Page 3 of Archer (Dirty Misfits MC 3)
I shrugged. “Except, it might not be safe for you to go home.”
Both of the girls looked at me, but it was Josie who spoke. “And why’s that, Mr. Smarty Pants?”
Fierce. I like it. “The Black Flags—the guys we believe did this to you—probably knows where you live.”
“Oh, really? And how’s that?”
“Don’t,” Astrid warned.
I peeked over at her. “She has a right to know.”
Josie blinked. “Know what?”
I cleared my throat as I stood. “We believe The Black Flags crew that has been giving us so much trouble here lately has bought out the strip club you work in. They’re your new bosses, which means they have access to your employee file. They know where you live, and that’s the first place they’ll search for you if they want to find you again.”
Josie’s eyes lined with tears. “He’s kidding, right? Tell me he’s kidding, Astrid.”
Then, Astrid turned her head to face her best friend. “I wish he was. But he’s not. That’s the intel all of us are working with right now.”
A tear streaked Josie’s cheek. “My God.”
I sat on the edge of the bed and gazed into her eyes. “You’d be safe with me. Those Black Nutsacks don’t know where I live, and even if they did, it would be hard to get to me without me knowing they’re coming.”
Josie paused. “Why’s that?”
I placed my hand against her forearm, which was about the only part of her body that didn’t have a damn bruise on it. “Because I live in a gated community on the beach with regular patrols that take place. Plus, security cameras.”
Astrid snickered. “You live in one of those preppy neighborhoods I see all the time around here?”
I ignored her question. “You’d not only be safe with me, but you’d have a wonderful view while healing. I’ll make sure you stick to your medicine schedule, I can cook decent-enough meals, and when you’re on your feet I’ll drive you home myself.”
And even though Astrid continued to protest in the background, Josie held my eyes.
Almost as if she were contemplating taking me up on my offer.
Two
Josie
I stared Archer down as his offer turned itself over in my head. I was just as shocked as Astrid, because this man certainly didn’t strike me as the kind of guy to live in a nice, gated community out there on the beach. I mean, those houses ran anywhere from five hundred grand all the way up to five million, and some of the nicer homes even had a nice stretch of private beach all to themselves.
The dirty blonde, brown-eyed, rugged, stubble-faced, muscular man that sat beside me certainly didn’t fit the type of people that resided in such places.
Nevertheless, his place sounded amazing. I mean, falling asleep to the sounds of the ocean every night? Taking coffee and my medication on a back porch where only a few steps had my feet in the sand? The damn place sounded like vacation, and I’d never taken a genuine vacation before. My parents didn’t have that kind of money growing up. When I found my calling in the stripping world, I enjoyed my job so much that I didn’t want to take time off to go somewhere else.
Why do that when I loved the life I was already living?
Everything felt like it was moving so quickly, though. I mean, The Black Flags? Some crew taking ownership of the strip club? How did they even know that shit? And now, this crew had thrust me into the middle of it by dragging me back to, well, wherever the hell they had taken me. And with Astrid breathing down my throat and the guys congregating out in the hallway and this Archer guy offering me a place in his home to recuperate?
I didn’t know which way was up.
All I want to do is my job and get paid. That’s it.
“Look, I’ll be fine at my place, okay?” I asked.
Astrid rubbed my shin softly. “For once, I agree with Archer on that particular point. It’s not safe for you to stay at your place. At least, not for now.”
Archer commanded my attention with the strength of his voice. “And you can bet your ass that if they want to find you? The first place they’ll search is your best friend’s house.”
Astrid scoffed. “Hey. Porter and I are completely capable of defending her if that shit happens.”
I turned my eyes toward my best friend. “So, you agree with him on that point, too?”
And her eyes softened. “Please, just come home with me so I can keep an eye on you.”
I knew what I had to do, even though it meant choosing sides. Even though it meant potentially putting myself in harm’s way. Even though it meant pissing off my best friend and potentially bringing more heat down into Archer’s lap.
