CHAPTER TWELVE
– LIVI –
I was calm and collected yesterday morning when I killed Nilo, but it feels quite the opposite now. A cup of coffee sits on the table in front of me. It’s my second one since I got here at the diner where I’m supposed to meet Thorsten in about ten minutes.
Archer and I talked options and possibilities yesterday and eventually I came to a decision. First, though? I have to talk…grovel…and hope Thorsten feels the same way about me as I do about him.
I swallow hard. A happily ever after might not be on the table when an undercover agent comes clean to an outlaw biker. Not to mention, the task force is still set to take down the MC even if they want to keep them around long enough to get the cartel as well.
And what do Thorsten and I really have? Besides chemistry and a one-night stand? Maybe my body reacting to his in an exceptional way isn’t the same for him. My insecurities are causing havoc inside me. Yet, it’s a shot I have to take unless I want a lifetime of regrets and what-ifs.
The door of the diner swings open and Thorsten strolls inside. My heart skips a beat at the sight of him. His dark blond hair stands on end and he runs a hand through it as he glances around. Green eyes collide with mine.
Cold. Detached. He’s never looked at me this way and my gut clenches. He already knows. At least I picked a public place to meet him. Even if he knows I’m an agent, he would never gun me down with witnesses present. The diner is quiet, but there’s still some people here.
“Livi,” he grunts. “Or should I say Elowyn Livingstone?”
Yes. He knows.
I hold his stare and give it to him straight. “Livi, it’s what my friends calls me. Please, have a seat. I will answer any other questions you might have.”
“You won’t even deny being a cop?” he grits and to my surprise he slides into the booth beside me.
“I’m a special agent and went undercover to gather information about Wisely Dicey. As you might know, I haven’t heard any information–”
“You didn’t hear or see shit because you were barely in,” he snaps. “Cut the shit, Elowyn. Just tell me why the fuck you’d whore yourself out if you’re a fucking virgin. It’s the only part that doesn’t make any sense in this charade.”
In one smooth move I have my gun placed against his dick. “What did I tell you about calling me a whore?”
The idiot is as cool as a snowflake during winter. “Answer the question and I’ll decide if I need to apologize or if it fits the label when one uses their body as part of the job.”
“I wasn’t prepared for the chemistry between us,” I grumble. “The job was as simple as moving in next door and keeping an eye out. Make contact and be neighborly. You’re the one who ended up on my doorstep. When I mentioned to my supervisor that you were with me that night, she ordered me to go visit you at the clubhouse. Giving myself to you had nothing to do with my job and everything to do with the way my body responded to yours. No fucking way would I’ve let you touch me. I wasn’t prepared for you…or the way you affected me…I guess.”
He keeps staring straight ahead and it seems as if he’s unaffected by my words. I remove the gun from his dick and put it away.
“After everything that happened, I called Archer. He handled the Nilo incident and we talked. My cousin gave me a few options and I took the one where I quit my job.”
Thorsten’s head whips my way. “You quit?” he asks with a load of disbelief.
“Turns out I’m not cut out for undercover jobs. This being my first, and I kinda messed up when I got involved with one of the targets.”
“Involved.” He gives me a condescending look. “We fucked, Livi.”
“You claimed me,” I fire back.
He shakes his head. “My brothers know you’re a cop. What do you think they’d say when I walk right back into the clubhouse with you, eh? Think, babe. I’d be an idiot to believe it after you lied to me. Hell, it’s not a simple lie, you fucking betrayed my trust and wanted…or still want, fuck knows, to throw me and my brothers in a cell and let us rot for the rest of our lives.”
A waitress strolls our way and we fall silent. I ask for two coffees, not caring if Thorsten wants one or not; I can drink both of them.
As soon as she’s gone, he hisses, “There’s nothing you have to offer that I want. Pussy or a warm hole I can get from any other woman. Why the fuck would you think I’d want you, a fucking cop?”
I should have known this was his reaction and yet his words hit me harder than a punch to the gut.
My voice sounds small, even to my own ears. “I can offer you immunity.”
His eyes collide with mine. “Me, or all my brothers?”
“All the young ones who keep their noses clean from here on out. The only thing Broken Deeds asks in return is your cooperation with bringing down the cartel,” I tell him.
He stays quiet for a few heartbeats. His voice is leaning toward the normal one he uses when he says, “I need to bring the offer to the table and vote on it.”
Thorsten takes his phone and shoots off a message.
I watch as my aunt steps inside the diner. “I’d like you to meet someone, if you still consider yourself my old man.”
His eyes follow my line of sight and a burst of hope fills my veins when he watches my aunt Lynn and says, “For now.”
When his attention shifts to me the burst of hope quickly evaporates when he adds, “Long term? There’s no way I’ll ever accept a cop as my old lady.”
“I was a special agent, not a damn cop. And I told you I fucking quit my job,” I grit and get to my feet to plaster a smile on my face to welcome my aunt Lynn.
Embracing her in a hug for the first time ever, I quickly whisper out the words, “Sorry to pull you into this mess. I’ve been meaning to reach out, but–”
Lynn’s arms tighten around me as she murmurs, “All good, chickie. We told you we’re right here whenever you need us. We solved our family mystery, so let’s fix this shit, eh? A kinswoman is never alone.”
I tighten my arms a bit as well. “Kinswoman…I like the sound of that.”
Emotions swamp my body, and I pull back before any tears fill my eyes. “I’d like you to meet my old man, Thorsten Rhyland.”
Lynn’s expression doesn’t change.
She steps closer to Thorsten and offers him her hand. “Thorsten Rhyland, vice president of Wisely Dicey. You really have nerves with steel balls if you dare to claim someone with a blood connection to Broken Deeds.”
A sardonic smirk glides across his face. “Lynn Lawson, you’re one to talk when you were once the daughter of a president who was claimed by the president of another MC. Did it stop Deeds, or you for that matter?”
Lynn narrows her eyes. “Quit acting like you’re a fountain of details. Besides, there’s a crucial detail you’re missing if you think this is about similar shit.”
We’re still standing and the way tension bounces back and forth things are bound to explode any second.
“What’s that? O, wise old woman?” Thorsten taunts.
“The fuck you just called me?” Lynn snaps and before she can lunge for Thorsten’s neck Deeds, her husband, and former president of Broken Deeds is there to hold her back.
“Uncle Deeds, always late to the party,” I mutter, remembering the last time we met.
“Always a pleasure, honey.” His tone is gentle to me and changes to harsh when he directs his attention to Thorsten. “Show my old lady respect, asshole.”
“Respect is earned. You wouldn’t be all friendly and polite if betrayal is thrown at you from all sides, especially if it comes from family.” His eyes land on me. “Or friendly strangers recently met.”
His words feel like ice water thrown over me.
“I think we’re done here,” I calmly state, knowing by Thorsten’s reaction it’s over between us.
I took a risk…gambled with the high stake of my feelings on the damn line…all for nothing so it seems.
Lynn pats Deeds’s arm that’s wrapped around her waist. “You can let go now, Livi is coming with us and is dumping this idiot’s ass. Friendly strangers, what an asshole you are. You think she hit you with betrayal? You won’t ever see the hit coming when Broken Deeds is involved. Come on, Livi, we’re leaving.”
“My old lady isn’t going anywhere unless she’s at my side,” Thorsten snarls.
Lynn might be old, but she moves like a ninja. One moment Thorsten is looking smug, the next blood is rushing from his nose.
“You talk about how respect is earned? Start by dropping the veil your father put before your eyes so you can see the fucking good standing right in front of you. Livi’s Broken Deeds and with that link comes a fuckload of respect you might be able to tap into.” She points at Thorsten. “Outlaw.” Pointing at me she adds, “Above the law. That right there is the difference between landing your rude ass in a jail cell or walking free.”
Lynn holds out her hand to let me walk out of here with them, but I can’t. I do realize things between me and Thorsten are beyond saving. Yet, I still feel strongly about needing to talk to him.
“I’ll catch up with you later,” I state. “Thorsten and I still need to talk.”
Thorsten gets to his feet and wipes his nose. There’s still crimson covering his chin and teeth when he gives me a cruel smile.
“Go with them, Livi. I’m done anyway.”
Words get stuck in my throat when he walks right out of the diner without a backward glance.
“If you don’t chase his ass to kick him in the balls I will,” Lynn tells me, and then she gives me a gentle look. “I can tell by the way your emotions are showing on your face you care about the fucker. Go. Make him listen instead of letting him walk out on whatever it is between you two. You have the same blood as me running through your veins and nothing has ever stopped me from speaking my fucking mind.”
I smile at my aunt. “Thank you,” I sincerely tell her.
“Anytime, chickie,” she quips.
Rushing out the door, I get a glimpse of Thorsten riding off. I jump on my bike, fix my helmet, and follow him. He’s heading in the direction of the clubhouse and when I take a turn, I notice a car following us.
Through the Bluetooth system in my helmet I make a call to Archer. “I’m being followed, black SUV. One of yours?”
“Negative,” Archer grunts. “But I’ll have a team catch up with you within a few minutes.”
“Thanks,” I murmur at the same time I hear gunshots.
“Hold on,” Archer snaps.
Fire licks my arm and I realize a bullet just grazed me. More shots are fired, and I try like hell to guide my bike in different directions to prevent myself from becoming a sitting duck. A turn is coming up and I lessen my speed. Balancing my attention between the SUV behind me and Thorsten in front of me who is shouting at me, I completely miss the car coming from my left just as I take the turn.
The impact is hard and I’m being thrown off the bike. Pain flairs all over my body and I groan, thankful I didn’t pass out. A curse leaves my lips when I notice my arm, completely covered in blood and lacerations. Shit.
Dark fabric is thrown over my head and strong arms are suddenly gripping me hard. I hear Thorsten screaming for me while I fight those who are trying to kidnap me. The cartel? It must be since Thorsten is screaming my name and is cursing loudly.
Gunshots. More pain when I’m thrown into what I think is a van or the trunk of a car. I hope Archer is close enough to see this because the spot where he put the tracker in is now an open wound…so I doubt he’s still able to track me. My body hits something hard when the vehicle I’m clearly in speeds away.
Someone is binding my wrists, making the pain almost unbearable in my arms. My feet are next, and I try to kick out, to fight, when someone else holds me down. Fear is gripping my heart, remembering the things Nilo said; what the cartel has planned for me. Is this how my life will end? Because Thorsten was clear he was done with me. So, I’m definitely not the bargaining chip the cartel thinks I am.
The pain becomes too much and my body simply shuts down. I willingly surrender to the darkness oblivion offers…because what else can I do in this fucked-up situation?