Page 14 of Loki’s Spellbinder (Hunters Creek Archangel’s Warriors MC #14)

“I won’t wear my cut, so no one will know I’m in a club or which one.

We tell anyone who questions it that I’m her boyfriend.

We’ve been in a long-distance relationship for months and have had enough.

I can’t stay away from her for another second.

When she’s not working, I’ll be glued to her side.

I’ll stay with her at night, so she’ll have protection.

Before you say that’s not enough, I know it might not be, but if some of your guys or others can covertly provide eyes outside at night, that’ll help.

And you know if we get Crusher, Outlaw, and the other hackers on this, they’ll cover the whole town with eyes.

She’s not stopping. The only recourse is to work with her, but do it as covertly as possible.

Do things that don’t draw attention to her or her association with a club. ”

All five of them were silent, with varying expressions on their faces, but no one spoke an objection, which meant they were thinking about it. The only person I was concerned about shooting it down was Braelyn.

“It could work,” Wrath said first. He was looking at Rage.

“It could. We’d have to be slick about being present but unseen.

Some would be better at it than others. And if we’re known to associate with her, we could ask other guys from our friends’ clubs to do short rotations.

They wouldn’t be recognized like we might be.

The big thing would be not to be seen often in our cuts.

Riding solo like a leisure rider wouldn’t raise many eyebrows, but having several together and flying another club’s colors would,” Rage added.

“The cover story Loki came up with isn’t awful. They’d have to be able to sell it, though. Braelyn, can you make people think you’re interested in Loki?”

Chaos was giving her this look that confused me.

He appeared amused. Why in the hell was he so calm about the prospect of another man living with and spending time with the woman he was with?

Or was it just casual sex between them? The idea that it was made me want to punch him even more.

However, Braelyn didn’t strike me as the casual sex kind of woman. She was glaring at him.

“I would feel better with someone staying with you,” Betty interjected.

“Mom, I don’t want to worry you, but we can’t do this.

It still doesn’t guarantee Loki or whoever is watching me outside won’t be made and targeted.

Loki can’t be away from his club indefinitely.

There is no telling how long this will last. And there will be more cases.

What do you want me to do? Every time I have one, we make poor Loki and others come to babysit me.

No, I appreciate the gesture, but we can’t.

I’m armed at all times, even at home. All doors and windows are secured.

I have a security system, which I will keep on.

I usually go from here to work and back unless I need to stop to get groceries or go to the soup kitchen. ”

There it was. She said no. Did I bow out or fight to stay? I knew there was no way her family would agree to her not having protection. They’d do it despite her objections. I wouldn’t be able to go back to Hunters Creek without worrying. I’d be obsessing over where she was and if she was safe.

“I’m sorry, Braelyn, but this isn’t your choice.

You can force me to sleep on your doorstep every night, but you can’t stop me from being your shadow.

Or the others from being there as backup.

We can work together or separate, but you’re not hanging out there exposed.

I bet if we talk to your boss, the DA, he’ll be relieved that you have us.

He can’t be happy you’re refusing protection. Does he have it?” I asked.

Braelyn’s gaze shifted barely, but I got my answer. “He does. That makes it worse. If you don’t have a death wish, then you’ll let us protect you. And if we tell you something for your safety, you’ll do it,” I warned her.

“Wait a minute. You can’t tell me what to do. And anyone coming in and taking over my life and work is a no. There are things I have to do for my job that someone can’t veto,” she growled.

“If it’s for your work and necessary, we’ll find a way to reduce the risk. If it’s optional shit, then it can be vetoed, or an alternate found,” I argued.

“Who the hell do you think you are coming in here and making all these decisions for me?” Braelyn snarled.

“I’ll explain that once we’re finished talking to your family.

Wrath, Rage, Chaos, does this sound good to you?

It places your club in the background, but it’s a good thing.

If they know there’s a connection between you and her, we have to make it seem like a lesser one, even if they know Betty is her mom. ”

“I’m good with it as long as our girl is safeguarded, which it sounds like she will be. I’d like to be at her side, but I hear what you’re saying,” Rage answered.

I glanced at Wrath. As president, he could overrule everything I just said. Ideally, I would’ve discussed all this with him first, but there hadn’t been an opportunity. He wore a thoughtful look. It took him several seconds to say something.

“Brae, I think Loki is right. We won’t let it go.

We’ll do everything we can to not let it interfere with your work.

We know how important it is to you. But you have to work with us to make that possible.

If you were hurt or, God forbid, killed, it would crush us and probably kill several,” Chaos told her.

I heard the emotion in his voice. He cared for her, but I didn’t know if it was romantic. They gave off conflicting signals.

Braelyn focused on Betty. “Mom, do you have anything to add?”

“Braelyn, I pretty much lost Hayes long before he got pissed about my refusal to leave Rage. Unfortunately, your dad influenced him in those last several years. I’m not saying your brother is an abuser like he was.

It’s more that he has the personality to think he’s right and others are wrong and that we should do as he says.

That essentially makes you my only child.

I love Rylan, and she’s an adoptive daughter to me, but she’s not you.

You’ve been my baby and angel since I knew I was pregnant with you.

I felt the connection even then. I don’t think I’d survive losing you.

I don’t. I’m begging you, please do what they say.

Listen to Loki. His plan is solid, and he can watch over you.

I know what you’ve done to be able to protect yourself.

Think of it not as doubting your abilities.

It’s adding to them to cover you in Kevlar. ”

Braelyn went to her mom and hugged her. They held their heads together and whispered for a good minute or more. When they parted, tears were on both their faces. Braelyn stepped back but kept a hold of her mom’s hand.

“I’ll do it, but you can’t come in like gangbusters. Covert is the keyword. And I need to inform Eli of what is happening.”

“We need to discuss how to approach him and what to say. When do you want to speak to your boss?” I asked.

“I don’t want to disturb his Sunday. Tomorrow is soon enough. I’ll message him that I want to meet him first thing in the morning.”

“Good. Loki, do you have enough things, or do you need to return to Hunters Creek? I expect you have things you’ll need to talk to Bull about,” Wrath said.

He knew I’d have to tell my president I was removing my colors. It might be the worst call of my life. I hoped Bull would understand what drove me to do it.

“I do have enough with me. I came prepared for a long stay. I’d like to call and talk to Bull as soon as I can. Would it be possible for someone to stay just long enough for me to make the call? I have some things I need to update him on, so I was going to take a walk to do it.”

I didn’t want anyone to hear it if my president reamed me a new asshole for daring to remove my colors for any reason.

“I think that’s best. We’ll stay until you get back,” Rage said with a rueful twist of his lips. The women had no idea this would probably be an ass-chewing event for me. I wanted to keep it that way. There was no need to give Braelyn a reason to back out.

There was no time like the present, so I asked to be excused and then hightailed my ass outside.

Before I left the building, I took the precaution of removing my cut.

Instantly, I felt naked. I checked the surroundings and found a secluded spot near her apartment building and my bike.

I could keep an eye on her place while I spoke to Bull.

Yesterday, I survived my conversation with Bull. Recalling the conversation made me glad that I had the president I had. Most wouldn’t have been like him.

“Talk to me, Loki. How is it? As bad as Wrath made it sound?” Bull responded when answering my call. I messaged him when I got here to let him know I made it.

“It’s worse than they thought.”

“How? What’s up?”

I quickly took him through the cases Braelyn was pursuing and who she put away less than a year ago. Even in Tennessee, Bull knew who Attila was, not just the Brutal Rebels. He swore.

“That’s not fucking good, Loki. Not good at all. That girl needs her ass watched twenty-four-seven. Are they letting you help?”

“You could say that. I kinda devised a plan to help appease Braelyn’s concerns that targets will be placed on the Pagans’ backs.”

“Really. Tell me how you did that.” He sounded intrigued.

I explained the long-distance boyfriend idea and staying with her, which made him chuckle and tell me it was a good move. He was happy with the plan until he had to ask one question.

“It sounds doable, but what’ll stop them from coming after you?”

I took a deep breath and then answered him. “I’d remove my colors while I was here. Yeah, she’ll be seen dating someone who rides, but not a biker in a club.”

There was silence for a good minute before Bull broke it.