was sure Patton would make him pay. It was just her nature. Forgiving was not.

  “So? Do you have a plan?” Angie prodded carefully, not certain of the response she would get. What she got was classic Patton. That came with an eye roll and a disgusted sigh.

  “Of course I have a plan.” She glanced over at the brothers before leaning in to whisper softly. “I got plans for everybody. They start with seeing how far I can push those three before they snap.”

  “And…” Angie pressed when Patton left it at that.

  Apparently, she didn’t think there was much more to add. She did so in a tone full of exasperation. “And, hopefully, they’ll get really creative when they punish me. It’s going to be tons of fun.”

  Patton visibly fought back a smirk before turning to glare at the three brothers who had stopped, all pointedly trying to overhear their conversation. A fact that did not escape either Patton’s notice or comment.

  “What are you three looking at?” she barked at them, drawing another round of grumbles, this time from all three brothers.

  Patton was definitely pushing and clearly enjoying herself, but that didn’t concern Angie.

  “Focus, Patton,” Angie snapped, desperately trying to keep her own impatience out of her tone. “I’m talking about Lana.”

  “I know,” Patton shot back, this time letting her smirk run free as she glanced back at Angie. “And that’s my plan for you.”

  With that obnoxious retort, she turned to rejoin Hailey on the bench seat, waiting for God knew what. One thing was for sure. Patton wouldn’t be telling Angie anything, not that she could blame her for that either. At least she was still speaking to her, and obviously she wasn’t really out for blood.

  That didn’t mean they weren’t all going to suffer. Lana, no doubt, more than the rest. The only question was who was really in charge of her future. Chase or Patton? Angie got her answer the moment she turned to head for the counter.

  Chase cut her off, issuing his demands without preamble or even an attempt at a hello.

  “I need you to take over Lana’s duties at the club.” Blocking her way, he issued that order as if Angie was actually under his command.

  “Really?” She cocked a brow, making her opinion of him known with just a look. “And why should I do anything for you?”

  “Because you are the only one qualified,” Chase shot back. “So, yes or no?”

  “That depends.” Angie wasn’t about to let him go so easily. “Are you going to press charges against Lana?”

  Chase hesitated, and she could see that he wanted to say no. For a second, he looked guilty as he glanced over her shoulder. “That’s up to Patton.”

  She couldn’t argue with that. It would have been pointless to try, so Angie went for something more attainable. “Okay, then can you tell me why GD came by to see Brett and Mike this morning?”

  Chase hesitated, but she could see he knew exactly what was going on. He didn’t even try to deny it. “GD’s offering them his job.”

  “His job? You mean out at the club?”

  “Yeah.”

  That was not happening. Not on her watch. Those boys belonged to her, and they weren’t escaping this time. “You give it to them and I quit.”

  “Angie—”

  “No women. No membership privileges. Those are my terms.” She was sticking to them, but she could tell Chase wasn’t convinced.

  “Seriously, if they wanted to be with you, they would be,” Chase pointed out with the blunt harshness that had always left her wondering what either Lana or Patton saw in him.

  “And if they didn’t really want me, they’d fuck me and not marry me. Right?” Angie shot back. “After all, there is nobody making them live up to their word but them. Think about it.”

  With that, she shouldered her way right past him and up to where Rachel was fawning over her boyfriend. She and Angie had never socialized much, Rachel being a member of the good-girl club and Angie being a member of the wild-girl one. Rumors, though, were that Rachel had turned over a new leaf.

  It probably had something to do with the big brute smiling down at her. If any man had ever looked in love it was certainly Deputy Kregor. The tenderness in his gaze hardened into a serious look at Angie approached. The tall man straightened up to stare down at her with a look that more befitted his uniform.

  “Can I help you, ma’am?”

  “I’m here to see Miss Vey.”

  Angie stuck her chin into the air, realizing in that moment her outfit wasn’t going to get her past this guy. So much for using her assets to flirt her way in to see Lana. Now she’d have to use her brains.

  “She’s not available for visitors,” the deputy informed her.

  “Do I know you from somewhere?” Angie asked, narrowing her gaze on him, knowing that she did. Deputy Kregor was a Cattleman. A fact she wasn’t sure Rachel would approve of, or maybe she would.

  “From the club.” He nodded, clearly not embarrassed to discuss the matter not only publicly but also in front of his girlfriend.

  “Then you know the kind of power I have,” Angie snarled, threatening him directly and still getting nowhere.

  “I don’t need you to hook me up, lady,” the deputy assured her, proving that he not only recognized her but also knew just what she did for the club. “I got all I need right here.”

  “Aren’t you sweet.” Rachel giggled, blushing under the look he shot her way and proving that while the rumors might be true some things never changed.

  One thing that never changed was Chase Davis’s ability to command authority, no matter what the situation. That included this one. Stepping up behind Angie, he pinned the deputy with a pointed look and demanded the man let Angie see Lana. That was all it took. Not a minute later she was being shown into a small room with nothing more than a table and a couple of chairs filling it out.

  There sat Lana, looking more dejected than Angie had ever seen. She glanced up as the door opened, and there was a hopeful flash of optimism that lit up her gaze for a moment. It lingered, sounding in her voice as she pressed Angie for information almost the second the deputy stepped out of the room.

  “Have you seen Chase? Is he very mad?”

  Angie’s heart about broke at that, and she couldn’t help but sigh as she shook her head at Lana. “Honey…”

  “I know,” Lana whispered as her shoulders slumped forward and her chin dipped down. She didn’t make Angie say it. Instead, she said it herself. “I’m pathetic.”

  “No!” Hurrying across the room to drop her purse on the table, Angie whipped around it to offer Lana a big hug. “Never say that. You’re just a woman in love with an
asshole. We’ve all been there.”

  “Yeah, but we didn’t all burn down the asshole’s barn with his current girlfriend in it,” Lana muttered, not appearing the least bit consoled by Angie’s heartfelt affection.

  “Well…that’s true.” She couldn’t help but admit to that. Stepping back to pull out a chair next to Lana, Angie settled down, keeping a hold of the other woman’s hand and giving it a squeeze. “You want to tell me what happened?”

  “It was an accident.”

  “The fire?”

  “No.” Lana heaved a heavy sigh, glancing up to meet Angie’s gaze as she admitted, “I set that on purpose. I just didn’t know Patton was in there. I never meant to hurt her or anybody.”

  “I believe you.” Angie did. She had known Lana long enough to know she wasn’t that kind of spiteful.

  “Yeah?” Lana smirked, all but reading Angie’s mind. “Is that your famous intuition at work?”

  “Hey, don’t knock it,” Angie warned her.

  “I wouldn’t dream of it,” Lana assured her. “After all, you may be the only one who believes in me.”

  “I don’t think so.” Angie glanced back toward the door, assuring it was closed before she leaned in to whisper. “Nobody wants this to go to anywhere really.”

  Lana contradicted her instantly. “Nobody but Patton, no doubt.”

  “I don’t know about that.” Angie couldn’t help but smile slightly as she pointed out what she considered to be obvious. “I’m not going to deny that Patton wants blood, but she can’t enjoy watching you bleed if you’re in jail. Beyond that, she has to know that Chase would care and that would make you, actually, somewhat sympathetic, and that’s the last thing she wants.”

  “Are you kidding me?” Lana blinked at her as though Angie had lost her mind, but she really hadn’t.

  “No. I’m not,” Angie insisted. “I did see Chase, and you know what I saw?”

  “One really pissed-off man?”

  “A guilty looking one,” Angie corrected, determined to force Lana to put the blame where it was due. “Chase may be an ass, but he’s not stupid. He knows he made this situation what it is.”

  “Your loyalty is touching.” Lana offered her a small smile as she shook her head. “But I did this. Not him.”

  “He drove you to it.”

  And that, as far as she was concerned, was that.

  “You really are a sweetheart.” Lana squeezed her hand before proving why she’d always thought Chase would eventually see things her way. They thought alike. “But I have a different favor to ask you. I need you to take over for me at the club.”

  Chapter 4

  “This place is amazing,” Brett whispered reverently, afraid to raise his voice and make the dream shatter. “If I’m asleep, please don’t wake me up because this was just what I always thought heaven would be like—naked women everywhere.”

  That comment earned a laugh from GD, who shook his head at Brett as he led and him and Mike through the sea of not just naked but also beautiful women. There were short ones, tall ones, dark ones, pales, and everything in between. The Cattlemen obviously liked their variety, and not just in women. They clearly liked to have their women in almost any way and position physically possible.

  It was a smorgasbord of forbidden delights.

  Brett couldn’t wait to indulge his own imagination. The real question was what to try first. He could pick a beauty or two and put them on display in the cubes or have them entertain him in the main hall, possibly treat him like a king in the sultan’s cabana, or he could even hunt them down like naked prey in the lush garden mazes.

  It was all too much. Brett didn’t know where to start.

  That wasn’t true. The problem wasn’t where. It was who, and who would be hurt. Angie? Mike? Him? All three of them? Those were weighty thoughts, and he purposely brushed them aside as GD led them to the very gates of the most wonderful place on earth.

  They called it the Harem.

  It was the women-only spa, where the ladies were primped and pampered. It was a privileged area where only male servants were allowed to wander. Male servants, and now Brett and Mike. It was prime pickings, and he could see the luscious fruit on the vine.

  Brett’s gaze lingered on a blonde, curvy and glistening with suntan oil. He studied her for a moment, waiting for the rush of hormones to flood his blood and harden his cock, but all that whipped through him was a whisper.

  She doesn’t have anything on Angie.

  That was just a rude, annoying little voice, and Brett refused to listen to it. He’d never been that picky before and didn’t believe for a second that his dick was about to start turning blondes down now. It just needed a little encouragement.

  “Why don’t the two of you go on, and I’ll just catch up later,” Brett suggested as he flashed Mike and GD a quick smile before nodding toward the woman sunning herself down by the Harem lagoon-styled pool. “I think it’s time for a swim.”

  “No picking up the ladies in the Harem,” GD instructed him.

  Slapping a hand down over Brett’s shoulder, he forced him to turn toward the small, thatched-roofed bungalow tucked in between the oversized palms. He shoved Brett toward the red-painted door as he continued his explanation.

  “The master of ceremonies is only allowed to come here to discuss business with the director of female services. Technically, that’s Lana Vey.”

  “Didn’t she just get arrested?” Mike scowled, barely sparing any woman a glance. He’d been focusing on GD’s explanation as if the scenery wasn’t any more interesting than an old folks’ home.

  “Yeah…” GD drew that word out with the heaviness of a man who had given up all hope. “It’s a mess.”

  “So, there is a job opening?” Brett asked, coming to the obvious conclusion. “Because, you know, there are two of us. Mike could be the master, and I could be the director.”

  “How come you get to boss around the naked women?” Mike took immediate exception to that suggestion. “Maybe I want to be the director.”

  “Neither of you want the job,” GD cut in. “All these women do is bitch, and, really, the point of the club is to get away from that.”

  “There is a point to all this?” Brett shot back with a smirk. “That sort of takes the fun out of it, doesn’t it?”

  “Trust me, there isn’t much fun about being the master either,” GD warned him. “Because the men bitch, too.”

  “About what?” Brett couldn’t even conceive of what they had to complain about, but the answer was kind of obvious.

  “Each other,” GD retorted succinctly. “This a den full of alphas, and that can blow up. Part of my job is to keep the flames from becoming infernos.”

  “Then get me a hat and a bright red truck. I’m ready to volunteer,” Brett assured him, earning a laugh from the big man and an eye roll from Mike.

  “You’re more likely to start the fires than put them out.” Mike spoke as though he wasn’t a kid with a pack of matches himself, but Brett wasn’t fooled.

  Everybody else might think his brother was the calm, sensible one, but Mike was the one who got them into the most trouble. That was what came from too many brains. Fortunately for Brett, he hadn’t gotten his fair share of those, a fact that he relished.

  After all, he wasn’t interested in being considered smart so much as good, and that he was. Brett was good at a lot of things. Fixing engines, hitting a mark, escaping the enemy, playing just about any damn game of chance there was, not to mention sports, he was good at all the things that counted.

  Who the hell wouldn’t want to be him?

  Mike.

  “I think we best get moving before Brett sets a spark off,” Mike suggested as he eyed his brother. “I know that look. He’s getting ready to do something stupid.”

  Brett rolled his eyes as GD continued on with the tour. It ended up in the men’s den, where formally attired butlers and attendants waited to see to any order and a fully stocked bar was pac
ked with the finest of liquors, all for free.

  “This place just keeps getting better and better,” Brett whispered, eyeing the selection of liquors in amazement.

  “Just don’t forget this isn’t just about having fun,” GD warned him. “It’s a business.”

  “Now you’re just letting the air out of my tire,” Brett grouched, turning away from the bar with a sigh.

  “I hate to tell you this, buddy, but there isn’t any air in your tire,” GD pointed out. “Which brings me to another point. There are no drugs allowed. No pumps, no blue pills, no anything. Understand?”

  “Like I need an aid.” Brett snorted at that but couldn’t deny GD’s original point. Glancing down, he shook his pelvis as if he could wake up his penis, but it didn’t respond. “Maybe he’s broken.”

  “Or maybe he’s just not seeing what he really wants,” GD shot back, causing Mike to scowl.

  “Maybe we ought to stick to the business at hand,” Mike insisted, shooting Brett a dirty look as GD nodded and turned to gesture to the wall of mirrors. Each one glowed with internal screens.

  “This is called the big board,” GD explained before moving over to a table and picking up what looked like a remote. “The big board is the club’s main communication hub. As you can see, you can watch what’s going on in any of the areas where the cameras have been turned on, and there almost isn’t an inch of the club that isn’t covered by a camera.”

  “We can see that.” Brett nodded, his grin growing even larger as he tilted his head to study some of the funky positions being tried out. “You guys offer a yoga class or something?”

  “No, we don’t even have a gym. Most the guys have them at home, though. The members tend to be pretty much all in shape. Wait until you’re challenged to a hand-stand sixty-nine competition.” GD snorted. “Takes a lot of strength and focus and the guys love to practice that one.”

  “You’re kidding, right?” Mike echoed Brett’s thought, though his brother’s tone was tinged with disbelief while Brett waited in anticipation of GD’s answer.

  “Nope.” GD shook his head. “And, trust me, the women got the easy part. They always do because there is only one thing that these men love almost as much if not more than fucking, and that’s competing. You can see here. We’ve got a betting book.”