Torched: Afterburn (Iron Serpents Motorcycle Club Book 2) (36 page)

“Why? ‘Cause I get to order men around all day?” he asked, finally cracking a smile.

“That too,” I laughed. “But you did it, baby, you found your destiny. And people are gonna remember you for it. Not everyone leaves a memorable story behind. I mean, my career hinges on anonymity, I’ll be remembered for about two minutes by my internet handle before some other hacker takes my place.”

He cocked his head and held out his hand. I walked over and went to crouch down in front of him, but he shook his head and patted his knee. I sat down on it and reached around to rub the back of his neck.

“Don’t ever lower yourself for me,” he scolded. “I sit in this chair, you sit in my lap, that’s the order of things. You’ll be remembered, sweetheart, you’re gonna be the stuff of old lady legend.” He leaned his head back and stared up at me. “I can’t do this without you, Liv. Think you can handle everything that comes with it?”

I stroked the hair on the back of his head and answered truthfully. “As long as we’re in it together, I can handle anything.”

“Good thing we’re sharing a cell and a life sentence then… Listen, since we’re the mother club, I’m gonna have to take a couple guys and pay all the presidents a visit. It’s gonna be a long ass run.”

It sounded more than long, he’d be lucky to get it done in a month. But long stretches on my own didn’t bother me; it was what I was used to and I refused to stand in his way by being anything but supportive. “I think I can manage to keep the house standing. Being the president’s old lady comes with perks, right? I can ask one of the guys to mow? If not, I’ll just get a bunch of goats and let them graze.”

“And who’s gonna pick up the shit?” he asked.

I shrugged. “You. Unless we get a new prospect.”

He chuckled and kissed my hand. “No goats and you don’t have to worry about the yard work. You don’t even have to look at it if you don’t want to.”

“You want me to stay at the clubhouse? Babe, as much as I love everybody, that’s not—”

“Not
this
clubhouse,” he clarified. “I was thinking you could come with me.”

Say what now? I wasn’t sure if I’d heard him right. “You want me to go visit all the chapters with you? Really?”

“Yeah, really. I think it’s time they all got to meet you anyway. What do you say, darlin’? You wanna take the American road trip of a lifetime?”

“Can I ride my own bike?” I asked, knowing I was pushing my damn luck.

“Fuck no. I’m not about to advertise the fact that I can’t keep my woman in line, it’s bad enough
this
chapter knows it. You either ride bitch like a proper old lady or your ass stays here. And guess who I’m gonna appoint to keep the crawlers in check while I’m gone?”

Nope, no way. Taking a swim in a snake pit sounded preferable. “I don’t think I like all this new leverage you have,” I protested.

“Oh,
no
… Is my cunning wife worried about getting out-played?” he taunted me.

Psh.

“Who said I’m worried?” I asked, sliding my hand under his shirt. “I’ll just have to step up my game to keep getting what I want. It won’t be a problem.”

He pulled my forehead to his and groaned as I raked my nails down his torso. “Baby, just keep doing everything you’ve
been
doing and I’ll give you everything I fucking have. I love you so goddamn much it hurts.”

“I know the feeling,” I breathed. Running my fingers through his beard, I tilted his beautiful lips to mine and latched onto his tongue.

Hearing a bottle shatter, we both turned to look across the rec area and saw Zed standing up on the bar. “Okay, enough of the sad shit,” he thundered. “Tonight, we’re gonna do what Buddha would want if he was here. We’re gonna drink and fuck and act like fools.”

Torch smirked and shook his head. “He’s a goddamn clown, but he’ll make a good VP.”

He couldn’t have chosen a better one. I was happy for Zed, for both of them, their friendship and loyalty went beyond brotherly love. And knowing they’d be riding and working together was a comfort, I’d definitely be sleeping easier on nights alone. “Does he know?” I asked.

“Not yet.”

I ran my fingers along his Vice President patch. “May I?”

He smiled, pulled out his switchblade, and handed it to me. “Please do.”

With careful precision, I cut through the threads without scratching his leather and examined it. “I bet this thing’s got some stories to tell.”

He snatched it out of my hand like he had something to hide and held up the President patch. “This one’s gonna have even better stories, you’ll be in them from the start.” He looked over my shoulder and tapped my ass. “Hey, man.”

I stood up from his lap and turned to see Zed coming in with two extra bottles of beer for us.

“Hey, kids,” he greeted. “You plotting to take over the world in here?”

“Something like that,” Torch replied, as he popped the caps and handed me a bottle. He took a drink and addressed his best friend. “I was just discussing the new rules with my old lady.”

Zed chuckled and tipped his beer at me. “Not sure why you think she’s gonna listen to a goddamn thing you say. Save your breath, she’ll do just fine. Your woman’s got what it takes.”

While Zed had his eyes on me, Torch clasped his hand and shook it. “So do you, brother.”

Zed glanced down as their palms parted, Torch had passed him the VP patch. He looked back up and smiled. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.” Torch nodded. “I can’t think of anybody else I’d rather have sitting next to me at this table. I’d take a bullet for you, man, and I know you’d do the same. For my woman too.”

“Any day. Come here, asshole.” Zed yanked on Torch’s shoulders to pull him into a hug. “Love you, brother.”

“Love you too.”

With a squeeze and a couple manly slaps, the two of them sealed the deal.

“I’ll announce it at church tomorrow,” Torch told him. “Tonight, we let loose. It’s been a while.”

“
Too
long,” Zed agreed. He held his bottle up for a toast. “To a break from life’s shit shows.”

“Hear, hear,” Torch replied. They clinked their bottles before turning to me and tapping mine.

“I think somebody’s looking for you,” I told Zed, motioning toward a visibly apprehensive Nadia walking into the clubhouse.

Fuck if his face didn’t light up. Whatever was going on between those two was hush-hush, but I had no doubt we’d be seeing a lot more of Nadia in the future. I was happy for her too. If someone had told me I’d end up facilitating her return a few weeks earlier, I probably would’ve laughed it off, but she’d really grown on me.

Was it weird that I’d embraced my husband’s former lover? Probably. But I didn’t give a shit. She’d turned out to be Buddha’s unexpected saving grace and I’d always be grateful. Family was family and in the male-dominated culture we’d found ourselves in, sisterhood was just as important as its counterpart.

Besides, I’d snagged one of the good ones, an outlaw biker who was loyal to his club
and
his woman. My marksmanship and a justifiable fear of having his dick blown off insured it, he claimed.

But I knew better. What we had ran deep and—once he got past his hemming and hawing—his word meant something.

As Zed strolled out, Torch kissed the top of my head and tucked me into his side. We took a few steps toward the doorway, but stopped to assess the action.

People began streaming in, music started blaring from the speakers, and laughter once again echoed through the clubhouse.

“I’m still waiting for an answer,” Torch reminded me. “Are you coming with me?”

I rested my head on his chest. “Babe, you’re everything I have to lose. I’d ride through hell and back with you. Just tell me when to be packed.”

I hope you enjoyed reading the second part of Torch and Liv’s journey. For updates on upcoming releases or to contact me, please swing by www.facebook.com/AuthorShayMara or send me an e-mail at [email protected].

Happy reading!

- Shay