CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
–LUELLA –
“It’s not going to work,” I mutter under my breath as I watch my father’s limousine come to a stop in front of the clubhouse.
“He needs to know,” Macsen states.“If he offers to help, great.Point is, we’re keeping him in the loop while he let you fly blind.”
I release a deep sigh and turn to face him.“My senses sharpen when I’m flying blind.Instinct kicks in and the rational decisions I make in the heat of the moment are the right ones.Maybe that’s why he chose not to tell me some of the details.”
He gives a tiny shake with his head.“Don’t justify his reasons.I don’t like any of the man’s decisions when it comes to you.”
Anger flares up.My father might not be perfect, but he’s still my father.
“Don’t get defensive.”Macsen steps closer.“I might not respect the way he raised you, but you’re stronger because of it.You defying him, questioning his reasons, and standing up for yourself shows the world not to mess with Luella Hart.Not the assassin part driving the ever-loving fear into the bones of your enemies, and everyone else for that matter.Not me, let that be clear.I don’t think your sister is all that impressed either.”
A snort leaves me when I think back of how she woke me earlier.“Definitely not impressed.She put her face an inch from mine and yelled loudly ‘wake up.’I could have throat punched her out of reflex.She has no fear.I’m glad my dad put all the stupid into the firstborn.The firstborns are like pancakes, or so I’ve heard...they always come out a little weird.”
A bark of laughter rips from him and he snakes an arm around my waist to pull me close.“Don’t let Livi or Thorsten hear you say that,” he muses right before he gives me a fierce kiss.
My entire body lights up with a lustful craving and I wrap my arms around his neck to keep him close.
“Did you call me here to witness this shit?If so, don’t bother to call next time.I have to endure it from one daughter, I refuse to...”
Breaking the kiss, I glare at my father and snap, “Get used to it because Macsen is mine.My life is my own and I made my choice.”
Kissing, showing any kind of affection in front of others is dangerous in my father’s world.It shows others, enemies present or future, a weakness they can prey on at any given time.
Void of any emotion my father simply stares and asks, “Officially?”
“I claimed her, she accepted,” Macsen grunts, lifting his chin defensively.“The government also gave her a contract, wiping her past clean.She’s officially a Wisely Dicey old lady.”
Hearing Macsen say those words makes my next breath easier, as if the stress holding my body in its grip slowly fades.
“Why?”my father asks and steps closer to Macsen.
“She’s mine,” Macsen states with determination.“Been that way since the first time we met, even if neither of us were ready to make it happen until now.”
My father’s eyes slide from Macsen to me, and back.“The contract is watertight?Nothing from the past can seep into the present or future?”
Livi crosses the room and comes to a stop beside me.“To be honest?The government is thrilled Macsen claimed an old lady who is a highly trained assassin.Do you know how valuable someone with her skill is when it comes to fighting crime?She can slip in and out without risking other lives and simply take out the one we’re after.So, yes, watertight and no take backs; she’s a solid part of the Wisely Dicey MC brotherhood.”
A boost of warmth hits my chest to hear my half-sister talk about me.I can feel the smile slide across my face while my lips stay shut.These people I’ve only recently met are standing up for me, unconditionally.
A hint of a smile appears on my father’s face.“Good.It means you can keep her here while I handle the Wilton issue.”
“Wrong,” Thorsten grits.“We’re handling it.Official club business, everything is already set.”
“Then un-fucking-set it because this is my business to deal with,” my father snaps.
Macsen points at the room they call church.“Let’s sit down and discuss this.”
My father waves his hand dismissively.“Nothing to discuss.We’re leaving.”
Brando is standing next to my father and moves his hand in the direction of his gun when Macsen takes a step toward them.
