Page 111 of Ice
Reacher smiled, a real smile, and he looked relaxed for the first time ever in my presence.
“You don’t know how much it was eating at me, knowing I’d fucked up your life out of spite, in a petty moment of anger andassholiness. That was Ice’s word for it, by the way. This is how I can make amends. Ice will make sure that your record remains clean, and any attempt to tarnish it will see some retribution of the variety he specialises in. This leaves you free to take on clients again.”
I blinked dumbly at him, a lump forming in my throat. I had no idea what to say. Words had failed me completely. In one fell swoop, he’d tried to fix what he broke, and he actually cared that he broke it in the first place.
“Lissa?”
“Uh… sorry, I was… wow, thank you, Reacher. I never expected anything like this.”
He grinned. “We own a few empty properties around the perimeter of the clubhouse compound, because we wanted toexpand into more savoury lines of business. I’ll get Ice to show you everything to see what fits your requirements.”
His phone buzzed on the table surface, and he checked it, a grin lighting up his face.
“And on that note,we’re required in the bar.”
He stood up and opened the door, reaching out to offer his arm, like an old fashioned suitor. I looped my arm through his, and he led me into the bar, which was suddenly crowded with bikers. It was the busiest I’d ever seen it. What the hell was happening?
Fifty-Three
ThatchatwithReacherhad gone better than I’d expected. The ‘being unable to ride’ issue was being shelved for now, pending a later discussion, but he promised me he had no plans to push me from the club for that or any other reason.
Next came the subject of Lissa, and again, he was more forthcoming than I’d expected. He’d already put thought into how to resurrect her career, and had taken steps to clear her name. Apparently Has had been secretly working on that with him, and keeping it from me, the bastard.
He’d taken Lissa aside to put the idea to her, while I got things set up in the bar. My brothers had been much more open to the idea of her than they had with Alicia, and as the tattoo stations were being set up, I started to panic. What if she turned me down, now that the moment was here? What if she blew me off in front of my whole fucking club? Reacher had pulled them all into emergency session, to hold an old lady vote, and they’d all fucking said ‘aye’.
It was really happening, or at least it was unless she really wanted out. Could I let her go now? I had no idea.
“Relax, brother, it’s gonna be fine.” Ryder was leaning against the bar beside me, with Tori leaning against him in turn.
“What if she changed her mind?”
Tori laughed. “She’s hooked on you, Ice.”
“Yeah, I can’t for the life of me see why, but some women just have no taste.” I elbowed Torch in the chest, spilling his beer on him.
“Asshole.”
Reacher suddenly appeared with Lissa on his arm. He was fucking touching her. I lunged away from the bar, before a hand dragged me back.
“Easy, brother. She’s yours, and we all fucking know it. It’s your Pres.” I shook free of Has-Been, and made my way over to Lissa.
“You okay, babe?”
She nodded, looking confused. “I… what’s going on? Is everything okay?”
I forced a grin, while my heart was trying to beat right out of my chest.
“Yeah… we were just getting set up to make you my old lady, that’s all.” Please don’t turn me down.I knew then that I’d get down on my knees and beg if I had to, even in front of everyone.
Her eyes widened. “In front of everyone?”
“That’s kinda how it works. We get tattoos, and the club witnesses it. Has wants to do yours, is that okay? Feel free to tell him to fuck off though if you like, I already did.”
She giggled, resting a trembling hand on my chest.
“You really want me as your old lady? Like, this is really happening?”
I glanced around at my brothers, surrounding us like proud family members should.
