Page 13 of Arch
I glance at Arch, who’s deep in conversation with Clay now, his profile all hard lines and silver charm.
The idea of trusting someone like that, letting them lead—it’s foreign, but seeing Dylan and Caleb, it doesn’t look weak. It looks…right.
“Maybe,” I say, noncommittal, but my mind’s spinning.
Before I can dig deeper, a shout cuts through the music…
Tank’s at the door, his face grim.
“Arch! Clay! We got a problem,” Tank roars. “Vipers tagged our lot—graffiti, big as hell, right by the fucking gate.”
The room shifts, the party vibe replaced by a tense edge.
Arch is on his feet in a second, striding toward Tank, Clay and Jace right behind.
I drop the rag, following without thinking, drawn to the action.
Outside, the floodlights show the damage…
A giant snake, the Vipers’ mark, spray-painted across the asphalt, bold and mocking.
“Fuckers,” Clay growls, but Arch’s already moving, crouching to inspect the paint, his eyes scanning the lot like he’s reading a battlefield.
“Still wet,” Arch says, voice calm but cold. “They were here less than an hour ago. Why the hell was no one watching? Whatever. Well deal with that later. Tank, check the cameras. Jace, get a crew to scrub this shit off before it sets. We’re not letting this stand.”
I watch as Arch stands, his gaze sweeping the crowd, landing on me for a beat.
“Keegan, back to work,” Arch says, but there’s no heat in it, just focus.
I nod, heading back to the bikes, but I can’t tear my eyes off him.
Watching Arch, it’s clear that he’s in complete control, every move precise, his mind three steps ahead.
It’s not just power—it’s strategy, the kind that keeps this club alive. And damn if it doesn’t make me want him more, want to be part of whatever he’s building.
As I scrub the next bike, my defiance from earlier feels small, childish.
Arch’s sternness, his rules—they’re not just about control.
They’re about protecting this family, this world.
And for the first time, I wonder if I could fit into it.
What if I could let him guide me, not because I’m weak, but because I want to be strong for him?
The thought scares me, but it’s there, burning brighter than my pride.
Arch might not be the total asshole I assumed he was—and if that’s the case, then who knows what will happen between us…
Chapter 5
Arch
Keegan’s got no business taking up this much space in my head, but here I am, planning a ride to get him alone, away from the chaos of the clubhouse and the Vipers’ latest taunt…
That snake painted across our lot last night was a middle finger, a dare, and it’s got Clay and Jace on edge, ready to roll out and bust heads.
I’m the one who keeps them steady, who thinks three moves ahead, but Keegan’s throwing my focus.
