Page 69 of My Darling Mayhem

Pulling away, I pressed my forehead to his, staring at the leather in my lap.

“I’m so honored, Archer. I love it…and I.” Hesitation caught my words as fear lassoed around them, pulling me back to reality. What if he didn’t mean it this way? What if he was just possessive, and he didn’t really mean?—

His whisper danced along my mouth. “I’m falling in love with you, Wren.”

My eyes flew up, finding his, my breathing shallow.

“You are?”

His hand was on my neck, his forehead still pinned to mine. “I…fuck, no, I’m sorry. I lied.”

Fear ricocheted like a bullet hitting a piece of metal. My mouth parted, but he merely laughed and kissed my jaw and then my ear.

“I’m past that. I fuckin’ fell, hard. I’m in love with you, and I’m scared shitless.”

Tears pressed against my eyes, and I let them fall while I smiled.

“Really? Because me too…it’s terrifying.”

He had tears gathering in his eyes, too, while he laughed if relief. “I have so much shit going on with the custody stuff, it’s the absolute worst time to bring you into my life, but I can’t imagine it without you at the same time.”

“Then don’t. I’m here. I want to be inside it.”

“Yeah?”

I kissed him again and let him taste my tears of happiness. “Yeah.”

Archer helped me into my new leather cut, my property patch, as they called it, and it felt like I’d just knit a piece ofmy future into place. It felt right. It felt different than belonging anywhere else ever had. This felt like I was part of something bigger and better; strangely, it felt like home.

We rode back down the glen, returning to the kids and his club. The smile on my face couldn’t be rivaled as we flew down the road. The second we parked and people saw what I was wearing, there were shouts and excited yells. Women came up to me, pulling me into hugs, while men made all sorts of shouts of approval. A few lifted Archer and congratulated him.

I laughed while I went over to where Thistle was with the boys. There were people everywhere, but at one point, the group had separated Archer and me halfway to where I was headed. It wasn’t a big deal as I passed people who wished me well and were happy for me, but then suddenly, there was a man in my way, and I realized we were slightly off to the side.

“Property of the president? What an interesting plot twist. I bet your father would have loved this.” The man smiled, showing all-white teeth. He was tall, broad, and stacked with muscles. His hair was nearly as white as Kane’s, and sharp blue eyes reminded me of Archer. Something like oil began to slither in through my chest.

Where was Archer?

I took a step back, and he stepped closer. “Wonder what the new leaders of El Peligro will think of your latest relationship. If Archer knew about your connection to his biggest enemy, do you really think he’d place that piece of leather on your back?” He took a step forward, but I refused to back away or cower to him in any way. Mostly because I was shell-shocked that he’d just talked about my past and Archer…and somehow made a connection to both.

Something told me not to look away from this man, even for a second.

But his eyes drifted to the side, and he sighed like his time was up. “Enjoy it while it lasts. El Peligro isn’t your brother’s anymore, but he’ll be sent to deal with you just the same. He’ll have to before the new leaders find out. Your blood ties to that gang are a complication for Mayhem Riot. You’re a problem now whether you realize it or not.”

What was he talking about?

The man suddenly shifted on his boot and turned around, disappearing into the crowd. Archer was next to me a minute later.

“Who was that talking to you?” His voice was panicked.

I shook my head, my mind too muddled to even have an answer for him. I needed to get to Cruz. Archer helped me push through the crowd until we were finally in front of both boys, seeing they were safe and sound. I tugged Archer close and whispered in his ear.

“He looked like…you, and he looked like Kane.”

SEVENTEEN

WREN

I satwith my hands folded in my lap and my heart hammering against my chest. Thistle looked over at me and winced.

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