Page 6

– DEEDS –

“Do you have any idea what Ma has planned?” my son asks as he takes a sip of the lukewarm beer sitting in front of him.

My gaze slides to my old lady who is sitting at a table, along with Lyla, on the other side of this bar. We arrived at the parking lot about an hour ago. Hotlips and Lyla went in first and we waited twenty minutes before stepping foot inside this bar.

Archer left his cut in the trunk of our car. This bar is a place where Wisely Dicey MC members hang out. Since we’re aware there’s a task force on these fuckers, we’re watching our step and not wearing colors to make observation easier. Elowyn Livingstone, working as her undercover character Livi Stone, will be here tonight.

I wet my lips with the whiskey neat I’m nursing. “Not a single clue, but I’m sure we’ll find out soon enough.”

The door of the bar opens, and Pax strolls inside.

“Fuck,” Archer grumbles and I slowly shake my head.

“That’s definitely not a coincidence.” I chuckle and my son shoots me a glare. “What? Don’t tell me you didn’t think about it. Your ma always does the unthinkable and never lets anything or anyone stop her from doing what she wants.”

Archer rubs a hand over his face. “It’s fucking annoying.”

My gaze finds my woman’s and the grin on her face, along with the twinkle in her eyes I notice from this distance, is lighting up my very soul.

“Not annoying, son. Look at how it lights her up when a plan falls together. I hope her spark never extinguishes ’cause it makes her who she is,” I say with pride.

“Yeah,” Archer mutters and releases a deep sigh.

The sigh reminds me of myself when I just met her and would get frustrated from time to time. She’s always been a hellcat, and I wouldn’t change her for the world. Mainly because she’s the counterpart I need. No way in hell would I survive with a docile yes-bobbing chick at my side.

Pax isn’t wearing his colors either. He glances around, spots my woman and Lyla, then us, and ignores all of us as he walks to the bar. Livi stalks in and takes in her surroundings. She takes a spot beside Pax but leaves an empty barstool in between.

I throw my whiskey back and slam the empty glass on the table. “Might as well get this party started. Stay in your seat.”

Not allowing my son to give a reply, I get to my feet and stalk over to Hotlips and Lyla.

“Come sit at our table, drinks are on me,” I tell them and wander over to the bar.

Stepping in between Livi and Pax, I ask, “Hey you two, let me know your choice of booze and I’ll order so you two can join us at our table.”

“Sorry.” Livi gives me a polite smile.

Before she can say anything else I tell her, “It wasn’t a polite request,” I lower my voice and lean in close when I add, “ agent . Your supervisor Akari Sakura approved this meeting.”

Her eyes narrow as she snaps, “Whiskey.”

I give her a slight nod and tell the bartender, “Two whiskeys, three beers, and a bottle of water.”

“I don’t want water,” Pax grumbles.

I turn to face him. “The water is for my woman, you’re getting a beer, and so is Lyla. Help me with the drinks.”

We wait until the beverages are placed before us, and after paying we carry them to the booth Archer, Hotlips, and Lyla are sitting in. Livi takes a chair from another table, and so does Pax. I slide in next to my woman while Archer and Lyla are sitting across from me.

“Mind telling me why the fuck I’m sitting here? If I wasn’t bored and intrigued I would,” Livi starts until Hotlips cuts her off.

“Are you more into tattoos or piercings?” Hotlips snags the water bottle from the table and opens it. “Lyla here is a piercer. She held that one’s dick in hand while shoving a thick needle through his pee-hole.”

Pax and Lyla stay quiet and don’t even spare a glance in each other’s direction. Hell, I don’t think they even acknowledged one another. What the hell happened between them?

Livi chuckles and shoves her sleeves up to expose her forearms. “Tattoos.”

“You should really get some snake bites. I used to have ’em and I bet they’ll look great on you. A tongue piercing as well.” My woman grins and for a moment it’s all I see.

Epicenter of my attention span is what she’s always been.

“I’ll stick to tattoos.” Livi takes her whiskey and lifts it. “Thanks for the drink, have a great night.”

“I always liked piercing more than inking someone. Though, adding patches was my only exception.” Hotlips pulls her scarf down to show the Broken Deeds patch with my name inked on her neck.

Livi’s ass hits the chair, and she places the whiskey back on the table. “You’re Broken Deeds?”

Her gaze glides to me, then Pax, and finally settles on Archer when he says, “I’m the president.”

“Why are you guys here? Aren’t you guys aware of what’s going on here? Shit. Why the hell are you here? To fuck shit up for me? Why?” Livi hisses.

We need her DNA and right now she hasn’t even taken a sip. Fingerprints don’t mean shit; we need bodily fluids for a DNA match. Epithelial cells do hold DNA, but the bartender, me, and fuck knows who else touched it.

“We’re just making friends,” Lyla states. “Possible recruiting for future undercover stuff. So, are you gonna let me pierce you, letting those fuckers know you’re up for anything? Or go back to the bar and wait till a certain biker strolls in? This is your first undercover gig you’re preparing for, right? Well, speaking as a girl who was born into an MC, and grew up with more brothers than I had by blood? Ink doesn’t say shit, and attitude only takes you so far. Come on, let’s talk and I’ll give you some hardware for free.”

Lyla gets to her feet and takes her bag. My woman gives me a push to make me slide out of the booth and let her join Lyla and Livi as they head for the bathroom.

“What the fuck is going on?” Pax grunts as soon as they are out of earshot. “Lynn texted me to be here and y’all show up? Why is Lyla here? She doesn’t need to be brought into Broken Deeds shit, Prez.”

“Leave, Pax,” Archer grunts. “I’ll make sure Lyla gets home safe.”

His gaze slides in the direction of the bathroom. “Shouldn’t I wait until they get back?”

“Then what? Ignore her some more and then leave?” I mutter.

Pax sighs, shoves his chair back and leaves without another word.

“Ma won’t be happy,” Archer states.

I know he’s right, but shrug and grunt, “It’ll give her something to do some other day. For now, let’s hope she’ll be happy enough to get DNA and reveal the doppelganger mystery.”

“One thing at a time,” Archer muses.

I down the whiskey and relish the burn as I raise my empty glass as a silent agreement.