Page 34 of Archer (Dirty Misfits MC 3)
And as the van eased away from the club, my gut reaction was to call Archer.
Because for some reason, I just needed to hear his voice after what happened in that place.
Fifteen
Archer
My mind spun through an endless amount of scenarios that could go wrong before Cole and I reached the club. And with every mile we put behind us, I cursed this fucking place being so far away. Every time we got caught at a stoplight, my head was on a swivel to find a quicker way out of there.
But short of popping up onto the curb and killing people in my way, I had to suffer through all of them.
As they happened back, to back, to back.
“Fucking hell,” I groaned.
My Bluetooth speaker beeped before Cole’s voice sounded. “Hello? Testing? Is this working?”
I rolled my eyes. “For a young guy, you suck with technology.”
He chuckled. “You know you’re talking to the first half of the two-man team that hacked into that club’s employee files and planted Josie’s identity, right?”
“Which is why I can’t believe you don’t know how to work a damn Bluetooth helmet. All you have to do is pull up beside me.”
“Which is hard when you’re doing seventy in a thirty-five, sweet cheeks.”
I looked at my speedometer and slowed down. “Well, fuck.”
“Hey, I got a call coming in from Tanner. Patching him in.”
“Fantastic. I’ve been wondering what the hell’s—”
Tanner’s voice interrupted me. “Wherever you are, turn around and head back to the clubhouse.”
I came to a screeching halt at a yellow light. “Why?”
“That’s a good question,” Cole said.
There was rustling on Tanner’s end of the line before that wonderful, beautiful, angelic voice appeared in my ear. “Archer?”
I sighed with relief. “Josie. What’s going on?”
“Seriously, go back to the clubhouse. We’re all in the van. We got out before Chops spotted us.”
Cole and I whipped illegal U-turns at the four-lane intersection before we sped back to where we had originally come from. “Are you okay? Are you in pain? Should I go get you some Tylenol from somewhere?”
She giggled, and the sound made my heart skip a beat. “I’m okay. A bit sore, but I eavesdropped onto a particular conversation you guys are going to want to know about. Meet us back at the clubhouse, okay?”
Cole nodded his head. “On our way now. Give us seven or so minutes to get there.”
“Hey, Josie?”
She paused. “Yeah?”
I smiled softly. “I’m really glad you’re okay.”
I heard her smile in her voice. “Me, too. See you soon.”
I revved my engine and sped in front of Cole. “See you very soon.”
I couldn’t get back to the clubhouse fast enough. I didn’t care if I was doing ninety in a thirty-five, I wanted to beat them back to the clubhouse. I wanted to receive Josie in my arms instead of her waiting for me. And when we pulled into the parking lot without the van anywhere in sight, I raced inside and started putting things out for Josie to eat.
And drink.
And snack on.
“Uh, you need any help, my man?” Cole asked.
I ignored him and rushed around, gathering a few plates of food for her to pick from. One of them had sweets, the other had some meats and cheeses, and yet another had vegetables with some dip. At the last second, I put out a bowl of fruit, and when I heard those van tires crunching against the gravel, I drew in a deep breath as the clubhouse door whipped open.
And Josie’s gorgeous face smiled upon me as she limped in my direction.
“Don't worry about the limp, just sore from dancing,” she said breathlessly.
I scooped her into my arms and held her close. “Did any of them touch you?”
She sighed. “We can talk about that later. I mean, it’s them, you know?”
I narrowed my eyes. “Did they hurt you?”
She shook her head. “No.”
“Did they grope you?”
And when she paused, my blood boiled. “I want descriptions of all the men who put their hands on you. They’re dead, and they will never touch another woman in that establishment—”
Cole placed his hand on my shoulder. “How about you show her the food you set out first, then we can talk about killing later. Yeah?”
Josie smiled up at me as I drew in a sobering breath, but when she tucked her head beneath my chin all of my worries seemed to melt away. I scooped her into my arms and walked her over to the table before I placed her down in a chair.
Then, I sat beside her and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “What would you like to drink?”
I felt the guys staring at us as she smiled up at me. “Water is fine, thank you.”
Without thinking, I leaned forward and captured her lips in a kiss. But once she cupped my cheek, my tongue pushed through her lips. She caressed my face in ways that sent shivers down my spine, and all I wanted was to pin her against the wall and claim her entire being as my own.
