Page 70 of Reacher
“You don’t want a blind VP,” he offered, grinning widely at me.
I laughed, but then I felt a sobering thud in my chest. Nor did I want a blind president, if I had to step down. It probably wasn’t the time to mention that though, because Ice had to be our priority.
“I’m coming with too,” Stitch muttered, drawing my attention back to him. “Whatever you’re worrying about, just set it aside. Ice deserves our full attention.”
“Yeah. Look… before Ally comes back out. I realise that things are a mess right now, but I already know I can’t be without her. If it comes to it…are you ready to step up?”
Stitch frowned, glancing at the bathroom door, then back at me. I saw the moment when comprehension dawned on him, like a punch in the stomach, and his breath left him like he’d taken a physical blow.
“Wait… step up? Like, take over? Fucking hell, Reacher, surely it won’t come to that.”
I shrugged, hoping it looked carefree, even though I felt like I couldn’t breathe.
“I have to make a decision, Stitch. If the club won’t agree to Ally being my old lady, then I need to step down. I can’t bewithout her, and I don’t think I can lead a club who can deny me this.”
He tugged at his beard, his eyes darting around as he absorbed my words. Hell, I was feeling the exact same way. This was never the plan. We’d always planned to run things together, until one or both of us passed on.
“Fuck me. This is the last thing I expected you to say, and truthfully? No. I’m not ready to step up. I figured I had another decade or so of being your VP, before I’d have to do that.”
Jesus. “I don’t want anyone else but you in this role. You’re the only one I know will keep things the way they’re going. Our view for the club is practically identical.”
He nodded, watching the bathroom door open, and Ally step out, fully dressed.
“Don’t do anything rash, man. Let’s puzzle this out together. I’m not convinced this is necessary, and Jesus… I don’t want it to go this way, okay? We make a fucking amazing team, and this club is better for the both of us being here.” He dragged both hands through his hair.
“Please don’t destroy everything we worked so hard to build, Reacher.”
Ally was watching us, that razor sharp mind of hers figuring everything out in a split second.
“My god… I’m ruining everything for you. Reacher, please, don’t lose what you have, what you’ve created, just for me.”
I grabbed her arm, and dragged her closer.
“You said you love me. Did that change while you were getting dressed or something?”
She snorted. “Idiot. You know what’s not what I mean.”
“Yeah, well, you’re fucking stuck with me now, woman, so shut it and let’s go.”
She poked me hard in the chest, my fucking feisty woman.
“You don’t want me to shut ‘it’, trust me.”
Stitch groaned, heading for the door again.
“I’m not even fucking listening. Can we go?”
And with that, we hopped on our bikes, and headed for the hospital, my old lady wrapped around me in that fucking amazing, blissful way, that made me feel like a fucking king.
Twenty-Three
Whenwearrivedatthe hospital, we met up with Torch and Micro, who both greeted their President and VP like brothers. Torch then nodded at me, and winked, and Micro reached out to touch my shoulder, and then rethought it when we all heard a low growl from Reacher, like a wolf, protecting his mate. It was actually pretty sexy, and they all just took it in their stride, like it wasn’t kinda weird.
“They’re just preparing some shit in there, and Has is waiting by his door. For a guy who said he didn’t like Ice, he’s been there a lot, like even when he’s not scheduled to be.”
Maybe Has-Been had the hots for Ice, I mean, stranger things could happen. I wasn’t sure how it would be looked at in a biker club, but it was kinda cute. Maybe all that protesting was about him hiding his real feelings.
Reacher told the guys to go get some rest, but they both stayed where they were.
