CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
– THORSTEN –
I’m wearing a huge smirk when we step into the hallway and look Archer in the eyes. My woman has flushed cheeks and it’s clear by our wet hair we both just stepped out of the shower.
Pulling her close, I place a kiss on the top of her head while keeping my gaze locked with her cousin. “You can use either my office or church for some privacy.”
“Thanks,” Archer grumbles.
Livi reaches for my leather cut and fists it. “Whatever you have to say I’d like for my old man to hear it too.”
Fuck. Sledgehammer to the chest. This woman slays me with her actions. No matter where we go from here, I’d kidnap her every damn time to make sure we stay together no matter what.
Archer releases a frustrated breath. “We really need to talk first, then he can hear all about it…after, not before.”
Livi crosses her arms in front of her chest. “Then we don’t have anything to discuss.”
I lean in and whisper in her ear, “You just upscaled to smitten stage, right up there with fondness, and feeling deeply affected.”
Livi snorts. “Whatever makes your dick hard works fine with me.”
A chuckle rips from me. “You, babe. Only you can get my dick hard, nothing else will do.”
She pats my chest. “Replies like that will get you laid.”
“Fuck. Me,” Archer grumbles. “Please pop out a few kids soon and get to the stage where you two don’t have your fuckin’ heads in the clouds due to all the extra obligations. Honeymoon stage is nauseating and time consuming.”
Livi freezes in my grip. I don’t like her reaction nor this fucker’s statement in my own damn clubhouse.
“We like how things are just fine, asshole. Church now.” I point in the direction he needs to move in.
He gives me a tight nod and pushes away from the wall he was leaning against. Falcon is standing at the end of the hallway when we stroll past him.
“Go on, I’ll be right behind you. I want to ask Falcon a favor,” I tell Livi.
She simply gives me a smile and walks into church behind Archer. I give my attention to my brother who points at me, then places his fist against his heart, and moves his hand to point in the direction Livi just disappeared in.
“Yeah,” I whisper. “I totally faceplanted for this woman with my eyes wide open.”
There’s no way I’d throw out the word love. It’s too soon, and too fucking twisted. Though, it’s a word very fitting to what I feel for this woman.
I keep my voice to a whisper when I ask, “Do you still message back and forth with her friend?”
Falcon nods.
“Could you ask her to buy a pregnancy test and swing by the clubhouse?”
My brother’s eyes go wide right before a huge grin slides across his face. He gives me another tight nod.
Taking a step in the direction of church, I add, “Keep it between us for now, okay?”
Grin still in place, he gives me a thumbs-up. Shaking my head, I enter the room where I find Livi standing in front of Archer.
She has her fingers in her ears and Archer growls, “Real mature, cousin.”
“Can’t hear you,” she tells him with a singsong voice.
My lips twitch.
“And yet you still fucking reply.” Archer sighs.
I close the door behind me. “Okay, I’m here.”
“Fine,” Archer growls and pulls an envelope from his pocket. “Are you sure about this fucker? And don’t give me the farting rose petals and shit, I mean long-term, raising a family, standing beside your man as a president’s old lady. Even if he keeps killing and drags you down a criminal hole where he gets thrown in a jail cell and leaves you to fend for yourself.”
Livi doesn’t even blink. “I stand behind my old man no matter what direction he guides his brotherhood in. Although, mutiny against his own president and father happened because no one wanted to be dragged into the deal with the cartel. But again, he’s the president, and I normally don’t sit at this table where decisions are made about club business.”
“Spoken like a true old lady,” Archer mutters.
I step behind my woman, feeling proud as fuck.
“Fine,” he huffs, and to my surprise Archer looks right at me when he adds, “I’ve managed to strike a deal with the government concerning Wisely Dicey. Recently we’ve added another MC who on occasion works cases for the government. The justice system thrives on these cases, and so does law enforcement. Less risks when it comes to undercover work and letting it play out through people who are already in the situation works perfectly. So, are you willing to sign a contract with the government? Bring down the cartel and get paid for it like a normal day job?”
I raise an eyebrow. “Is this your sales pitch? Letting me know we’ll risk our brotherhood for a measly paycheck instead of hazer money? If so, you’re not making it seem all that attractive.”
“Not meant to be attractive, asshole,” Archer snaps and points at his cousin. “You’re only getting this offer because she’s involved. Any other situation, Broken Deeds would have taken over without a second thought.”
Anger starts to rise. “There’s no way I’d allow any MC to step into my fucking territory to–”
“Okay, calm down, both of you,” Livi says as she steps in between us and places her hand on my chest. “We’re getting off track and going head-to-head won’t get us anywhere.”
Archer jabs a finger in my direction, and before he gets one word out, I tell the fucker, “Stop pointing fucking fingers, asshole. I know you’re standing here right now only due to the blood connection of my old lady. My woman is right when she mentioned the mutiny. Our reasons were based on the risks, and the fact they’re involved in human trafficking. If the deal was anything other than drugs or humans, we’d be open for discussion.” I give him a sinister grin. “We’re definitely not the good guys, Archer. Not then, not now, and hell will freeze over before we turn into law enforcement ourselves.”
Archer is wearing a huge fucking smile.
Annoyed my words didn’t hit home, I growl, “What’s there to smile about, asshole?”
Livi releases a deep sigh. “Probably because your reaction is exactly what he expected, and the reason he, and the government, wants to put you under contract. Having bad guys up their sleeve comes in handier than you think.”
I narrow my eyes at Archer. “Seriously?”
He gives me a tight nod. “As serious as the blank ink on the paper waiting for your signature. Read the contract and discuss it with your brothers. I’ll expect your answer by the end of the day.”
Archer shoves the envelope against my chest and walks right out of church. Livi and I are still staring at one another when Macsen stops in the doorway.
“Everything dandy?”
“Don’t know,” I muse. “Mind stepping in here?”
“Close the door,” Livi comments and her cheeks flush when she glances at me. “Sorry. Did you want to talk to your VP in private?”
I snort. “You ask me that shit after your actions just now? No way, babe. Stay put.”
Turning my attention to Macsen, I lay it out for him as I hold up the envelope. “Archer wants us to sign this contract with the government.”
“And go legit?” my VP grunts with disdain in his voice.
“Nope,” Livi quips. “He just wants a backdoor whenever the government has a situation.”
I give my attention to my old lady. “Do you know more about this? Anything you can tell us about the other MC Archer mentioned?”
Livi shrugs. “Not much. My aunt Lynn added me to some of the group chats the old ladies of Broken Deeds and Areion Fury are in. Lots of gossip so I know Archer was talking about Blennies Hitch because they recently pulled a switch where one of their bikers joined Broken Deeds, also because he claimed one of their member’s daughter as his old lady.”
I glance at Macsen. “Put Lenz on it.”
Macsen nods. “On it, Prez.”
Taking the paper from the envelope, I start to read over the few words.
“What the fuck is this for a contract?” I mutter, making Macsen stop from exiting. “It basically just says Wisely Dicey agrees to cooperate with the government and in return we get to do whatever the fuck we want. Well, except kill or harm innocents.”
Livi plucks the paper from my hand and mutters, “How weird.”
Macsen comes to a stop beside her to glance at the contract. “Prez, if you don’t sign this shit ASAP? I’m getting a pen and signing for the club. Hell, I think the vote will be unanimous if we get a full table right fucking now.”
I give my VP a nod. “Then make it happen ’cause I’m only signing if we all agree, no matter how appealing this looks.”