CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Loki

The Next Day

I've spent most of the day buried deep in my den, trying to find anything I can to help with this fucking governor problem, and it wasn't until I had a visit from Haven that everything started to fall into place.

I don't know why I didn't think of it before.

But it's been a year and a half since this mass of information fell into our laps, and we just haven't had a need to dig into it. Haven told me to go searching. She wasn't sure if I would find anything, but there was a hell of a lot of information in the Rojas Cartel's database that we stole from them. Getting that access code from Haven when she worked at The Nest was the best fucking thing we ever did.

We didn't know it back then, but it sure as hell has come in handy for us now.

As I sit in the Chapel for Church, my brothers surrounding me with Alpha chatting away, my mind wanders back to Poppy's party when Bea and I snuck up here and fucked on the very table that everyone is leaning their elbows on right now.

A slow smirk crosses my lips, my cock jerking with the flashback.

She leaned back, using her fingers to spread her pussy. I watched as she drew up and sank back down, my own fingers joining her. She let her fingers graze along her clit and then spread around my cock, feeling me disappear inside her.

The sight of it was so fucking intoxicating, teamed with a pleasure so fucking euphoric. Not to mention doing all this in the Chapel, on the Church table. That was fucking epic.

Moaning, my breath heavy as she slid her fingers back up, pressing on her clit while she reached back with her other hand to gently cup my balls once more. A low growl escaped me as a warning for her not to try moving lower, but the vibration it sent through her body had her head falling back, her hips rolling with abandon.

Both of us right on the edge.

The ache too strong to deny any longer.

Her fingers worked her clit faster, her pussy clenched around me, and I dipped my thumb lower, teasing the edge of her entrance while my cock slid in and out. She couldn't hold back. Just as Bea's orgasm hit, she sunk a finger past my back entrance.

I wasn't expecting the adrenaline wave that consumed me.

A tsunami of pleasure swept over my body, drowning every inch of my soul. Even though everything in me was thinking, stop, my body wouldn't cooperate. Instead, my vision turned hazy, stars danced in its path, and my hearing went almost completely deaf in the moment. The force of our joint release drowned out my protests. Each jolt of my release hit Bea deep inside, triggering aftershocks that wracked her body. At the same time, my body was trembling with the biggest climax I had ever had in my damn life.

"Holy fuck!" I spat out breathlessly, my hips jutting up as I tried to bury myself deeper.

Bea fell forward, her eyelids fluttering closed as complete euphoria took over us both. "Mmm…" she hummed, completely satiated, her body lifeless.

"That was some fucking stunt you are going to pay for later," I said, still catching my breath. Though my tone let her know I actually enjoyed it, even though I was fighting it.

"Promises, promises," she teased, shaking her ass.

"Loki, is everything set to go on our end?" Alpha asks, making me snap out of my reverie.

Clearing my throat and trying to bring my massive erection under control beneath the Church table, I shift in my seat uncomfortably. "Ah, yeah. We are a go for launch."

Alpha slams his gavel on the table, then nods. "All right, then we've got some shit to do. Let's get this ball rolling."

Everyone stands to move out of the Chapel, and I hesitate for a moment, trying to let my cock settle a little more before I stand.

Alpha moves in beside me, raising his brow. "You okay? You looked like you were zoning out during the meeting. If you don't think we should go through with the plan—"

"No… I do. Just didn't get much sleep last night. I'm fine. We're good to go, Pres."

"Then get your ass out of that seat, and let's do this!"

Smirking, I nod. "After you."

He chuckles, and I stand, taking a deep breath while rearranging my cock, then head for the Chapel door, finally feeling it begin to calm down as I descend the stairs.

Grinning from ear to ear as I walk through the clubhouse, my eyes meet Bea's across the room. She's so fucking beautiful. I never would have thought Hayes would have been the one to bring Bea and me back together—but in some fucked-up way, he did. If he hadn't gone to the governor and talked to him about Bea's app, then he wouldn't have hacked it, and Bea wouldn't have come to me for help.

I guess I should have thanked Hayes for that— before I ripped the asshole apart.

Letting out a stifled laugh, I shake my head and head to stand next to Alpha as he sends a whistle through the clubhouse, gaining everyone's attention. "Listen up." Everyone turns to face Alpha, giving him their full attention. "We all know what happened last night. A prospect turned on the club. Swift, our previous VP, also turned on us. Now, I don't know what the fuck is going on, but if any of you want to leave, if any of you don't feel comfortable in this club and how we do things… now is the time to speak up. I'm not gonna hold it against you. I swear on my oath as president of this club, on my Old Lady, and on my kid that if any of you want out, you can hand in your patch now and leave without repercussion. I don't want any fucking brother here who is not one-hundred percent, fully-fucking-committed to this club, to the people in it. Do. I. Make. Myself. Clear?"

Everyone nods in agreement, but no one says a word. "Good. In that case… Wes, get your ass over here."

Wes widens his eyes but hurries to stand in front of Alpha and me. "Yes, Pres?"

"You're our remaining prospect. You spent a lot of time with Hayes, so my question to you is, did you see this coming? Was there anything in his behavior that suggested he was turning?"

Wes exhales, rolling his shoulders like he's uncomfortable being probed in front of everyone. His eyes dart over to look at his sister, Sadie, and she manages a small smile. He turns back to Alpha, shaking his head. "Hayes was always bitching and moaning from the moment I arrived at the club. I figured it was just him. He was constantly fucking up and looking for someone else to blame. Generally laying that blame on Loki. Looking back now, there were warning signs. I was just so focused on trying to drown out his bitching that I missed them. That's on me, Pres."

I turn to Alpha, and he exhales, flaring his nostrils. "You've done a hell of a lot since joining Defiance, Wes. You came here from the Steel Serpents after being there to protect Sadie, but even through your own admission, you let this slip through your fingers."

Wes spins, his eyes meeting Sadie's as Maverick wraps a protective arm around her. Her eyes beginning to water with fear.

Wes turns back to Alpha and tentatively smiles. "I understand. I'll take whatever punishment you see fit. Just please, Alpha, don't kick me out of the club. Let me prove to you I am worthy of Defiance."

Alpha tilts his head, and I shrug in response. Then Alpha exhales, crossing his arms over his broad chest. "Okay, prospect. You want to prove to us that you belong here?"

Wes nods emphatically. "Yes. I'll do anything!"

Alpha throws his hands to the side. "All right. Have you seen the movie Coyote Ugly ?"

Wes tilts his head in confusion but slowly nods. "Yeah?" he replies hesitantly.

"Then I want you to get your ass up on top of that bar and sing "Can't Fight the Moonlight" just like they did in the movie. Hips gyrating, boots stomping. All the sexy dancing you can do. And I need to believe it, Prospect."

"Pres?" Wes questions, his voice full of nervous tension. I try to fight back my laugh while hushed snickers behind me echo through the clubhouse. Alpha gestures for the bar, and Wes' face falls. He turns to look at the glistening woodgrain as Navy wipes it down for him. His breathing increases as he cranes his neck to the side to release his stress. "Okay... yeah. I can do this."

He takes off for the bar, his steps slow and cautious as I move over with Alpha to grab what we need. I turn around just in time to see Wes hoisting himself up onto the bar. Clover lets out a loud cheer, her cell in her hand as if she's recording. "Woo! Go, Wes. This will make such great content," she hollers, making everyone break out into a fit of laughter.

Wes' hands clench into tight fists, his eyes closing like he is preparing himself.

"C'mon Jersey, show us what you got," Ink calls out, referring to the main character from Coyote Ugly.

Everyone continues to laugh as Wes throws his hands in the air in a ‘fuck it' motion. He puffs out his chest, then smiles wide and begins to sing— really fucking badly. "Under a lover's—"

"For fuck's sake, Wes. Get your ass off the bar and come get your patch, you damn idiot," I call out, interrupting him before he can really get into it.

His eyes widen in shock while I hold up his patches for him. Everyone cheers, gathering around him at the bar. The brothers reach up and grab him, carrying him toward us on their shoulders in celebration as he bursts into a fit of hysterical laughter. Everyone takes turns to slap him on the back in celebration as they lower him in front of Alpha and me.

He shakes his head as they drop him to his feet. "You fucking got me good, you pricks!"

Chuckling, I step forward, handing him his patches. "We'll have to get you some tight leather pants and a tiny tight top to accentuate your cleavage for your nightly shows. Get you to make us some real money," I tease.

He grins shifting his eyes from me to Alpha, then back to me. Then slowly takes the patches from my grasp, holding them in his hands with the brightest smile. "For these patches, I'll even auction off my brothers to the highest female bidders. We could get a real business model going." He chimes, making another joke from Coyote Ugly.

We all burst out laughing as Alpha raises his brow. " Hell, no, H2O . Women would go feral for these guys… I mean, look at them. We'd never get them home again," he quips, using yet another pun from the movie.

Haven groans, shaking her head. " Seriously? For macho, tough bikers, you all know far too many lines from Coyote Ugly . Can we get on with this, please?" she snaps.

Alpha spins to face her, raising his brow. "Babe… have you seen the movie? Guys love that movie. We just don't usually talk about it so openly."

Ink nods his head. "He's right, Haven. Sexy-as-fuck women dancing on top of a bar, getting all wet, and grinding up on each other? Why the fuck would we not want to watch that?"

The guys all around the clubhouse nod in unison. At the same time, the girls groan under their breath.

"We're getting off-topic… Loki, focus on Wes," Clover calls out.

Wes turns to Clover, a bright smile lighting his face, and she grins back at him, bringing her cell up and continuing to record.

Chuckling, I spin to Wes and grip his shoulder supportively. "All right, time to get serious. Wes, we all know you've been through a lot. Living with the Serpents means you've seen shit, done shit that you didn't want to do. But you didn't let it change you… too much. You've proven to us that you're willing to go above and beyond, even make a complete dick of yourself if we ask you to. You're the kind of brother we want. And, because of the growth we have seen in you since your arrival here, from your darkest days in the Serpents to your new beginning here with Defiance, you will now be known as Phoenix because of how you have a way of rising through and setting fire to anything that gets in your way."

Phoenix smiles wide as he rushes forward. I hug him, slapping his back a few times in a brotherly manner for good measure. "Proud of you, kid."

He pulls back, glancing down at his patch, sporting the road name, Phoenix, and shakes his head. "Shit… thank you! I really fucking mean that. For training me. For pulling me into the club when you could have killed me off with the rest of the Serpents. I won't let you down."

Grinning, I slap his back and nod. "I know."

He turns to Alpha, lets out a huff, and places his hand out for him to shake.

"Welcome to the club, Phoenix. But remember, even though there are no prospects here at the moment, technically, you're still the lowest-ranking brother."

Phoenix chuckles and shrugs his shoulders. "Doesn't matter if I'm always the lowest rank. I have my patch. I'll clean the bikes and scrub the floors every fucking day if it means I get to stay."

Alpha bumps his side. "You can get back to that tomorrow. For now, though. Go. Celebrate. Maybe just not on the bar, this time, yeah?" he quips.

Everyone laughs as he grins and takes off into the crowd of brothers, making a beeline for Sadie and Maverick. Clover is still filming the whole thing on her cell. "I got it all, Phoenix. So proud of you," she calls out, her smile beaming from ear to ear.

Phoenix smiles back at her, giving her a quick wink, but is then pulled away by his sister.

Chuckling, I turn to Alpha as Bea steps up to my side, wrapping an arm around me. "You guys are so freaking mean," she chimes through her giggle.

Haven steps up beside Alpha, snorting out a laugh. "Personally, I would have made him go through with the whole routine, then given him his patch. But that's just me."

Alpha presses a kiss to her temple. "Knowing you, Little Lamb, you would have also made him do it with scorpions under his bare feet on the bar."

Haven widens her eyes with a bright smile. "Oh, baby, I love that you know me so well." She leans in, pressing her lips to his, and they continue to kiss passionately.

Smirking, I turn to Bea and begin to lead her away so I can talk to her for a moment about what I found while working in my den. Taking her to one of the nearest seats, I pull it out for her. She grins and then sits, and I slide in beside her.

Bea reaches out for my hand, threading her fingers with mine. "How are you doing after last night and today? I know you've got to be feeling a lot at the moment, especially after Hayes. So, I just want to check in. Do you need me to do anything?" she asks.

My hand comes up to caress her cheek. "I'm okay… still taking my meds. And to be honest, finding out about Hayes was a shock, especially after putting so much effort into training him. And I don't know what this says about me, but taking out my revenge on him last night, making him pay for betraying us, for betraying you … it made me feel fucking good. So yeah, I'm okay."

Bea offers a shaky smile, shifting closer to me. "It might take me a minute to get used to the violence of the club, but knowing that you only do it when it is for a reason makes me feel better about it. Who knows, maybe one day I might be as crazy as Haven."

Snorting out a laugh, I shake my head. "Jesus, baby. Promise me you'll never be as crazy as Haven."

Bea giggles and leans in, pressing her delectable lips to mine. The second they touch me, my entire body sparks to life. My fingers slide up into the back of her hair, holding her closer, our tongues colliding together. But slowly, I pull back from her, her beautiful eyes staring into mine. Letting out a long exhale, I ask her. "You wanna give being an Old Lady a go?"

Her brows furrow in confusion. "Ah… I'm not following."

Against my better judgment, I continue, "If I let you loose with Haven on a job, you promise not to do anything fucking stupid?"

She sits up taller, obvious excitement rushing through her entire body. "Just me and Haven?" she questions.

Hesitating, I nod, which sends her into a frenzy. She jumps up from her seat, her hands throwing into the air in celebration. "Fuck, yes! Holy shit! This is going to be amazing. Do I get a gun? I get a gun, right?" she rambles in quick succession.

Stifling my laugh, I raise my brow. "What happened to ‘ it might take me a minute to get used to the violence of the club,' little miss acting all innocent and pure?"

Bea scoffs, waving her hand through the air. "So… it's already been a minute. It's time to move on and let me truly get into the action with Haven."

Sitting back in my seat, I cross my arms over my chest, letting out a huff. "You're more excited about the action because it's Haven. If you were going into the battle with me, it would be totally different, wouldn't it?"

She shrugs. "She's a female assassin, baby. A total badass. Sorry, but us chicks kinda idolize her."

Rolling my eyes, I nod in agreement because I completely understand.

Haven is a freak of nature.

The only reason I'm allowing Bea to go into this in the first place is because I know Haven will have her back.

"All right, let me fill you in on what I know."

Bea slides back into the seat next to me, listening intently as the celebrations erupt in full swing behind us.

Phoenix can celebrate becoming a brother tonight.

But tomorrow…

… the real fun begins.