Page 36 of Loki’s Spellbinder (Hunters Creek Archangel’s Warriors MC #14)

“True, Betty helps them as needed with businesses, but overall, she’s retired. Jalisa is a graphic artist, so her work is almost exclusively done online. She can do it from anywhere with internet connectivity,” Outlaw added.

“We could explore them coming here, or they could stay in Cherokee or in Dublin Falls if we thought more distance was needed between them and Braelyn,” Bear mused aloud.

“Does anyone outside the Pagans besides her brother know you’re a Warrior?” Tank asked.

“No, we kept it hidden, and I didn’t wear my cut. When Predator, Bram, and I came to escort them home, even though we snuck in and out of the back entrance, we removed our cuts and didn’t put them on until we were away from the compound,” Stalker told them.

That made our odds of getting away with it higher.

Outlaw, clearing his throat, got our attention.

“I know that originally, Crusher was working to find out if he could verify whether Cedric had a real hit out on Braelyn. If so, who accepted it? He hasn’t been able to confirm it, though we both have heard chatter on the dark web that it might be true.

I spoke to him late last night about it.

By adding the van driver’s identity to the list and trying to determine whether Jenner and Hendrix are involved, we’ve slowed down on the Cedric side of it.

I think we should ask Smoke if he or Everly has time to help with that part.

No one knows the dark web the way they do. ”

There were murmurs of agreement. Bull held up his hand, causing it to fade away.

“I agree. I’ll call and talk to Terror after church and see if he can spare either or both of them.

If not, we’ll go to the other clubs and see if we can borrow any of their people.

While Everly and Smoke are the best, you and the other techies are no slouches,” Pres directed at Outlaw.

Outlaw bowed his head in acknowledgment of Bull’s compliment.

“That’s for damn sure, brother,” Joker said while the rest of us nodded and smiled.

“Thanks for the vote of confidence, but we acknowledge those two are what we want to be one day. If they can assist, that would be wonderful. We can still help, but they’ll have tricks that we don’t,” Outlaw said without rancor.

I loved this about our club and those we called friends. There wasn’t jealousy between those who performed the same work or had similar skill sets. They were secure enough to acknowledge others’ abilities and expertise.

“Is there more we need to talk about? I’ll call Terror and let everyone know if Smoke and Everly can help.

Loki, talk to Wrath about having Betty and Jalisa go somewhere temporarily, whether it’s here or to one of the other chapters.

I agree, if there is a hit out on Brae, they’ll become more desperate as the decision date approaches.

We’ll continue to work as usual. The old ladies will be starting the Christmas decorating and festivities any day now.

We’ll do whatever they ask. Everyone needs the stress relief of celebrating this year,” Bull added.

Since no one had more to add, Bull concluded the meeting, and we were free to start our weekend relaxation. I’d fill Brae in on what we had decided and then call Wrath.

Our day had been successful on several fronts.

Terror had readily agreed to let us use Smoke and Everly.

Both of them were happy to help and could fit it in between other duties, both for his club and the government, to help out.

When I told Braelyn, she was shocked that they worked for the government.

I guess no one shared it with her, so I gave her the basic outline of how they came to do it.

It was crazy to know that two of the greatest computer minds in the world were entrenched in a biker club.

They often laughed about it themselves. However, it had given us and our friends advantages when we had to protect our families, go after traffickers, and others.

Anderson, a shadowy government official with tons of connections and clout, whose actual employer no one seemed to know, was one of those connections.

Demon’s old lady, Zara, was his great-niece.

However, Anderson had been helping our clubs out before she and Demon met.

I spoke to Wrath. He promised to discuss the idea with the old ladies and Rage. He wasn’t against it. I asked him to let us know as soon as possible if they wanted to do it. Wrath believed Alves would become sloppier if he hired someone to harm or kill Braelyn, and they couldn’t find her.

With it being a Saturday, I knew that many of the guys and even families would gather this evening at the clubhouse.

Braelyn wanted to hang with them, so I got her to agree to take a nap for a couple of hours in the afternoon.

She accused me of treating her like an invalid, but I only wanted her not to tire herself out.

Her bruises were mainly gone, as were the nicks.

She had stopped using pain meds several days before.

I wasn’t letting anything stall her recovery.

As for myself, I felt back to normal, or at least ninety percent there.

We’d made our way over to the clubhouse two hours ago. We waited until after dinner to go. She insisted on cooking it. Braelyn stated she could cook for her man. I had wisely kept my mouth shut. She didn’t disappoint either. It was clear she’d learned her kitchen skills from Betty.

I was hanging out with a few of my brothers, and Braelyn was at a table with most of the old ladies. I didn’t know what they were talking about, but there was a lot of laughing and smiling.

I made sure to check in with her often, and I spent time with Braelyn as well.

She was completely relaxed and fit in effortlessly with the old ladies.

Time flew. When I saw some old ladies rounding up their kids to take home and put to bed, I asked Brae if she wanted to go home.

She knew why I asked. It wasn’t merely out of concern for her health.

It was due to the bitching hour coming. That was what some of the women called the time when the bunnies and town hang arounds would show up to entice the single guys into having sex.

She’d seen them at the Pagan compound. However, it would be different here, where I’d slept with some of the women.

I’d never done that in Lake Oconee. There had been several bunnies since I came to prospect.

Several had left after having had enough of the life or for personal reasons.

One had been kicked out while another had turned on the club, and it resulted in her having to be killed.

It was due to what she did to Player and Saylor.

The latest one to leave was Bonnie. That had left us with Vida and Shantal.

After Bonnie left, another had replaced her, Marley.

She’d been with us less than a year. And yes, I’d been with all three of them, plus a few hang arounds, though I tended to stick mainly to the bunnies.

I’d seen how those women bothered each of the old ladies, and I could see it if I were in their shoes. However, we couldn’t change our pasts.

After asking her if she wanted to leave, she said no, so I went to the bathroom. When I came out, Braelyn was waiting in the hallway.

“Are you alright?” I asked.

“I am, but I don’t think you are. You seemed disappointed that I wanted to stay. Do you want to go home, or is it because of who is due to show up any time?”

I debated how to answer her. She latched onto my arm and pulled me back into the bathroom. She locked the door and then leaned against it.

“Talk to me, Alexander.”

I sighed. “I don’t feel comfortable talking about them.

I know that not a single old lady has liked having them around.

But we can’t change who we slept with. Do we feel bad that our women have to see them?

Yes. And no, I would never point out who I have or haven’t been with.

But some women will out themselves when they say or do things.

We aren’t like some clubs, and just do away with them.

I don’t want you to feel I still want any of them. ”

“I won’t lie and say I won’t sometimes wonder who you have slept with.

I think it’s natural when faced with the unusual situation we face in a club.

Would I ask you to tell me who? No. Would I say something about it if they made moves on you?

Hell, yeah. That there, once it’s known you’re taken, is disrespect I won’t put up with.

If someone tried it and had no clue I was yours, I’d try to be understanding. ”

“I know that your property cut hasn’t arrived. I asked Player to order it for you while we were still in Georgia. I’ll give it to you as soon as it arrives, so there’s no doubt you’re an old lady and mine.”

“I can’t wait. Until then, maybe I should put a temporary tattoo on your forehead that reads, Loki is taken. Property of Brae. Touch at your peril .”

She smiled as she said it, so I laughed, making her giggle. I reeled her in close, wrapped her in my arms, then told her, “I might just do it if you make it worth it.”

Her smile turned to a sexy smirk, and we hungrily kissed. It had been a week and a half since we’d made love. I’d told her we had to wait until we were healed enough. By the feel of it, we were healed. If she were up to it later, I’d make love to her. I was starved to taste and feel her.

The door handle rattled, then there was a loud knock. “Hey, you almost done?” Ajax called out from the other side.

“No, we’re having wild sex and you’re interrupting us,” I hollered back. Brae put her hand over her mouth to hold in her laughter.

“Goddamn it, stop using the bathroom for that. That’s Jess and my spot,” he yelled back. I heard a gasp, then female laughter. I guess she was with him.