Page 52 of Suspicious

“Jesus Christ,” Alpha mumbles.

“Oh my God, yes!” Poppy cheers, bouncing in her seat.

“This party is going to be epic. And I think it’s decided. While I’m inside, Clover, you’re taking over party planning for Poppy. Alpha is justnotgoing to get the right feel for what Poppy needs,” Haven chimes.

Alpha widens his eyes, glaring at Haven, and Clover nods in agreement. “Sorry, Pres. But Haven’s right. This party needs us girls sticking together.”

Alpha frowns. “Girls… with paintballs, axes, and bows and arrows, yeah… makestotalsense,” he grumbles.

Haven shoves him aggressively. “Don’t be such a spoilsport. You concentrate on club business. We’ve got Poppy’s birthday. Don’t we, girls?”

Poppy and Clover smile widely. “We got this, Daddy!” Poppy beams excitedly.

He inhales deeply, then nods. “Fine. It was doing my head in anyway. Clover, do you have time with your social media internship to take this party planning on?”

Clover smiles wide. “Yeah, for sure, Pres. I’ll make time. And I’ll even make sure to include Louis in there, too, for his big day.”

Alpha snorts, nodding his head. “Yeah, the poor kid isbeing completely overlooked with this whole birthday thing. I’d appreciate it if you could do something for him, South, and Ingrid.”

“On it. Actually, Pres, while I have you, I did have an offer come in that I wanted to talk to you about, though. This new client contacted me about their social media content. They want someone to get highlights of the best tourist locations from Los Angeles to Las Vegas and do a complete social media content campaign around it. It would actually be a high-paying job if I were to take it on.”

Haven smiles wide as I glance over at her brother, Maverick, Alpha clearly doing the same thing.

“Have you spoken to Mav about this?” Alpha asks.

Clover grimaces, tilting her head. “Hmm… not yet. I thought if I at least had the all-clear from you, then I would tackle that beast later.”

I chuckle, and Alpha rubs at the back of his neck as if he is considering it. “You would need to drive the leg to Vegas to get the locations in, yeah?” he clarifies.

“Yes. Drive there, stopping at their specific locations, take the content they want, spend a day or two in Vegas gathering more content, then drive back.”

Furrowing my brows, I shrug. “I guess one thing you’ve got going for you with Mav is that you’re only eighteen. You can’t do anythingtoostupid in Vegas,” I tell her.

Everyone laughs, and she nods. “Exactly, right? It’s just a work trip. Nothing bad or illegal couldpossiblyhappen. I’m literally taking a bunch of photos and videos for a client.”

We all turn to Alpha, and he groans while shaking his head. “You talk to Maverick, and if he says yes, then you can go. But… youhaveto take a brother with you for protection. I’mnotletting you go all that way on your own.”

Clover smiles, nodding. “Okay, deal! But first, I will planPoppy’s party and make it thebesteighth birthday we haveeverseen.”

Poppy giggles, bouncing in her seat as Haven stands with her bags packed. “And on that note, I better get my ass out of here. Don’t want to be late for chow time,” Haven jokes.

Alpha stands, walking around to meet her, and pulls her into his arms, uncertainty clearly etched across his features. “Yousureyou want to do this?”

Haven snorts out a laugh. “This? This is nothing. Those women ain’t got shit on me, baby. You wait. I’ll be running the cell block by the end of the week.”

Alpha sighs, resting his forehead on hers. “You fucking better. And if you’re not, and you need to get out, you fucking let the guards know. They all know who you are. If you need an extraction, you fucking take it. Don’t take any unnecessary risks.”

Haven smiles. “I promise, I’m coming home to you, and I am gonna get the information you need. I love you.”

Alpha flares his nostrils, then leans in, pressing his lips to hers. I find myself smiling as Poppy walks around to Haven’s side, gently cuddling into her legs. Haven slowly pulls back from Alpha’s kiss and then leans down to Poppy. “Take care of your dad while I’m gone.”

Poppy smirks. “I got your back.”

Haven stands and gently rubs Poppy’s head. “Love you, kid.”

“Love you too.”

Haven turns back to Alpha, who is clearly holding in his emotions by the scowl etched in lines on his face as Haven hoists her bag over her shoulder. She smiles, then turns to walk out of the clubhouse.

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