CHAPTER ONE

– VELOZ –

Stepping inside another MC’s clubhouse makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. I’m wearing my cut with the Blennies Hitch MC patches, but my days as a member of that club are numbered. My brothers all received a clean slate when we agreed to a deal with Broken Deeds MC.

It wasn’t actually a deal, more of a blackmail situation Broken Deeds forced upon us. Our MC thrived on vigilante justice until Broken Deeds MC intervened. They needed our help catching criminals and in return, they would wipe away all vigilante felonies. Again, except when it came to me. My background has an ink-black page that cannot be wiped clean.

I’ve always been open and honest about the fact that I indeed pulled the trigger and killed a man, one of my own team members, during a hostage situation. The mission was one big clusterfuck from the get-go. The whole SWAT team fell apart that day.

“Veloz,” Archer, the president of Broken Deeds MC, rumbles and spins around when he adds, “Follow me.”

I stomp after the man who told me he put one of his members on me, as in dive into my past and find out what exactly happened that crucial day. No one believed the truth, no matter how many times I explained. Seeing this MC works for the government to solve cases by using any means possible, I was all for giving them a shot to see what they could find out. Archer had me write out my point of view, step by step, of what happened that day.

That’s why my ass is in Archer’s office right now. I’m about to take a seat when he shakes his head.

“Place your ass on the couch, Veloz, not the chair.” He types something on his phone and places it on his desk. “I’m going to get an update about you and will let you listen in. Keep your mouth shut until I tell you I’m ready to speak with you, understood?”

My annoyance spikes when there’s a knock on the door.

“Understood?” Archer grits again through clenched teeth.

I dip my chin and sink down onto the couch on the other side of his office.

“Enter,” Archer rumbles and sits down behind his desk.

I barely manage to keep my cool when a woman enters his office instead of a man. I have no clue why I just assumed it was a brother giving Archer an update. However, the delicate woman gliding into the room holding a laptop underneath her arm clearly shows my assumption was wrong.

I haven’t seen her face, but she has a nice body. Well, from what I can tell with the clothing she’s wearing. Dark blue leggings, blue ballet flats, and a light blue oversized sweater. No skin is showing and the blue hair tie holding her thick dark hair in a braid polishes off her theme, ’cause it’s clear the woman loves the color blue.

“Leontine.” Archer’s voice holds warmth when he says her name. “What do you have for me?”

She surprises the fuck out of me when she states, “The switch you suggested will be good for both clubs. Veloz Bishop is Broken Deeds MC worthy in my opinion.”

Archer’s gaze stays on her when he asks, “How so?”

“His background in law enforcement, SWAT experience, and the additional years as a member of Blennies Hitch gives him the correct training and qualifications. The incident you had me looking into had several crucial holes. All while the letter you gave me which contained his point of view of what happened that day did explain crucial details the evidence showed about what might have gone down. Veloz is right, the girl he mentioned did indeed exist.”

I can feel my jaw drop. Archer’s gaze finds mine and he narrows his eyes at me as if warning me to shut it.

Thank fuck he asks the questions that almost fell from my lips. “Who’s the girl, and how did you find her?”

She opens her laptop and places it on his desk.

Her fingers glide over the keyboard and she starts to explain. “I scanned all the video evidence they had, along with all the other angles I could find in the neighborhood. It’s very simple, really. Once I had a visual of a girl stepping out of a car, I checked the license plate and found out she’s the daughter of a diplomat.”

“Fucking connections,” Archer growls, and my blood boils.

I lean forward and place my forearms on my thighs, itching to jump into the conversations, because this woman is the first fucking one who has backed up my statement of what went down.

“Yes.” Leontine closes the laptop. “I also think he was framed, and I would like to investigate the death of his teammate, Presley Leighton.”

I jolt to my feet, ignoring Archer’s direct order to keep my ass in place.

Archer sighs and jabs his hand in my direction. “Leontine, I’d like you to meet Veloz.”

The woman slowly turns and I automatically step forward, holding out my hand for her to take. I take in the angry scars littering her face and neck, but her bright bluish-green eyes hold me captive. There’s a tormented void in there that’s pulling me in.

Her palm glides against mine, allowing my warmth to seep into her cold hand. She shivers at the touch but doesn’t shy away from my gaze. An overwhelming need to know every detail of this woman assaults me. I barely manage to stop myself from stepping closer when Archer clears his throat.

“Well, that’s a nice twist,” he mutters and adds in a louder tone, “Leontine, you have permission to investigate Presley Leighton, along with your new partner. Veloz, time to change those patches. You and Asher are swapping places to make both MCs stronger and create an alliance.”

I glance Archer’s way and realize what the fuck just happened; my past has been cleared and I was offered a damn job within Broken Deeds MC.

Archer raises one of his eyebrows. “Well?”

Well, what? I want to growl, but I know regaining a job in law enforcement is what I’ve always hoped for. At least, before I became a member of Blennies Hitch. Those brothers always had my back and believed me at my word. A few days ago, I offered up myself when Broken Deeds gave them the deal involving a clean slate. In the end, I get one too, but the price I have to pay is switching MCs.

“Do I need to move?” I question.

Archer winces. “Let me get back to you on that. The rooms at the clubhouse are all spoken for and–”

“He can move in with me,” Leontine suggests.

Did she really just offer I switch places with her twin completely by offering his room at their fucking house? I keep my gaze on my new president, and the fucker smirks at me.

“Sounds like a good idea. You two will be working together on a case anyway, and it’s a big house now that Asher has moved out,” Archer agrees. “Leontine, mind waiting outside? Veloz will be right there.”

Leontine takes her laptop from his desk and saunters out of the office.

Archer waits for the door to close behind her when he says, “You know Leontine’s Asher’s twin, but I’ll give you a short recap of her situation. The scars you see on her face and neck are just a glimpse of what she’s covered with. The last case she worked on involved a serial killer and he took her hostage. We managed to catch up to the fucker, and kill him, but by then he had her naked and carved up on the floor. She wasn’t raped but the trauma to her body and mind was enough to give her post-traumatic amnesia. When she woke up, she didn’t recognize anyone. She still doesn’t remember what happened and her memory is slowly coming back. At least, we hope so, otherwise, it might evolve into dissociative amnesia. It’s a defense mechanism of the body, to protect herself from what she endured. She’s a great ER doctor, but recently they decided to work for Broken Deeds full-time and pick up some shifts at the free clinic in town to give back to the community.”

Archer leans back in his chair and crosses his arms over his chest. “Due to recent events, we had to split up Leontine and Asher. We have reason to believe Asher let Leontine win with rock, paper, scissors, it’s how they divided tasks, and it’s why his guilt is doubled. He became overly protective and started to smother her.”

“That’s why you suggested the switch,” I grunt.

He releases a deep sigh. “Part of it. Before she lost her memory they almost always went head-to-head unless they each had their own tasks. Even then there’s a rival between them that had me doubt their focus. We have twin brothers here who work flawlessly together, Asher and Leontine, though? I think both will evolve and do greater things if they have some space between them. Their parents agreed and it backed up my decision. Her father, Chopper, is brilliant with a computer. Ivy, her mother, is a retired ER doctor. Leontine excels in both those qualities. She grew up here, and with the circumstances, it was best to give Asher a solo mission. Turns out, he liked it a bit too much when he claimed your president’s sister as his old lady.”

“So I’ve heard,” I murmur. “Both MCs now have a solid connection.”

Archer gives a tight nod. “They do, but the contract with the government still dictates one of us will have to oversee Blennies Hitch for at least a year. It’s good for Asher that it’s working out, for all of us of course. Especially with Leontine mentioning you’d be a fine addition to our MC.” He reaches into one of his drawers and pulls out some patches. “Here you go. Make sure you switch them on your cut before you head out with Leontine.”

I grab them from the desk and lift my chin.

I’m about to head for the door, but his cold voice stops me when he says, “Oh, and Veloz? Keep your cock in your pants unless you intend to claim her. Hurting her–”

“Prez, all due respect, but shut the fuck up,” I grunt. “I’ll never hurt that woman. Not because she’s clearly been through a lot, but solely due to the fact that she belongs to this MC and deserves the respect that comes with it. Not to mention, you let me witness her verifying my truth of what happened the day my career ended, something no one did.”

“Then we’re on the same page. Now, get out and have Leontine update you on the new case. She’ll also repeat all the rules and shit that goes on around here, something I also explained to you before you showed up here.” Archer grabs his phone and completely dismisses me.

I stalk out of the office and find Leontine waiting in the hallway.

“Come on, I’ll show you the house and then we’ll ride to your place to grab your things,” she suggests.

I hold up the patches. “Prez wanted me to put these on first.”

She bobs her head. “I have what you need at my place.”

I follow her down the hall, out the back door, and straight past a row of houses.

Pointing in that direction she states, “That’s where some of the first-generation couples live. The houses further back belong to a handful of the second generation. Asher and I shared a home until recently. You can have his room. He took some shit with him; the rest of his stuff is in storage.”

Opening the door of a duplex house she stops in front of gives me the chance to glance over her fine body again. Anger flares unexpectantly inside me for the shit she had to endure. Good thing the fucker who did it is dead, otherwise, I’d gladly hunt him down and spend days torturing him before finally ending him.

“Are you going to keep staring at my ass or would you like to come inside?” Leontine quips.

“Inside,” I croak, while my dirty mind offers, “preferably your tight pussy, or your ass, but your house will do for now.”

One foot over the threshold and the woman makes me freeze in place when she says, “I want to have sex with you too.”

I choke on my own fucking saliva and cough a few times, slam the door shut behind me, and stare at her clinical expression. Is she a mind reader or something?

I barely manage to croak, “Come again?”

Tilting her head she deadpans, “We haven’t yet, but I do hope the both of us will come again, and again.”

I rub the back of my neck while thinking about her offer, and mostly why the fuck she would suggest it. Archer’s words slide through my brain, and it suddenly makes sense.

I do need to test my theory of her feeling suffocated by the protectiveness of this brotherhood though. “Are you attracted to me or is it just a new cock you’d like to hop onto?”

Anger washes over her face and she takes a step closer. “I saw the way you were checking me out. The look in your eyes told me you liked what you saw, it’s why I offered. I’m sure your ego doesn’t need polishing, but if it’ll get me your cock then yes, I’m attracted to you.”

I narrow my eyes and breach her personal space. Her breathing picks up and she doesn’t back down.

“Would you offer your cunt to any new guy that shows up at your club’s doorstep?” I growl, aggravated by how easily she’s throwing herself at me.

The air rushes from my lungs due to the punch in my gut.

I don’t even have time to grunt or ask why the fuck she punched me, ’cause she jabs a finger against my chest and snarls, “One, don’t call me, or any part of my body a cunt.” Another jab against my chest. “Two, I’m a virgin. You’re the first person I offered to have sex with. The IQ test I saw in your files was a few years old. Did you burn through half of your brain cells already? ’Cause you sure sound stupid. Ugh. You’re an asshole. Do you have any idea what it’s like to have a twin brother who also picked the same line of work? To grow up in a motorcycle club filled with guys who think they need to protect you, and a brotherhood who deems no one good enough to so much as date you?”

Her rambling outburst does let me know something crucial. “There’s nothing wrong with your memory anymore, is there?”

The muscle in her jaw jumps and I can see how she tries to force herself to relax.

“Don’t ever lie to me if you want anything to happen between us,” I warn. “I don’t care if or why you’re hiding behind a phantom hole in your memory. We all have reasons to justify our actions. It’s your life, but it is our world, so no lies. Besides, we’re partners and we need to trust one another completely out in the field.”

“One can’t simply hand over trust to a complete stranger,” Leontine grits.

“Gotta start somewhere,” I fire back.

A breath huffs out from those gorgeous pouty lips. “Fine. Yes, I remember everything. Happy?”

“Fuck, no. But I will be when I slide my cock inside your virgin pussy. Not gonna happen right now, though.”

She crosses her arms across her chest. I’m having a hard time keeping my gaze on her eyes instead of glancing at her perky rack.

Stalking past her, I enter the hallway and ask, “Where’s your bedroom?”

“The one on your right.” Her voice comes from behind me.

I throw a look inside and notice the king-sized bed. “Good. Then it’ll be our room from here on out.”

“What?” she gasps.

Turning, I lean in to bring our faces mere inches apart. “I haven’t fucked in years. It’s safe to say at this time in my life I don’t do one-night stands. You offered me something no other man has touched. What did you think was gonna happen? Use my cock once? That doesn’t give you a great shot with popping the cherry and all. You will want to have another go after the first time. Believe me, it’ll be like breaking a dam. So, here’s my return offer. We’re going to spend the day together, see if we can tolerate one another, and then we’ll share a bed tonight. Come morning we’ll have breakfast and see where we stand. Together.”

“Forget it,” she grits and jabs her finger in the direction of the door across from hers. “That’s going to be your room. You can shove your offer up your ass and fart fairytales for all I care, but it won’t be anything involving us. They will never–”

I step closer and let my nose touch hers, caging her in without actually letting her feel as if she doesn’t have a way out.

“They? Who’s they, darlin’? The brotherhood? Your family? I don’t give a flying fuck what others think. I’m dealing with you, and that’s why I offered to get to know one another first. Let me handle everyone and everything else. Archer put me in your house, we’re working on a case together. It only makes sense for the both of us to spend time together, and that’s what we’re going to do. To pull out from underneath the things that weigh you down also involves cutting loose the cords tying you to them. Focus on yourself, Lea, fuck the rest.”

Her chest rises and falls from our close proximity.

Anger flares in her eyes and she growls, “My name is Leontine, not Lea.”

I reach out to slide a strand of hair beside her ear. She doesn’t flinch away and her breath catches when I let my thumb stroke her jaw.

“I shortened your name in my mind to Leo. It reminded me of a strong lion, but it also makes you sound like a dude. So, I slightly adjusted it to Lea. I might not have known you before today, but the handful of minutes alone gives me the impression you want to fucking bloom in a new way and shed the dust covering your past.”

She’s so close and drawing me in with those hauntingly beautiful blueish-green eyes. Unable to resist, I close the distance between our lips and gently brush my mouth against hers in a whisper of a kiss.

Just a hint of her taste and my cock is knocking on the zipper of my jeans, wanting out and inside her sweet virgin pussy. And I know it’ll be sweet because she tastes like fucking cotton candy.

Man, what a whirlwind my ass landed in. From being pulled from my MC, thrown into another, my past cleared, and now this woman…dangling something fucking precious in front of my face I never thought I wanted more in all my life.

Pulling back, I tell her, “Get me the stuff I need to take off my Blennies Hitch patches and replace them so we can get to work.”