Chapter 7
CHAPTER SEVEN
Geirolf
"Geirolf, get your ass in here!"
Fenrir's voice cuts through the air like a blade, and I know from his tone that this isn't going to be a friendly chat.
My eyes meet Astrid's for a split second—fear and uncertainty swirling in those sage green depths.
"I'll catch up with you later," I tell her, keeping my voice steady even though my heart's already dropped into the pit of my stomach.
I follow Fenrir inside, and every single muscle in my body tenses up.
The clubhouse is still busy, ladies working on getting the Halloween decorations up, but the atmosphere shifts as we pass through.
Brothers look up, sensing the tension rolling off the VP like smoke.
He leads me to the office he shares with Runes, slamming the door behind us hard enough to rattle the frames on the wall.
The same office where Astrid just found those documents about Laken.
He moves behind the desk. "Sit the fuck down."
I drop into the chair across from him, keeping my expression neutral.
Years of practice in keeping my emotions locked down serve me well now, even though inside I'm wondering if this is it—if Magnus already talked, if someone else saw something, if I'm about to get my patch pulled for touching the one woman who should've been off-limits.
Fenrir leans back in his chair, those sharp eyes studying me. "You know why you're here?"
"The Laken situation," I guess, hoping I'm right.
A cold smile crosses his face. "Yeah, the Laken situation. Seems fitting you do this job, considerin' you're up my daughter's ass every time I turn around."
My blood goes cold, but I force myself not to react. "Just looking out for her, brother. Like I would any family."
"Right." He draws out the word, making it clear he's not buying my bullshit entirely. "Well, since you're so invested in her safety, you can be the one to bring that piece of shit in. Alive."
"When?"
"Tonight. Got word he's holed up at that motel off Route 90. The Pine something." Fenrir slides a piece of paper across the desk with an address. "Take Emil, Magnus, and Rio. I want this done clean."
"And then?"
His smile turns predatory. "Then we have a conversation with Mr. Laken about what happens when you fuck with a Raiders of Valhalla’s family."
I nod, standing to leave, but his voice stops me at the door.
"Geirolf."
I turn back.
"My daughter's been through enough. If I find out anyone— anyone —is taking advantage of her, adding to her pain..." He lets the threat hang in the air between us. "Well, let's just say Laken won't be the only one having a bad night."
"Understood," I manage, my throat tight.
"Good. Now get the fuck out of my office."
I leave, my mind racing.
Did he mean that as a general warning, or does he know?
The way he phrased it up my daughter's ass.
Well, it felt deliberate, but maybe I'm just being paranoid.
I find Emil in the main room, helping Oskar move tables for the party. "We've got a job tonight," I tell him.
He sets down his end of the table, interest sparking in his eyes. "The Laken thing?"
"Yeah. Your dad wants us to bring him in. You, me, Magnus, and Rio."
"About fuckin’ time," Emil says, cracking his knuckles. "That piece of shit has been walking around too long thinking he can mess with our family."
Our family.
The words hit different now that I'm sneaking around with his sister.
Guilt gnaws at me, but I push it down. Later. I'll deal with that later.
"Meet at the garage in an hour," I tell him. "Full kit."
He nods, already heading off to spread the word.
I catch sight of Astrid near the bar, helping her mother with decorations.
Our eyes meet across the room, and I see the question there.
I give a subtle shake of my head—not now, not here.
Magnus appears at my shoulder. "Heard we're going hunting."
"News travels fast."
"Small clubhouse." He lowers his voice. "You good for this? Given... you know."
I turn to face him fully. "I don't know what you're talking about."
He holds my gaze for a long moment, then shrugs. "Right. My mistake." But the look he gives me says we both know it's not.
An hour later, the group of us are in the garage.
Rio checks his weapon, his face stone since Flora's death.
This is the first real action he's seen since the funeral, and I can see he needs this—needs something to hit, someone to hurt.
Magnus asks, loading extra mags. "What's the VP want?"
"Him alive," I say. "Fenrir wants to have a chat with him."
"Shame," Emil mutters. "I was hoping to put a bullet in him myself."
"You might still get your chance," I tell him. "After your dad’s done."
We mount up, four bikes roaring to life, and pull out of the garage.
Hakon opens the gate for us, and as soon as we can slip out we’re all flying down the road, ready to get this dumb fucker.
The ride to Route 90 takes twenty minutes, giving me too much time to think.
About Astrid, about the secrets we're keeping, about what happens when—not if —those secrets come to light.
The Pine Rest Motel is exactly what you'd expect: a run-down shithole that rents rooms by the hour and doesn't ask questions.
Perfect for someone trying to stay under the radar.
We park behind a burned-out diner next door, approaching on foot.
According to what Fenrir knows, Laken's in room 12, second floor, far end.
Rio speaks for the first time all night. "How you want to play this?"
"Simple and direct," I decide. "Emil and Rio take the back stairs, cover the window. Magnus and I go through the front. He rabbits, you grab him."
They nod, spreading out.
I give them a minute to get in position, then head up the exterior stairs with Magnus behind me.
The metal creaks under our weight, probably announcing us to anyone paying attention, but I don't give a shit.
Let him know we're coming.
Room 12's door is painted an ugly green that's peeling in places.
I can hear a TV playing inside—some action movie with lots of gunfire.
Ironic if you ask me.
I don't bother knocking.
One solid kick and the cheap door splinters inward.
Laken's on the bed, half-dressed, reaching for something on the nightstand.
My guess is it’s probably a weapon.
I'm on him before he can grab it, my fist connecting with his jaw hard enough to spin him sideways.
"Going somewhere?" I ask as he tries to scramble away.
Magnus closes the door behind us—or what's left of it—while I haul Laken to his feet by his shirt.
Laken's eyes are wide with fear, darting between Magnus and me. "Fuck! What do you want?"
"What do you think?" I slam him against the wall, enjoying the way his head bounces off the cheap paneling. "You've been feedin’ information to the Patriot. You've been stalkin’ the club. Did you really think we'd let that slide?"
"I don't know what you're talking about?—"
Another slam into the wall cuts off his lie. "Wrong answer."
Emil and Rio appear at the window, having climbed up from outside.
Emil's eyes are burning with rage when he sees Laken.
"Let me have him," Emil says, climbing through. "This piece of shit hurt my sister."
"Get in line," I growl, not ready to give up my prize yet.
"Please," Laken whimpers. "I can explain?—"
"Save it for Fenrir," Magnus says. "He's got questions for you."
At Fenrir's name, Laken goes pale.
Good.
He should be scared.
"But first," I say, pulling him close enough that I can smell his fear-sweat, "let's talk about Astrid."
"I haven't been near her?—"
I knee him in the gut, doubling him over. "Another lie. You were at Bubba's. You put your hands on her."
"That was weeks ago!" he gasps.
"And you've been watching the spa," Rio adds, speaking up. "I've seen your car parked across the street."
Laken's eyes dart around desperately, looking for an exit that doesn't exist.
Four pissed-off bikers with every escape route blocked.
Laken here might be in a pickle.
"I wasn't—I just?—"
"You just what?" I shake him hard. "You just thought you could use your past with her to get information? Thought you could sell out the club?"
"The Patriot said?—"
That's all I need to hear.
My fist crushes into his ribs, feeling at least one crack under the impact.
Laken screams, doubling over again.
"The Patriot," Emil spits. "You're workin’ for that psycho who tried to kidnap Tindra? Who killed Flora?"
Rio's face goes dark at his wife’s name, and I see how badly he wants to put an end to the Patriot.
Can't say I blame him.
If Laken had information that helped the Patriot, it means he's partially responsible for Flora's death, too.
"Time to go," Magnus says. "Fenrir's waiting."
I zip-tie Laken's hands behind his back, probably tighter than necessary.
He's crying now, blubbering about making a mistake, about being sorry.
I don't give a fuck.
"Move," I order, shoving him toward the door.
We escort him down the stairs, Emil's hand locked on one arm while I hold the other. Laken stumbles, still begging.
"Please, you don't understand. He threatened me. Said he'd?—"
"Shut the fuck up," Rio says coldly. "Save it for someone who gives a shit."
We're almost to the bikes when Laken makes his desperate play.
"I know about you and Astrid!" he blurts out, looking right at me. "I've seen you together!"
Everything stops.
Emil's grip on Laken loosens in shock.
Magnus goes very still.
Rio just looks confused.
Emil's voice is dangerous now, but his eyes are on me, not Laken. "What the fuck did you just say?"
"Nothing," I say quickly. "He's trying to save his own ass."
"I saw you at the spa!" Laken continues, sensing he's found leverage. "And at that cabin! You think you're so careful, but?—"
I move before anyone can stop me, my fist silencing his words as it connects with his temple.
Laken drops, only Emil's grip keeping him from hitting the pavement.
"He's lying," I say, but Emil's looking at me like it’s all clicking into place.
"Holy shit," he breathes. "You're fuckin’ my sister."
"We need to get him to the clubhouse," Magnus interrupts, always the voice of reason. "Deal with this later."
But Emil's not listening.
He drops Laken and comes at me, his fist catching me in the jaw before I can block.
I stumble back but don't retaliate. In truth, I deserve this.
"You fuckin’ bastard!" Emil roars. "She's my sister! You gave me your word?—"
"I never lied to you," I say, spitting blood.
"You never told me the truth either!" He comes at me again, and this time, Rio and Magnus have to hold him back. "How long? How fuckin’ long?"
I stay silent. Nothing I say will make this better.
"We need to go," Magnus says urgently. "Now. Before someone calls the cops."
Emil's still straining against their hold, like he wants to murder me instead of the bastard who actually hurt Astrid over the years. "This isn't over," he promises me. "Not by a fuckin’ long shot."
He can say what he wants, but I won’t do shit.
I know it’s wrong of me to keep this from him. Hell, to keep it from all of them.
We load the unconscious Laken onto Rio's bike, securing him with bungee cords.
The ride back to the clubhouse is tense, Emil staying as far from me as possible.
I can feel his rage, and I know this is just the beginning.
At the clubhouse, we drag Laken inside through the back entrance.
Word's already spread—brothers gathering to see the man who betrayed us.
Fenrir waits in the main room, Runes beside him.
"Put him in the chair," Fenrir orders.
We dump Laken into a metal chair in the center of the room.
He's coming around, groaning and trying to focus through what's probably a concussion.
That's when Emil drops the bomb.
"Dad," he says, his voice shaking with fury. "Got something you need to know. This motherfucker"—he points at me—"has been fuckin’ Astrid."
The room goes dead silent.
I can hear my own heartbeat, feel every eye on me.
Fenrir's face goes through several expressions—confusion, realization, then pure rage.
His voice is quiet, which is worse than yelling. " What ?"
"Ask him," Emil spits. "Ask him if he's been sneaking around with your daughter."
Fenrir turns those cold eyes on me. "Is this true?"
I straighten my shoulders. No point in denying it now. "Yes."
The room explodes.
Brothers shout, some saying I need my ass handed to me, others trying to calm things down.
Through it all, Fenrir just stares at me.
He moves faster than a man his age should, his fist catching me square in the face.
I don't block, don't dodge. I take it, blood filling my mouth.
"You took an oath," he snarls. "You swore loyalty to this club, to this family."
"I never meant?—"
Another punch cuts me off, this one to the gut.
I double over but force myself back up.
Astrid's voice cuts through the chaos. "Dad, stop!"
She pushes through the crowd of brothers, Charm right behind her.
Her face is pale but determined as she puts herself between Fenrir and me.
"Move," Fenrir orders.
"No." She stands her ground. "You want to hit someone, hit me. I'm the one who started this."
"Astrid—" I start, but she cuts me off with a look.
"This is my choice, Dad. Mine . I'm not a child anymore."
"You're my daughter," Fenrir growls. "And he," he points at me, "took advantage of that."
"He didn't take advantage of anything," Astrid says firmly. "That man treats me with the most respect and love than I’ve ever had, and honestly, I’m in love with him, Daddy."
The words hang in the air like a bomb about to go off.
I stare at her, stunned.
We've never said those words to each other, never put that label on what we have.
Then again, isn’t it too early to be saying this kind of stuff?
But… we’ve known each other for years.
"Deal with this later, brother." Runes' voice cuts through the tension, calm, trying to settle things down. "We have other business to handle first." He gestures to Laken, who's watching the drama with wide eyes.
Fenrir looks like he wants to argue, but Runes is our President, and we’ll do whatever he tells us.
After a long moment, he nods stiffly. "Fine. But this isn't over." He turns to me. "You and I will settle this. Count on it."
I nod, accepting my fate.
Whatever comes next, at least the secret's out.
No more lies, no more sneaking around.
While the focus shifts back to Laken, I catch Astrid's arm, pulling her aside. "You didn't have to do that," I whisper.
"Yes, I did." Her eyes are fierce. "I'm tired of hiding. Tired of pretending I don't feel what I feel."
"Your father's gonna kill me."
"Maybe." She touches my face gently, fingers coming away bloody. "But not if I have anything to say about it
Across the room, Laken starts talking, spilling everything about the Patriot's plans, but I barely hear him.
All I can focus on is Astrid beside me and the shitstorm we've just unleashed.
The war with the Patriot suddenly seems like the least of my problems.