Chapter Twenty
Logan
I leaned against the wall, my arms crossed as I watched Wire’s fingers fly over the keyboard. Two days of waiting, and finally, we had something.
“Got him,” Wire announced. “Facial recognition picked up Tinker buying groceries. I tracked the vehicle to a small house in the rougher part of town.”
My heart raced. This was it. The break we’d been waiting for. I exchanged glances with Savior, seeing the same mix of anticipation and caution in his eyes.
“Church. Now,” Savior barked, and we filed into the chapel, both Dixie Reapers and Swift Angels crowding around the table.
As I took a seat, I couldn’t help but notice how Justin’s presence commanded attention. Even in this room full of hardened bikers, his quiet strength stood out. His blue eyes scanned the room, taking everything in with that cop’s eye for detail.
Savior laid out the situation. “We’ve got Tinker’s location. Question is, what’s our next move?”
I expected Justin to jump at the chance for action, but he surprised me. His voice was measured, thoughtful. “Going after him in a residential area isn’t wise. Too many innocent people could get caught in the crossfire.”
I nodded, impressed by his restraint. He would always be a cop first and foremost, driven by an unwavering moral compass.
Savior grunted in agreement. “You’re right. We can’t risk civilian casualties. But we can’t let this bastard slip away either.”
I watched Justin’s face, seeing the wheels turning behind those sharp eyes. He was planning something, I could tell. The room fell silent, everyone waiting for someone to have an idea. Yet, no one seemed to be volunteering anything.
My mind raced, trying to come up with a solution that wouldn’t put innocent lives at risk. But how do you take down a man like Tinker without collateral damage? He certainly wouldn’t care if others got hurt or killed. The weight of the decision pressed down on all of us, the air growing heavy with unspoken tension.
Justin cleared his throat, breaking the silence. “What if I went alone? I could be the bait. Draw Tinker out where we want him.”
I felt my chest tighten at the suggestion. The Swift Angels around me shifted uneasily, their discomfort palpable. Justin was our president, our brother. The idea of using him as bait didn’t sit well with any of us.
But Justin wasn’t done. He leaned forward, his eyes intense. “Look, I know it’s risky. But my life’s on the line every day I put on that badge. At least this way, I can keep my daughter safe. Keep all our families safe.”
I couldn’t help but think of little Kelsey, Justin’s sweet daughter. The fierce love of a father burned in his eyes, and I understood. This wasn’t just about the club for him. It was about protecting what mattered most.
Savior stroked his beard, considering. “It could work. If we set it up right, make Tinker think it’s his best shot…”
Wire jumped in. “I can keep eyes on the situation. Traffic cams, security footage -- I’ll see Tinker coming and can alert Justin so he’s not taken by surprise. Once we know he’s taken the bait, we can lure him into a trap.”
Justin nodded slowly, his jaw set. “I’m in. Whatever it takes to end this.”
The room erupted in a mix of protests and strategic planning. But all I could focus on was Justin. He was willing to put it all on the line, not just for the club, but for his little girl. In that moment, I saw him not just as a president, but as a father, a protector. And I knew I’d have his back, no matter what came next.
I’d known for a while now I wanted Akira to be a permanent part of my life. But I had no idea how she felt about having kids, or how many she’d want. As good as she was with Taylor, I’d always assumed she’d want a little girl of her own.
I leaned forward, feeling like I needed to contribute in some way. “What about using one of those abandoned warehouses outside of town? It’s isolated, plenty of cover for us to set up --”
Savior shook his head, cutting me off. “Good thinking, Logan, but Tinker’s too smart for that. He’d smell an ambush a mile away. We need somewhere he’d feel safe approaching Justin, somewhere that doesn’t scream ‘trap.’”
“The hiking trail,” Justin said quietly. “The one that starts at the edge of town and goes into the woods. I used to walk there all the time.”
I turned to him, intrigued. “You think Tinker knows about it?”
Justin nodded, his expression grim. “If he’s been watching me like we think, yeah. It wouldn’t seem out of character for me to go there. Thing is, I haven’t been in weeks. First work was so hectic I didn’t have time, then Kelsey was sick, and now all this crap is happening. But if he’s been keeping tabs, then he’d probably deduce why I hadn’t been, and that I’d go now so I could clear my head.”
“It’s technically a public space, so Tinker might not sense a trap,” I mused, seeing the potential. “But secluded enough for us to set up without being obvious. And I don’t think we’d be disturbed since it’s not a high traffic area until the weather warms up.”
It was a risk, no doubt, but it might be our best shot at ending this nightmare. I couldn’t help but feel a surge of protectiveness toward Justin. He was our president, sure, but he was also a friend, a father. The thought of him out there, exposed, made my stomach churn.
But I pushed the feeling down. This was Justin’s choice, and as a club, we had to respect that. All we could do now was make damn sure we had his back every step of the way.
Savior grunted. “I think we’ve got our plan. It’s risky, but it’s our best shot.”
“Wire, you said you could track Tinker through the traffic cams, right? What if we set it up so you could alert me without tipping him off?”
Wire scanned Justin and grinned. “I could text you when Tinker’s closing in. Your smartwatch could get the alert to you without even touching your phone. I doubt Tinker knows much about that device. He’d likely think you were just checking the time if you glanced at it.”
“Exactly,” Justin said, a hint of a smile on his usually serious face. “Tinker won’t suspect a thing.”
Wire cleared his throat. “We should set this up for tomorrow. Strike while the iron’s hot, you know?” He paused, his eyes gleaming with an idea. “What if we staged a fight? Right at the compound gates?”
Justin raised an eyebrow. “What are you thinking?”
“You storm out, looking pissed as hell. Savior or someone could go out after you, yelling and cussing. Whatever it takes to make it look like you’d be completely fed up with us. Ride off like you never want to come back here. If Tinker’s watching --”
“-- he’ll think I’m vulnerable,” Justin finished, nodding slowly. “Isolated from the club, and if I’m angry, then I’ll be more likely to make mistakes. It’s good. But would he believe I’d leave my daughter behind?”
“I don’t know much about Tinker. However, I don’t think he’d stop to consider the kid. Not if he thought he had a chance at getting to you without interference from either club.” Wire shrugged. “No way to know for sure but it wouldn’t hurt to try.”
I watched Justin’s face carefully. His expression was calm, but I could see the tension in his jaw, the slight furrow of his brow. He was a father first, always thinking of Kelsey. He was also our leader, willing to put himself on the line to keep us all safe. But if this went south, then that precious girl would be without a father.
“You sure about this, Pres?” I asked quietly.
Justin met my gaze. “I’m sure. It’s time we end this, once and for all.”
I nodded, respecting Justin’s decision. As the meeting wrapped up, I stepped into the hall and Akira immediately came to me, slipping her hand into mine. Her touch grounded me, reminding me of everything we were fighting for.
We were about to head out when Wraith’s gruff voice cut through the chatter.
“Logan. Akira.” His imposing figure blocked our path, arms crossed over his chest. “Rin wants you both over for lunch.”
I tensed instinctively. Wraith’s expression was unreadable, but there was something in his eyes I couldn’t quite place. Akira squeezed my hand, a silent reassurance. Regardless, if the request came from her mom, it wasn’t like I could say no.
“Sure, Dad,” she said. “We’d love to.”
As we followed Wraith to the house, I couldn’t help but wonder what was really behind this invitation. My mind raced, considering every possibility. Was this a test? Or maybe a chance at acceptance? It seemed out of the blue. In the last two days, Wraith had done his best to avoid me.
Akira’s thumb traced circles on the back of my hand, a small comfort in the storm of uncertainty. I had no clue what I’d be walking into. From what I’d gathered, Rin seemed to like me and supported my relationship with Akira. Wraith was another matter. But I’d come to realize it wasn’t me personally. I didn’t think anyone would be good enough in his eyes, not for his precious little girl. If I had a daughter one day, I might feel the same way.
Rin greeted us at the door, her warm smile a stark contrast to Wraith’s stoic demeanor. The smell of home-cooked food filled the air, reminding me of simpler times. How long had it been since I’d sat down to a family meal? These days, it was just me and Avery. We still got together for holidays, but it wasn’t the same.
We settled around the table, an awkward silence descending. I cleared my throat, searching for something to say, when Wraith surprised us all.
“It hasn’t been… terrible.” He grunted, stabbing at his food. “Having your club around.”
I blinked, caught off guard. “I… thank you, sir.”
Wraith’s eyes locked onto mine, his gaze intense. A lesser man would have squirmed in his seat. Hell, it was damn hard for me not to so much as twitch with him staring me down like that.
“I saw how you looked at her,” he said, nodding toward Akira. “How you protected her.”
My heart raced. Was this really happening? I straightened, meeting his gaze head-on. It almost sounded like he was ready to give me his approval to be with his daughter. I wouldn’t squander this opportunity.
“I love her,” I said simply. “More than anything.”
Wraith nodded slowly, his expression softening almost imperceptibly. “I’m not ready to throw a party, so don’t think I’ve rolled out the welcome mat. But I won’t stand in your way. All I want is for my little girl to be safe and happy. You think you can manage that?”
I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of his words. “Yes, sir. I know I failed before, but it won’t happen again. I’d give my life to keep her safe.”
Akira’s hand found mine under the table, squeezing tight. I could feel the tremor in her fingers, the silent joy radiating from her. Wraith grunted again, turning back to his food. But I caught the ghost of a smile on his lips, and for the first time, I felt like I might actually belong here. He made it seem like he wasn’t ready to accept me into the family, but I thought maybe he was just being gruff. Or maybe he didn’t express his emotions well, other than anger. He certainly had that one down.
Rin’s eyes sparkled as she reached across the table to pat my hand. “Logan, dear, welcome to the family.” She paused, a mischievous glint in her eye. “You know, spring weddings are just lovely…”
“Mom!” Akira exclaimed, her cheeks flushing. “Don’t be so pushy!”
I turned to Akira, my heart pounding. This was it. The moment I had been waiting for. Rin had given me an opening, and I planned to take it. I gave Akira a look, silently asking her to trust me. She stopped mid-sentence, her brow furrowing in confusion.
Slowly, I pushed my chair back and stood. The scrape of wood against tile seemed deafening in the sudden silence. I cleared my throat, fighting back the nervous tremor threatening to overtake me.
Then, before I could second-guess myself, I dropped to one knee beside Akira.
Her jaw dropped, those beautiful brown eyes widening in shock. Behind her, I heard Wraith growl softly, clearly not liking where this was going. But I couldn’t focus on that now. All I could see was Akira.
“Akira,” I said, my voice steadier than I felt as I pulled the small velvet box from my pocket. “I’ve had this since the day we met. Because even then, I knew you were the only one for me.”
I opened the box, revealing the delicate ring with stones that formed cherry blossoms -- a nod to her heritage and the tattoo that first caught my eye. “You’re my strength, my heart, my everything. Will you marry me?”
For a moment, the world stood still. Then Akira’s face broke into a radiant smile. “Yes!” she cried, throwing her arms around my neck. “Yes, yes, a thousand times yes!”
Our lips met in a passionate kiss, and I was vaguely aware of Rin clapping excitedly in the background. When we finally broke apart, both breathless and grinning, I heard Wraith clear his throat.
I put more distance between us, but I couldn’t stop smiling through the rest of the meal. Wraith didn’t say a word about my proposal, but I did catch him gazing at Akira a few times with a sad expression. He’d finally realized his little girl was all grown up and ready to start her own life. But I hadn’t lied when I said I’d give my life for her. As long as I had breath in my lungs, I’d give Akira everything she wanted or needed, and I’d love her with everything I had.
* * *
My heart was still racing as Akira and I slipped back into the clubhouse, our fingers intertwined. The place was eerily quiet, a stark contrast to the usual rowdy atmosphere.
“Looks like everyone’s out,” Akira whispered, her eyes gleaming mischievously. “We’ve got the place to ourselves.”
I swallowed hard, suddenly very aware of her proximity. “Yeah, seems that way.”
We made our way to our room. As soon as the door clicked shut behind us, Akira turned to me, her gaze intense.
“Logan.” She stepped closer. “I love you.”
I placed my hands on her waist, pulling her against me. “I love you too, Akira. More than anything. You have no idea how happy you made me when you agreed to marry me.”
Our lips met, soft at first, then with growing urgency. I savored the sweetness of her mouth, the warmth of her body pressed against mine. We’d been waiting, out of respect for her father and the club. And I’d also not wanted to take things too fast. But now, with the promise of forever between us, there was nothing holding us back.
I broke the kiss, my forehead resting against hers. I wanted this more than anything. Wanted her .
“Are you sure?” I asked, my voice husky. If she wasn’t certain, or had changed her mind, then I’d wait until the time was right.
Akira traced the line of my jaw with her fingers. “I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life.”
Slowly, reverently, we began undressing each other. My hands shook slightly as I helped her out of her shirt. As the material slid down her arm, I followed it with my lips, pressing a gentle kiss to each petal on her tattoo, feeling her shiver beneath my touch.
As we fell onto the bed together, I was struck by how perfect the moment felt. There was no rush, no frantic urgency. Just us, exploring each other with tender curiosity.
“You’re beautiful,” I murmured, trailing kisses along her collarbone.
Akira laughed softly. “You’re not so bad yourself, Doc.”
“Just call me Logan. You know I hate that damn nickname.”
She cupped my face, pulling me down for a deep kiss. Her lips were soft and sweet, and my cock throbbed in response. We rolled onto our sides, her legs tangled with mine and her hand trailing down to rub against my hard cock through the fabric of my jeans. Beneath of the press of her hand, I felt my cock twitch.
I ran my fingers over her smooth skin before I popped the clasp on her bra. Her breasts were small and perky, and I thought were the most perfect pair I’d ever seen. Tossing the garment aside, I leaned down to take a nipple into my mouth, teasing it gently between my teeth.
“You taste so good,” I murmured, flicking the hard peak with my tongue. I switched sides, giving the other one just as much attention, making Akira moan and arch into me. I felt her hand slide into my hair, urging me on. The way she reacted to every touch, so uninhibited, drove me wild.
Rolling her onto her back, I kissed my way down her stomach, then lower. I spread her thighs, watching as her pussy lips parted. I swirled my tongue around her clit, feeling her tense in pleasure. Her scent was making me crazy and my mouth watered, wanting more of her. She was intoxicating. Addictive. I knew it wouldn’t take much for my control to snap. I’d wanted her for so long, and now I had her beneath me, completely at my mercy.
“Please,” she begged. “I need more. So close.”
I eased a finger inside her, slightly crooking it as I pulled it back out. I flicked her clit faster with my tongue, and it only took a moment before she was screaming my name and coming all over my hand. I covered her body with mine, my lips claiming hers in another kiss.
She whimpered and pressed her pussy against my cock. I reached down, sliding the head through her slick folds. Akira cried out as I bumped her clit, and I knew I couldn’t hold back anymore.
I position myself against her and thrust hard and fast. Her body tensed and her eyes went wide, and I realized just how badly I’d fucked up.
“Jesus, Akira. Why the hell didn’t you tell me?” I demanded, immediately pulling out.
She gripped my shoulders hard and wrapped her legs around me. “No! Don’t stop, please. I want this, Logan. Want you.”
“If I’d known it was your first time, I’d have done things differently. You made it seem like you’d dated plenty of guys.”
“I did. Behind my dad’s back. But other than some kissing and a little fooling around, it never went any further. It never felt right. Until you.”
I kissed her again, this time softer. “I’m sorry I hurt you.”
“Then make it up to me,” she said softly.
I sank into her again, this time making sure I took things slow. Reaching between us again, I rubbed her clit with my fingers. Her body began to relax, and soon she was begging me again.
“You’re so fucking hot. So perfect,” I murmured. I nipped her jaw, then her neck.
When she came, the heat of her release hit my cock, and that was it. I drove into her harder and deeper, not stopping until I’d spilled every last drop of cum. I stared down at the woman beneath me. My fiancée. The love of my life.
Then I realized I’d just fucked up again. “Shit, Akira. I didn’t use protection.”
She gave me a sleepy smile and reached up to touch my cheek. “It’s okay. We’re getting married, right? If we’re meant to have kids, it will happen.”
“But…” I didn’t really want to bring this up right now. However, I felt I should. “For the record, I’m clean. I’ve not been with a ton of women, but I always got tested after I broke up with someone, just to be safe.”
She narrowed her eyes at me. “Way to ruin the mood, Logan.”
“Sorry. I felt you should know. It seemed like the responsible thing to do.”
Akira sighed. “Fine. Just don’t remind me ever again that you were with someone other than me. Otherwise, I may decide to make your life a living hell.”
I smiled and kissed her cheek, the tip of her nose, her lips. “I think seeing you jealous would be adorable, but I’ll keep it in mind.”
I rolled to my back, taking her with me. We lay tangled together, her head resting on my chest. I stroked her hair, marveling at how perfectly she fit in my arms. Was this really going to be my life moving forward? Getting to wake up like this every day? It seemed too good to be true.
“What are you thinking?” Akira asked, her voice soft and sleepy.
I pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “I’m thinking about our future. About how lucky I am to have you by my side, no matter what comes next.”
She tilted her head up, her brown eyes meeting mine. “I love you, Logan. Now and always. And I’ll be by your side regardless of what happens.”
I felt a sense of peace wash over me and cuddled her closer. Whatever challenges we’d face -- Tinker, the clubs, or anything else -- we’d face them together. And that was all that mattered.