Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 43376 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 217(@200wpm)___ 174(@250wpm)___ 145(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43376 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 217(@200wpm)___ 174(@250wpm)___ 145(@300wpm)
“Shouldn’t we go talk to this commissioner Olivia mentioned?”
“He doesn’t like bikers. Marty Stephenson is that big, goofy-looking asshole by the punch bowl trying to will that woman’s dress to pop off so he can look at her tits.”
I look around the room and find him immediately. The man couldn’t be more obvious. Of course, the woman—who also has a rock on her finger—doesn’t seem to mind.
“I take it that woman isn’t his wife?”
“Not even close. She’s also on the council. She’s a clerk or something. Their votes are handled. I just had to grease their wheels, so to speak. I’m not about to tell Livy that. She’s too innocent for most of these vultures.”
“Innocent?” I repeat, my gaze moving through the crowd searching for her. I see her walking away from two other men. I have to bite down the growl I feel bubbling to the surface at the way they are watching her ass.
“Livy is a lamb surrounded by hungry wolves,” he mutters.
I can’t say I like that analogy—even though I’m definitely one of the wolves. “Why didn’t you want her to know I’m your brother?” I whisper to Bear before he can open the door to the conference room.
“I could tell you were interested in her.”
His response confuses me and kind of pisses me off at the same time. “Isn’t that a reason to let her know who I am?”
“Blade, I love Livy like my kid sister. She’s a good woman, but I’m not sure she’s for you.”
“What the hell does that mean?” I respond, doing my best to keep my voice down and my facial expressions normal. I love my brother but that doesn’t mean we don’t fight from time to time. Right now, I’d like to lash out at him.
“Like I said, Livy is a good woman.”
“Bear—”
“But she doesn’t like bikers.”
I blink. “Come again?”
“She’s got a history and it’s not my story to tell. I wouldn’t even know it if it weren’t for Ayi. If you like her, you should try to get to know her. If she allows that, then see if you can win her over. That said, Livy will shut down if she knows you’re a member of the club.”
“That’s disappointing. I don’t need a woman who doesn’t accept our club and way of life, Bear.”
“Did she look like she didn’t accept me?” he asks, making me frown.
“Well, no.”
“Exactly. Livy is one of the best women I’ve ever known. She has her reasons to think the way she does—”
“What—” I try to interrupt but he holds up his hand to stop me.
“Before you ask, they’re valid. You’re more apt to get to know Livy if she sees you as a man behind a desk—instead of a man on a bike.”
“That’s bullshit,” I huff. “Why is she so friendly with you if she has issues?”
“I’ve lovable as fuck. Who wouldn’t like me?”
I roll my eyes. “We’ll talk more about this after the meeting,” I grumble.
“I’ve said all I can. I’ll make a deal with you, however.”
“What kind of deal?”
“If you get close to Livy, I’ll tell you everything,” he bargains.
“Everything?”
“You have to get in with her first.”
“Are you doubting your baby brother’s skill with the ladies, old man?” I joke.
He laughs and slaps me on the back. “Not for a minute. You’ve always been better than me when it comes to that shit.”
“That’s because you wasted your time with that bitch, Mavis.”
Bear rubs the back of his neck. I know he’s happy with Ayita, but Mavis’s betrayal hurt him. He took her as his old lady when he first moved back to Cherokee. They were together for a while and seemingly happy. That was until Mavis started dabbling in drugs. That’s when the cracks began and when she tried some shit with the president of another club, Bear finally had enough. The bitch nearly caused a club war with one of the strongest MCs around. Bear gave her a choice, stop snorting the product the club was dealing or move out. When he told her that regardless she would no longer be his woman, she left. That wasn’t the worst part of the whole damn thing, though. No, that came a couple months later when Bear found out the bitch had moved her ass into the Feral Kings clubhouse, whoring herself out to our biggest enemy. Eyeball. The man is a motherfucking psychopath. He ended up killing Mavis and I can’t say I miss the bitch. She broke my brother for a while. She also made her own choices. The only good thing that came out of the whole mess is that after Mavis, Bear stopped dealing the drugs. We still do some shit that might get you thrown in the slammer, but we have nothing to do with drugs and I’m fucking glad. I’ve seen the devastation they leave behind. I’d rather we never have a part in that.