The Vice President

by Addy Archer

  C H A P T E R T H R E E

  ~ H U N T ~

  What a fucking mess. I can still feel her wrapped around my cock, and my chest tightens hearing those sobs rip through the air. My brain is trying to process what the hell is happening, but all I can think of is pulling that woman in my arms to comfort her. Fucked up, I know. With everything going on, who she is, how I treated her… Holy motherfucking hell.

  She spoke the truth. I damn well knew before she mentioned Snotty. Snotty is Raven’s favorite stuffed animal. I bought it for her third birthday. It’s an ugly green bunny with long ears. She never mentions it to anyone, so it’s pretty damn special, and I damn well remember the day she wanted to take Snotty to school. Yeah, Peyton isn’t lying.

  Not to mention, my daughter is completely taken with the woman. Raven’s been telling me stories about her friend for days on end. It never crossed my mind it would be a woman like Peyton. Hell, everything she mentioned screamed a kid her own age or someone from school.

  Fuck, I’m an idiot for never asking and just letting my daughter rave about her friend like she rattles on about other things. Most times my mind is occupied, so I can only give her half my attention, like if we’re driving home and such. A sigh rips from my body as I stroll back into the main room of the clubhouse. Raven is standing before me in a flash, holding the kitten Peyton wanted to bring home.

  “Daddy, why were you mean to Peyton and where did you take her?” My daughter’s eyes demand an answer. One I can’t fucking give her.

  My president’s old lady is standing behind her, and I know I should give either of them an explanation, but now is not the time. “Can you please take Raven into my room and watch some TV with her? I need to have a word with Alaric.” Angie nods, and my gaze lands on Raven. “Go with Angie. I’ll take you home later and explain, okay? But Daddy has some important work to do now.”

  “You shouldn’t have been mean to PeyPey Potato. She’s nice. She’s always nice. You were mean.” Raven’s bottom lip trembles, and again I’m hit by a punch in the gut. Damn those two for ganging up on me while I feel shitty already.

  Raven spins around and stomps off to my room. To my surprise, Angie gives me the stink eye before following my daughter. I guess I’m not very popular with the females today.

  Stalking inside church, I close the door behind me, and Alaric is right in my face with my next breath. “What the fuck is going on?”

  I rub a hand over my neck and shake my head. “I don’t know, man. Seriously. My mind is all over the fucking place trying to make sense of it all. Peyton’s mother seems to be Raven’s teacher—or she was before she died. Peyton is Raven’s friend. I’ve heard her talk about her friend for weeks and how she gave her the road name PeyPey Potato. And it’s not like Peyton kidnapped Raven. Peyton put a damn note on my door and tried calling me, but I switched burners, remember? Fuck. I don’t know. Too much of a coincidence and yet... like I said, I don’t know.”

  “She’s a damn princess of another MC, Hunt. And you fucked her? Man, what were you thinking?” Alaric takes a seat and points at a chair. “Sit. It’s going to be awhile until we find a damn solution to handle this fucked-up situation.”

  Turns out, it takes us half the night, and we still don’t have a solution. I’m dead tired when I stalk into my room and find Raven sleeping in my bed with the little kitten beside her. Angie rises from the chair next to the bed and again gives me a glare. She doesn’t say anything but stalks right out the door.

  Or at least she tries to because I block her and ask, “Why the stink-eye treatment?”

  “Because of the way you dragged Peyton through the room for all to see. And I know you threw her in one of the dark rooms in the basement. The whole situation was uncalled for. I don’t care what she did. I know for damn sure she didn’t deserved to be treated that way. Not to mention your daughter saw the whole thing. Dick move, Hunt. I’m disappointed in you.” Angie bumps into my shoulder and stalks away.

  My heart sinks because deep down I know there’s some truth to it all. I should have used my brain when I guided her down to the basement, but this woman put me on edge the second I laid eyes on her. And to think she turned out to be the daughter of the president of Trigger Pull MC. A fucking princess. Yeah, my mind is reeling with all this shit.

  Then the things she mentioned in the basement fucking gutted me to hear those words fall straight from her soul. No lies. All truth. She would have to be one hell of an actress if she was lying, and why the fuck would she? I wouldn’t have seen my daughter again if she took Raven as retaliation.

  She wouldn’t have known my old number didn’t work or left a note on my damn door. She sure as fuck wouldn’t have known about Snotty. Not to mention, these two have been friends for weeks and her mother has been Raven’s teacher for a long damn time, way before this mess with Trigger Pull MC started.

  It’s messed up to say the least. It’s the whole reason the meeting in church lasted hours and was fruitless, nonetheless. Now the woman is still in the basement. My eyes slide to Raven, and I damn well know she’ll hate me if I keep her there overnight. Hell, I’d hate myself too. Alaric said we should let her leave in the morning after we’ve talked things through but let her stay there overnight so she knows not to mess with us.

  I don’t know what it is or if I’m getting soft, but thinking about her being in that dark basement tears me apart inside. Fuck it. I spin on my heels and head down to the basement. It’s dead quiet when I get there. Opening the door, I find her sitting on the floor in the middle of the dark and drafty room. She’s holding onto her own legs, and her head rises in my direction.

  “Come on. I don’t care what anyone says; you’re sleeping in my bed. Though you’re sharing it with Raven, if that’s okay. I assume, with the shit you mentioned, you’re not gonna hurt her, but I’ll be sitting right next to the bed and won’t be sleeping. Alaric said you’re allowed to leave in the morning after we have a talk. But I’m giving you a choice—stay here or sleep in my bed.” The authority in my voice lets her know I couldn’t care less what she decides.

  Who am I kidding? I might as well be on my damn knees with the things I just mentioned—going against my pres’s order and offering her a spot in my bed instead. Fucking risking my daughter’s life along with it.

  “You should leave me here,” Peyton mutters and places her chin on her knees to dismiss me.

  “Stand the fuck up, Peyton,” I growl. Stepping forward, I pull her up and take her with me.

  Before I enter my room, I whisper, “Raven is sleeping, so be quiet.”

  She doesn’t say anything and I can’t blame her. Never has a cunt mattered or raised any emotion inside me—not even Raven’s mother when she told me she was pregnant. Well, other than repulsion, but it was mostly triggered by the fact she wanted cash to get a damn abortion. I didn’t want her to, but I also believe a man doesn’t have any say or control over another person’s body, so I didn’t have a choice.

  Then she came back a few weeks later telling me she spent all the cash and was going to have the baby so I’d better keep the money flowing. To be honest? I was fucking thrilled she didn’t have the abortion but again repulsed by the way she was using Raven even before she was fucking born.

  Then she decided she didn’t want the fuss of having to deal with a baby all day every day and how it ruined her body. It. She called Raven a fucking it. Then she continued by saying it wasn’t worth all the money in the world. She dropped Raven in my hands and walked away. I haven’t heard from her since. Good. Fucking. Riddance.

  Like I said, never has a cunt mattered to me. But this woman lying down on the bed while she gently tucks my daughter in before she closes her own eyes? She’s putting pressure on my damn chest, and I’m not liking it one damn bit.

  I take a seat in the lazy chair and place my feet on the corner of the mattress. My gaze slides over both my daughter and the woman lying next to her, and I have to say it’s the first damn time I’v
e had the visual of a picture-perfect family. A woman in my bed right next to my daughter.

  Fuck. Is my daughter missing out on having a mother? She kept raving about her friend—who turned out to be Peyton—loving everything about her and how cool she is. She even gave her a damn road name. PeyPey Potato. A smile slides over my face, and I release a deep sigh.

  She felt so damn good when I was fucking her. Not to mention how afterward she told me my cock was the first one to claim her cunt. Triumph like no other flowed through my damn veins when I heard her spilling that little detail. Shame she’s a damn princess of another MC. I can hardly claim her as an old lady. Talk about a fucked-up situation all on its own without the shit in between both MCs.

  I try to keep my eyes open, but they are so damn heavy. Peyton’s breathing slowed down the instant she closed her eyes. She’s fast asleep, as is my daughter. And so is the damn kitten in between them.

  I should stay awake, but it’s been a hell of a few days, and I’m absolutely beat. I close my eyes for a moment, and the next thing I know, Raven is shaking my arm, waking me up. I rub my eyes, and when they hit the bed, Peyton is nowhere to be seen.

  “Where did she go?” I growl, flashing up to check if she’s in the bathroom.

  “She went home, Daddy,” Raven says, waving a piece of paper in her hand. “She gave me her number to call if I need her. PeyPey said I could give you her number too. But she made me promise to let you know you can’t call her to bootie all or something.”

  No bootie call. She means I don’t get to call her if I want sex. The corner of my mouth twitches, and yet I should be pissed with her running off like that.

  “Did she take the kitten with her?” I ask, now noticing the bundle of fluff is missing.

  “Hunter? Yes, she said you would tell the neighbor he found his forever home. Right, Daddy?”

  Hunter? Did she name the kitten after me?

  “Can we go get some donuts, Daddy?” Raven begs with her eyes, and she damn well knows I can never resist her when she gives me that look.

  “Let me splash some water on my face,” I grumble.

  I should be angry and let Alaric know Peyton is gone. Though she didn’t just leave and hightailed out of here. She talked with Raven and even left her number. Come to think of it, I need to put it in my new burner.

  “Hand me the note with her number,” I tell Raven and grab my phone.

  I hold out my hand, but Raven shakes her head. “Nuh-uh, you’re not getting it. She said you could, but you were mean to my friend. I won’t let you be mean to her again.” She tucks the note into her pocket and points her tiny finger at me. “We’re getting donuts, and we should get some for PeyPey and bring them to her. Can we?”

  Can we? Yeah, I’m liking the idea of paying her a visit. I kinda owe it to her with her slipping out of my damn bed without me knowing. I told her we needed to have a talk in the morning, and one way or the other, we’re gonna have a little chat.

  “Sure, let’s swing by Peyton’s and bring her some donuts too,” I tell her and shoot Alaric a text to let him know I’m heading out.

  As I’m about to jump in my truck, Alaric steps out of the clubhouse and rushes toward me. “Where the hell is she, Hunt? I checked the basement; she wasn’t there, and she’s not here either.”

  “She left when I woke her up,” Raven easily supplies from the back seat and gives my pres a beaming smile along with it.

  Alaric’s gaze slides from Raven to me. “You’re shitting me, right? Don’t fucking tell me you brought her to your room last night after I specifically told you to leave her in the basement. What kind of statement are we giving those fuckers if we let one of theirs sneak their way inside our club and sneak right the fuck out? Dammit, VP.”

  I hang my head; he’s right, I fucked up. Royally. “I’m sorry, Pres. I’ll make sure to bring her along after me and Raven have grabbed some donuts for breakfast.”

  “You’ll do no such thing. You stay away from her. That’s a damn order, understood?” Alaric thunders, and though it makes fury spike in my veins, I can’t ignore his order this time.

  “Understood,” I regretfully agree.

  Alaric pins me with his gaze, and I’m sure he can tell I’m not too damn happy with any of this. “I mean it, Hunt. It’s a can of worms we don’t want to rip open at this time. We have enough on our plate, and even if you think she’s okay, what if she’s fucking with ya? Ulterior motive, man. Think about it. Think about your damn daughter in all of this. Go get some breakfast with the kid. We’ll talk some more when you get back.”

  I give him a tight nod and fire up my truck. Raven is quiet all the way to the donut shop, and once I open the door for her, she glances at me with her bottom lip trembling and eyes all watery. Shit.

  “I’m not going to see my friend again, am I, Daddy?” Her voice is trembling, and she starts to sniffle.

  My damn heart is tugging in my chest. “Come on, sweetheart, let’s get some donuts, okay?”

  Her sad head bounces softly up and down, and the both of us head inside the donut shop. Normally she would be all smiles and talking my ear off about what kind of donuts she’d like to take home, but there’s no excitement and no words this time.

  Fuck it. I squat down and place my finger underneath her chin to connect our gaze. “Alaric said I should stay away from her, right? Well, what if I wait in the truck while you drop off some donuts for your friend? Since she’s, you know, your friend and all.”

  As if she’s hit by a damn spark of life, her eyes instantly flare, and she starts to rattle so damn loud and so damn much, my ears are hurting. Worth it, though, seeing her like this, and let’s be honest, who are we to deny Raven her friend?

  She and Peyton had a friendship going before me or the club knew anything about it. Hell, Peyton’s mother was Raven’s teacher for fuck’s sake. I find it hard to believe Peyton has alternative motives. My gut tells me she doesn’t, but I know damn well one can never be 100 percent sure of something.

  And right now, I can’t see any harm in letting my daughter drop off some donuts at her friend’s house. Well, maybe some harm because who the hell likes lemon crisp donuts? And lemon blueberry ones? Raven picks out three donuts for Peyton, and all are lemon flavored. She can’t stop talking about how that’s Peyton’s favorite in the whole wide world.

  So now she’s in the back seat of my truck, a box filled with donuts beside her for us to take back to the clubhouse, and the little box on her lap is for Peyton. She’s holding onto it as if it is the most precious gift in the whole damn world. Coming to a stop in front of Peyton’s house, I can see her through the window. She’s standing in her living room, cuddling that damn kitten.

  I open the door for Raven and tell her, “You’re not going inside, Raven. You give her the box, stay where I can see you, and we’ll head back to the clubhouse, okay?”

  “Okay, Daddy.” She beams, and I watch her skip to the door.

  I lean back against my truck and cross my arms over my chest. Peyton notices Raven skipping up to her house, and she disappears from the window. A few breaths later, the door swings open.

  “Heya, Dead Skunk. Why are you here? Oh, is that for me?” Her voice is so damn sweet, and I’m irritated by the way she’s fully ignoring me.

  Raven explains what donuts she brought, and then Peyton hugs my daughter tight. I have to swallow against the damn emotions clogging my throat. What the fuck is wrong with me?

  They both exchange some hushed words before Raven skips back to me while waving goodbye to Peyton. Again she doesn’t give me the time of day—not that I blame her. The words Angie said to me last night are a harsh truth still flowing through my head. I did treat Peyton like shit, and she’s right to ignore me. But still she treats my daughter as her best friend. There are no ulterior motives, none. This I know for fucking sure now and would be willing to risk my life on it.

  I’m still pissed, though. She could at least have acknowledged me. Okay, now I�
��m the one pouting and fussing over shit I shouldn’t even care about. Fuck. This woman has hit my life like a damn meteorite and left quite an impact.

  C H A P T E R F O U R

  ~ P E Y T O N ~

  “Please, don’t do this to me,” I whisper to the ceiling.

  Eight damn weeks ago, and this man has managed to remind me of him in such a manner, I’m going to be tied to him for life if what I deep down already know is true.

  “Miss Cliners, I have the results right here, and you are right, you are indeed pregnant.”

  My gaze connects with the doctor in front of me. “I had little hope the two pregnancy tests I did at home were wrong.” The man pierces me with his gaze, and I know he’s going to talk to me about things I don’t want him to voice out loud. “No, don’t say it. I’m keeping the little one growing inside me. Instead you need to tell me what the next steps are to set things in motion for me to bring my baby into this world all healthy.”

  One tight nod and about ten minutes later, I’m on my way to the pharmacy, getting prenatal vitamins. I should be freaking out, but instead calmness settles. I mean, I should have known this was a huge possibility when I didn’t take the morning after pill like I said I would.

  I really wanted to, but I was torn when I was holding it in the palm of my hand. I threw it in the trash and accepted the whatever happens, happens decision I made right then and there. The only thing that is freaking me out is telling Hunt he’s going to be a father again.

  Shit. Maybe telling my father and brother should freak me out more when they realize I managed to get knocked up by the VP of another MC. An MC they hate because Rebel Rage MC killed Romero, a pimp who had life-or-death information he was holding over their heads. And now we’ll never know, and it’s all because of them.