Page 26 of Loki’s Spellbinder (Hunters Creek Archangel’s Warriors MC #14)

My conversation with Iceman had gone as expected.

He was furious that his dad had the audacity to ask me to intercede on his behalf.

We both thought it wasn’t a coincidence that he was in Georgia.

Why he was there was the big question. After talking it through, Iceman decided to ask Outlaw to poke around and see if he could find anything, and if Nelson might get off parole early.

Hopefully, the legal system wouldn’t be idiots and let him out of parole early, like they let him out of prison.

Christ, if they did, Iceman would blow a gasket, and I wouldn’t blame him.

After the call, I kept myself busy, going through emails on my phone.

When I got the message from Brae that she was ready, I was surprised.

They never had meetings that short. I headed to Eli’s office immediately.

When I arrived, I found Hendrix outside the door.

He was standing there as if guarding it.

I ignored him except to say, “She’s coming out. They’re done.” I said this to make him aware.

He hadn’t moved. I wouldn’t have done anything, but when I heard Brae say, If you don’t let go, I’ll scream , I reacted.

“Move, I’m going in,” I ordered Hendrix while moving toward him and the closed door.

“No, you’re not,” he said.

I think he thought I’d stop. I had news.

I’d kicked bigger men’s asses than his. I kept coming as he readied himself.

Too bad he wasn’t as smart or tough as he thought.

I nailed him with a throat punch that made him gasp for breath.

I followed up with a punch to his temple.

It was hard enough to render him unconscious, not kill him, though I knew how to do that, too.

He’d fallen to the floor a moment or two before I flung the door open to find Eli Jenner holding onto her arm.

I had no idea how I remained sane enough not to beat him right there, probably because my woman was calm and in control.

Listening to what she said and how she used the recording that she claimed to have to back his ass down and let us walk away after Hendrix regained consciousness had been incredible and, dare I say, sexy. My woman was a warrior. I wondered how deep that trait went.

Now, we were in a place where we could speak privately.

She didn’t hesitate. Braelyn took me through the entire conversation with Eli.

I steadily grew more and more pissed off.

She made me sit where she could sit beside me and hold my hand.

When my hands clenched into fists, she squeezed back, making me relax my grip.

I didn’t want to hurt her. When she was done, I was livid, though fighting not to show it.

“Alexander, I know you’re upset. I am, too.

But as much as you want to undoubtedly beat Eli’s ass and put him in the hospital, you can’t.

He’ll be waiting for that. He’ll have you arrested and thrown in jail in a blink.

And as the DA, they’ll take the assault on him more seriously than your average person.

We can’t play into his hands,” she warned.

“What about him and what he did to you? Is that something they’ll brush under the carpet? Did you record it, or was that a lie to scare him?”

“Oh, it’s real. I don’t know why I did it, other than a weird feeling when he asked me to sit where we never sat.

And yes, there would be those who would take it seriously.

More than likely, his opponents for the DA position and the media would.

He’s in his last year of this term. He’ll begin campaigning for re-election soon.

He does it months ahead and wants to remain DA as long as possible.

Eli gets off on his position as the district attorney.

He won’t like anything tarnishing his reputation. ”

“If he sticks strictly to business with you and there’s no more touching, I’ll behave. However, I don’t give a damn what he says. There will be no more private meetings with him. He can no longer be trusted. Do you agree?”

I wondered if she’d balk at it. I’d signed the goddamn NDA. What was the problem? I knew that Hendrix remained with him when he met with others. I’d watched to see. If that asshole could be in there and be trusted to keep his trap shut, then so could I.

She sighed. “I know he’ll push back on us, but I agree. I don’t feel at ease alone with him anymore. If he refuses, the only other recourse is to ask someone else who works here to be in on those with me. A person from HR, maybe. Although I know he won’t want that. They’ll ask questions as to why.”

I wasn’t a fan of the alternative, but it would be better than her alone with him. “If we come to that, then yeah. You know what this means.”

“It means I must find a new job as quickly as possible. Eli won’t forget this, and he’ll be out to find a way to fire me. I guess that’s one big hurdle for us as a couple removed. I have to change jobs anyway. I might as well look in the Hunters Creek area.”

I heard the apprehension in her tone. I drew Brae to me and hugged her against my chest. She relaxed.

“I swear, you’ll land a great job, and I’ll make the transition as worthwhile for you as possible.

I never want you to look back and think you gave up too much to be with me.

But I can’t help but be happy that there’s a reason for my spellbinder to move to Hunters Creek, hopefully sooner than I hoped. ”

“At least you’re honest about it. And what’s this spellbinder thing?”

“You know that old ladies have nicknames, for the most part, in the clubs. Or in the ones we know and ours. For example, Bull’s old lady, Jocelyn, is called Duchess.

I was thinking of what yours would be. I kept returning to the fact that you’ve put such a spell on me.

Then, the next thing I knew, Spellbinder popped into my head.

It’s how I see you. And it’s a good thing.

I love being under your spell. I know it’s not like some, such as Princess, Kitten, or Jewel, which, by the way, are taken. Do you want me to think of another?”

She thought it over for several moments before smiling. “I like the sound of that. It’s different. Yes, you can call me that. Will others?”

“They might. If we’re around people who don’t know your name, they’ll go with what’s on your property cut.

Not to spoil anything, but you will get one of those.

I want to wait until we’re back with my club to give you one.

It’s a tradition to present it with your club there.

And yes, we can ask your mom and the others to join us. ”

“I’d like that.”

“Good. Now, if we’re done talking about that prick, Eli, let’s get you done for the day so we can go home to your place. I have plans to relax you tonight.”

I wiggled my eyebrows at her, causing her to laugh. A sweet, hot kiss was in order. Then, I reluctantly let her go so she could work. While she did, I sent off a message to Outlaw about what I wanted and why. I knew he’d come through for me.

We made it through the rest of the day without any more run-ins with Eli or Hendrix.

Whenever I made one of my walk-through circuits, her boss’s office door was shut, and there was no sign of his bodyguard.

I assumed Hendrix was shut in with his protectee.

It was a relief to see five o’clock come.

I was ready to go home. When we arrived, I cooked dinner for her so she could relax.

Later, we made love twice before falling asleep.

That was yesterday. Today at the office was a repeat of Monday, except for no fake business meetings with Eli.

We didn’t see him all day. When Brae asked his assistant where he was, she was told he had an all-day outside conference with various campaign donors.

Brae told me she would’ve usually known of those because they were planned in advance.

They weren’t on her calendar. She and I were suspicious, but at least they weren’t around us.

She spent the day preparing for an upcoming trial.

All I knew was that it was to prosecute someone who had embezzled thousands of dollars from a local bank.

The city government used that bank, and the city’s accounts were among those stolen from.

When the day ended, however, our destination wasn’t back to her apartment.

Even if I was here to protect her, I wanted her not to feel like a complete prisoner. Plus, I wanted to show her off. Taking her to lunch down the street from the office wasn’t enough. When she asked why I was dressed up this morning in more than my usual jeans, I told her it was a surprise.

I didn’t need to ask her to wear something different.

Braelyn was refined and classy in her work clothes, yet hinted at the sexiness beneath.

You knew she was a woman even if she was wearing a pantsuit.

Today, she was wearing a skirt. I loved it when she wore a skirt that hit at her knees and hugged her shape.

She paired it with heels, a pretty blouse, and a jacket.

Those jackets nipped in, showing off her waist and the curves of her breasts.

She was wearing one of those today, which would be perfect for where I was taking her to dinner. There would be no cooking at home.

I was now driving the Challenger rather than being her passenger.

It wasn’t every time, but she had entrusted me with her precious car.

When we left work, it took us half an hour to get to the restaurant.

It was upscale and required a reservation.

I made it several days ago. When she saw where we were pulling in, she gasped and gave me an excited look.