Page 7

– LYNN –

“Nah, I’m sure we’ve met before. You look too familiar,” the chick in front of me states.

Too familiar? Just looking at her brings me back to my fucking glory days. Only, her hair is way cooler than mine was.

“Did you change your hair before you knew you were accepted to go undercover or do you always have it like this, Elowyn Livingstone?” I throw her full name out there to get her damn attention, and to shift the discussion at hand away from me looking familiar.

Her eyes flit to the door and she hisses, “What the fuck, woman?”

“The hair,” I remind her.

“Screw the hair,” she throws back.

Lyla steps in between us. “Hey, hey, come on now. We came down here to help the rookie.”

“I’m no damn rookie,” Livi grumbles.

I raise one of my eyebrows in challenge, knowing she might not be a rookie agent, but this will be her first time going undercover.

“I’ve had my hair this way for months,” Livi grunts.

“Nice,” I compliment.

It’s not something I can pull off at my age, but Livi? Looks fucking hot. It’s shoulder length and it’s a palette of icy blonde hues, reddish brown, and dark blonde.

“Thanks,” she grumbles and waves her hand in the direction of Lyla. “Give me one good reason why I should let her pierce me.”

I shoot her a grin. “’Cause you’ll look badass, and can challenge fuckers more by intriguing them or playing mental jokes. It always helped myself for keeping my cool.” I turn to face Lyla. “Did you bring the fuck off one?”

Lyla holds up the barbell where it shows “FUCK OFF” on the tip.

“Fun when you pierce your tongue and hold the part between your teeth.” I smirk. “The snake bites are there for your own sanity. Oh, and I do have to say…it was the only part of me my husband, and former president saw. My sharp tongue and my lips earned me the name Hotlips. He claimed my ass after we met face-to-face.”

I can tell she’s intrigued, and it makes me add, “Oh, and if I can give another tip? Get a clit hood piercing. A guaranteed added pleasure ’cause we all know men need a little help when it comes to finding the pleasure button.”

Livi flips me off and states, “I’ll agree to the tongue and bottom lip piercings, but that’s it.”

“I’ll watch the door,” I tell them and walk out of the bathroom.

I wasn’t lying…the piercings will definitely look good on her and give the mental distraction to fidget with them. Most of all? It will give us some blood to test her DNA.

Taking out my phone, I shoot Deeds a message to let him know the plan is in motion. Minutes tick by and there isn’t a chick coming down here to use the bathroom. Finally, the door behind me opens.

A grin slides across my face. “I knew the snake bites would look good on you.”

Livi sticks out her tongue and a bark of laughter rips from me. She chuckles right along with me and shakes her head.

“Come on. I’m sure Lyla rattled about the aftercare and shit, but right now we need tequila,” I tell her and return to our table.

I’m slightly annoyed to find out Pax left. Lyla, however, doesn’t say shit about it and I can’t get a reading on her feelings when the subject turns to Pax. These two are a standalone complication and thrown together I’m pretty sure they can easily uncomplicate shit. Seems like neither wants to make the effort.

Lyla and I chat for a while with Livi until it gets too busy at the bar. We decide to call it a night and leave. We could have left right after we got her DNA, but the chick is actually fun to be around. Hell, one look and I knew she’d be cool to chat with.

I’m dozing off when we arrive at the clubhouse. We dropped Lyla off at her apartment above the tattoo and piercing shop owned by AF MC. I used to work there as well, and it brings back good memories.

Getting out of the car I tell Deeds, “I’m gonna swing by to see Blue tomorrow and have some girl time. You guys can handle the DNA and get it to the lab, right? Any backlog? What’s the turnaround? One, two, three days?”

Broken Deeds has its own lab when it comes to DNA and evidence testing. High priority to keep things going when we’re working cases. The lab also takes on government stuff if the other labs are overflowing with work.

“Two days tops,” my kid states.

My chest tightens and there’s a wave of nausea hitting me full force. It has nothing to do with the tequila I consumed. It’s more like a hint of panic about the “what-if” factor. All these years…I practically lived a lifetime after my sister was born and died…did she die?

What if this chick is my presumed dead sister’s kid? My niece. All this time my parents thought their daughter was dead. They died not knowing she lived. And if so…where was she all this time? Fuck. This cannot be happening. I don’t think I can handle this “what-if” shit if it concerns my family’s mystery revealed.

My heart feels as if it’s about to burst out of my chest. I know the feeling and I fucking hate having a panic attack. It’s been a while since I had one, though.

“Breathe, darlin’,” my husband calmly states, and my knees buckle as his handsome face comes into view.

“Fuss about your own damn air, I’m breathing fucking fine,” I snarl, needing the anger to focus and get my shit back under control.

Deeds snorts. “Sure you are, it’s why you’re mimicking a seal, right?”

My eyes go wide. “The fuck you just call me? Seal? A fish broad?”

The corner of his mouth twitches. “Seal? I said kneel. You know, it looked like you were gonna give me a blow job right here.”

I punch the fucker’s shoulder. “You know damn well I wouldn’t be able to get up if I drop to my knees to suck your cock.”

“I’m not hanging around for this discussion,” Archer grumbles and walks in the direction of the clubhouse.

Feeling more like myself I bellow, “No hanging around, Archer. His cock would be standing to attention while I’ll be on my knees.”

Without turning he flips me off and it makes me grin.

“We raised him right.” I release a deep sigh and feel Deeds wrap his arm around my waist.

I lean my head against my man’s shoulder as he guides me into the clubhouse.

“Thanks,” I whisper.

He brushes a kiss against my temple. “We’re a team, babe. We fight the good battles, the bad, and the fucked-up shit ’cause nothing will tarnish what we share together.”

I tip my head back and place my palm on his stubbled cheek. “Our love is as pure as the fight in our bones.”

His lips brush against mine. “Old bones who share a brain and have young hearts. It’s all due to our legendary love.”

“Legendary love,” I echo against his mouth. “True love.”

“True love,” he agrees.