Page 48 of Knot Only For One Night

But when he speaks, his voice is clear. “Start acting like a Prez.”

Thank god that wasn’t as hard as I thought it’d be. Reed used to be so confident, so collected, it would be a no-brainer this man was made to lead. But since he presented as an omega, something died in him.

This isn’t the Reed I know. I need that Reed back, but I just don’t know how to get him there. I sigh, knowing this isn’t a problem I’m going to be able to fix overnight.

“Second order of business: the theft,” I say, showing Reed my computer.

“So it actually is theft?” Reed asks.

I sigh. “And you’re not gonna believe who it fucking is.”

Prez’s office isn’t extravagant, positioned just behind the Bar but in front of the apartments. Close enough to hear if he needs to come down to the Bar but far enough away to have some peace. A large desk sits on the back wall, close to the door. The chair in the corner he keeps for Queen sits now at his desk next to him. He has two ratty chairs in front of his desk where Bear and Thunder sit. The opposing wall is covered with bookshelves that are full with all sorts of books. Some are Queen’s romance novels, others cover war politics.

Queen, Prez, our enforcer Bear, and my dad Thunder are all in his office when I come to break the news. The most trusted members of the club all sit in a stupor as I reveal who's been stealing from the club.

Before me, Hunter was the best guy to ask when you needed to find something, or someone. He could be gone for days and find whatever it was you needed and he was damn loyal. Until now.

“The books are unbalanced. It started small, fifty here, twenty there. But as time has gone on, it’s gone up by thousands,” I explain as my computer goes around to each person so they can see for themselves.

Reed stands next to me, silent as he watches our elders look over the information. Prez is unusually quiet. His gaze on Queen as if they are having some sort of telepathic conversation.

“What should we do?” Prez asks Red. The single question has Red tensing as all eyes land on him, and I have half a mind to kick him in the back of the leg. But I don’t have to as he relaxes and thinks.

A leader never rushes a decision. That’s the first lesson Prez taught Red, and it’s one he normally listens too. Whenever it applies to club stuff. His personal life though, that's a different story.

Prez’s piercing green eyes bore into Red. I square my shoulders, trying to be a supporting force for Red as he takes a single step forward. “This isn’t an easy decision. Hunter is family. Makes the offense all the more destructive.”

“He’s put us in a tight spot,” Bear agrees as he leans back in his chair, crossing his huge fucking arms. Bear is an East Asian man, similar to Red, both of Japanese descent. Inky black hair and covered in tattoos. I wonder if Red tried to be his opposite with his almost white hair. Bear is the biggest guy in every room, never having lost a fight since he works out every day and specializes in combat. He went off to the military after getting Prez’s mom justice, wanting to be the fighter the club might need. He teaches all of us basic combat and gun training.

“Exactly,” Red says. He turns to face me. “Do we know where the money is going? He’s not keeping it for himself.”

Prez nods behind Red, and I force down the smile my lips want to desperately show.

“Not yet. We know almost his entire check plus what he’s stolen is going somewhere. The account is under a Lucy Melrose, a thirty-five-year-old woman who doesn’t have a life outside this payment from Hunt.”

“Keep digging on that until we’re ready to confront Hunter,” Red says.

My dad leans forward. “Why aren’t we confronting him now?”

Prez steps in. “We need all the facts. To be a thousand percent sure, before we do this. We need a course of action decided by then too. Organized and decisive. This is the first time something like this has happened, and while it may not be the last, folks need to know the consequences for stealing from us.”

“No matter how high up you are,” Queen adds and Prez grunts in agreement.

“So what are we doing now?” Bear asks. The office is considerably small and stuffy with five grown men all over six feet tall, plus Queen, and the looming issue of being betrayed.

Prez slowly crosses to take his seat, opening up his laptop in a clear dismissal before responding, “We wait.”

CHAPTER 16

ASHER

I linger outside my apartment door. Reed and Neven are in the Prez’s office for who knows what. Maybe they are telling him about the scent match. But if so, why didn’t they call me to go with them? Being Neven’s neighbor is about as close as I’ve ever gotten to the guy before meeting Esper, but he doesn’t seem the type to leave folks out. So maybe it’s about something else.

Neven emerges first. He nods in acknowledgment to me as he passes back to his apartment.

“Hey, have you visited Esper today?” I ask. He pauses, and I can see the tension in his shoulders as he nods.

“Yeah, but she wouldn’t open the door. She just needs some time.”