Chapter 12
Kate
No one even looked in our direction when we stepped into the common room a few hours later. I don’t know what I was expecting. Maybe cheers and claps? But no one said anything.
Rain had forced most people inside, but I could see a few stragglers outside still. Who I couldn’t see was Conner. I glanced around. My fingers loosened around Legacy’s.
Where was Conner?
Legacy paused, glancing down at our hands. He tightened his grip with his eyebrows raised.
“Don’t pull away from me now, Kate,” he mumbled.
“I’m—” I was about to insist I wasn’t, but that’s exactly what I had been doing. I hadn’t meant to. But the fact that Conner wasn’t in the room or anywhere else that I could see made me want to run and find him.
“Conner is with Duke.” Pocket spoke up from the bar that took up almost one wall. Swivelling in his seat, he took in our entwined hands before letting his eyes travel up to our faces. I had tried to tame my crazy bed hair, but no doubt looked like I had just been fucked, and it made me blush. I liked Pocket but as a friend. Trouble was, I didn’t know if he liked me as more than that. Had I led him on without meaning to?
“It’s about time,” he said, nodding his head. “Thought you two were going to play around forever instead of admitting it.”
“Admitting what?” I couldn’t help but ask.
He raised a dark eyebrow. “How crazy you are about each other.” Sliding from his stool, he paced towards us. His long long legs made quick work of the distance. “Is it official?”
“Well…” I didn’t know how to answer that. We had gone to bed once. I was out of practice with the whole dating thing, but I was pretty sure that didn’t mean we were in an official relationship.
Yet.
“Yeah, it’s official.” Legacy surprised me by answering. I risked a look at him and the surprise must have shown on my face, because they both laughed.
“Not sure she knew that, brother.” Pocket clapped Legacy on the shoulder, laughing uproariously.
Legacy shrugged. “She does now.” Bending down, he pressed his lips to my hair. “Going to need your measurements soon, Kate.”
Confused, I stared up at him. It felt like I was missing something.
“I’ve seen how good you look in leather.” Legacy winked and my blush deepened, making me feel hot and flushed. In front of us, Pocket laughed even louder.
“I need to hear that story.”
Legacy glared at him, his eyebrows knitted together.
Pocket held his hands up in surrender. “Or not.” He chuckled.
“Will someone explain?”
Turning to me, Legacy pulled me more fully into his arms. “You should have your own leather. Your own cut.”
“To wear in bed?” It was my turn to raise my eyebrows.
“To wear always. So people know you’re mine.”
I must have paled, because the happiness in his eyes dimmed and flickered out. “You don’t have to wear it yet. We can go at your pace, but I want it ready. I can’t imagine having anyone but you as my old lady, Kate. “
“Well, that has to be the most romantic thing I have ever heard.” Pocket made a face and I couldn’t help but laugh. He was such a goof.
“Hush you.” Playfully, I punched at his massive arm. “Did you say Conner was—”
“With Duke, in the garage. He’s perfectly safe and occupied. So you can put your feet up and relax.” Pocket smiled slyly. “But then I’m guessing your feet have been up plenty, maybe some food?”
“Food?” Legacy’s head snapped up. “Is there any of Kate’s lamb left?”
“Hell no.” Pocket grinned. “I ate that.”
“You ate all of it?” I couldn’t help but sound surprised.
Patting his stomach, Pocket made a contented sigh. “I’m a growing boy.”
“If you grow anymore, you won’t be able to get through doors.”
“That’s the plan, my dear. But there’s food left in the kitchen. Have at it. You young love birds need to keep your strength up.” He winked.
“Food first and then we can go and see Conner and then…” Leading me out of the room by my hand, Legacy stalked towards the kitchen.
The room was empty apart from a gaggle of women picking from the plates in one corner.
Easily picking me up, Legacy seated me on the work surface and began to pile a plate high. Only stopping to brush his lips against mine.
“And then what?” I said around a mouthful of chicken he had just placed against my lips.
He paused, throwing a sultry look over his shoulder. “Then I take you back to bed.” Catching my look, he slid between my legs, the food forgotten. “We can stay here or we can go home, but I’ll be in your bed tonight.” His hands slid up my thighs, pushing my dress up with them. “And every night from here on out.”
My tongue was suddenly glued to the roof of my mouth. “You’re talking like you plan on moving in,” I finally managed.
He winked, a perfectly cheeky, Legacy-like grin spreading across his face. “I’ve been living with you these last few weeks, Kate,” he reminded me. “The only difference is I’ll be in your bed and not breaking my back on the sofa.”
“But—”
“No buts. I—” His next words were cut off by the low throaty thrum of bikes from outside. When the engines died, the shouting began. It was much louder than the bike engines. I flinched. Legacy stroked up my thigh one last time before he stepped back.
“It’s nothing to worry about. Just my dad—” Again he was cut off, this time because Pocket appeared in the doorway. His face was red with anger. “You best come, Legacy. Prez is kicking off because of the boy.”
It took me several seconds longer than Legacy to realise what he was saying. Jumping off the counter, I rushed after them both.
There was a man standing in front of a few others just to the side of the front door. His face was beet red as he huffed and puffed. The men behind him were shifting from one foot to another, clearly uncomfortable about what was going on, but unwilling to do anything about it. The full anger of the Savage Sons” president was aimed at Conner. He wasn’t touching him, but it was clear that he had. The front of Conner’s t-shirt was bunched up like someone had fisted it. Anger bubbled up in my chest, daring me to rush forward and smack the anger straight off the old man’s face.
What was it with men and laying hands on kids? Were they all so unsure of their own masculinity that they had to resort to bullying those weaker than themselves?
“Ghost.” Duke stood between them. And it was only then that I noticed the blood on his face. Someone, and it didn’t take a genius to know who, had hit him in the mouth. Not that Duke seemed bothered by the violence. None of the men standing around were, but I was. I hated it.
And I didn’t want anything to do with it.
“Conner was just helping me out, cleaning some of the bikes.”
“Who the fuck is Conner? And why is he in my clubhouse?” Ghost, president of the London chapter, growled out again, louder this time.
“Conner is here because I want him to be.”” Legacy stepped up to Duke”s side so the boy I had come to consider my son was protected by a wall of leather covered muscle. “He’s Kate’s son.”
“I go away for a few days and the whole place goes to shit.” He took another step. “And who the fuck is Kate? Some skank you’ve decided to dip your dick into?” Ghost laughed sarcastically. “I should be happy, I guess. I thought you might be gay. With you, I wouldn’t be surprised.” The chuckle died. “Doesn’t matter. I want them gone.”
“Kate is an old friend of mine, Dad. Just relax.”
It was the wrong thing to say. Ghost swung his arm back. Legacy caught his fist easily. His own hand curled around it so it didn’t make contact with anything.
“Calm down, old man. Kate is going to be my old lady. She should be welcome here, and so should Conner. They’re family.”
Ghost”s lips twitched. “She’s the one who the Hunters are after, right?” He sneered at Legacy’s shocked expression. “Oh, you thought I didn’t know? Nothing happens in this clubhouse without me knowing it. You’re bringing trouble to our door because you wanted to fuck your dead friend’s woman? Please.” He shook his head. “Get the fuck out of here.”
Legacy didn’t move, but I did. Stepping forward, I reached for Conner’s hand and drew him back behind me.
“Don’t fucking talk like that.” Legacy’s voice was a whisper. The rage in it was barely constrained. I’d never heard him sound like that before. “Not about them.”
“Why? She’s a sl—”
Legacy punched him straight in the face. I screamed before I could help myself.
The mass of leather rushing forward was like a wave, pulling Legacy off and holding his arms behind his back.
“I’ll fucking kill you, old man.”
Slowly, Legacy’s dad lifted his head. The punch had been hard, but the old man’s eyes were glazed and unfocused in a way that didn’t seem right. He swayed where he stood.
“I’m going to go.” I said, stepping forward, trying to find a way to Legacy. There was none. There were too many leather clad bikers in the way. “I don’t want to cause any more trouble,” I tried telling him, but no one paid me any attention.
“You will treat her with respect.” Legacy continued to fight against the hands holding him. “She’s mine and—” His brows furrowed together. Something other than anger flickered to life in his face. “Dad?”
Something was going on with the older man in front of us. He looked confused, his mouth opened and closed.
And then he fell, his eyes wide open and unseeing.
And all hell broke loose.
I went home while Legacy went to the hospital with his dad. And it had been hours. Hours and hours and yet I could see clearly the guilt on his face. Whatever had just happened with Ghost, Legacy thought his punch had done it. And for all I knew, it had, but it hadn’t been his fault. It had been mine. I shouldn’t have gone to the clubhouse, and I sure as hell shouldn’t have let Conner hang around there.
Everything that had happened was my fault.
If anything happened to Legacy’s father because of my foolishness, then I would never forgive myself.
I let my head fall into my hands.
“Stop blaming yourself, Kate.” From across the room, Duke spoke softly. I didn’t bother to look at him. We had already had this conversation several times over. It didn’t matter what he said. I was blaming myself.
It was my fault.
I had no business getting involved with the Savage Sons.
And even less getting involved with Legacy.
“Don’t give up on him, Kate.”
I hadn’t said a word, but Duke had easily read my silence for what it was.
“He needs you. I’ve known Legacy a long time and I’ve never seen him look at another human being the way he looks at you.” Duke”s voice was soft. “He’s in love with you.”
I didn’t know what to say to that, so I kept my lips pressed tightly together.
“All I’m saying is—”
The sound of the key in the front door cut him off.
Legacy was home. My legs swung down from the couch, and I was half on my feet before he appeared. He looked like hell. His clothes crumpled, his body hunched.
“Hey.” Wearily, he leaned heavily on the door frame. For a second, he closed his eyes. Opening them, he caught my eyes and smiled before reaching out a hand. I took it without hesitation, curling myself into his chest.
“How’s your dad?” I whispered.
His chest rose and stayed there for several seconds before he exhaled. “My dad”s sick.” He lifted his head and caught Duke”s eyes. “He’s been sick for a while. Domino has called church for Monday.” Legacy pressed his lips to my hair. “Are you going to be okay for a few hours on Monday? No one in the club can miss this.” He sounded tired. Tired and wracked with worry.
“I have work.” I didn’t want him to worry about me. Not with everything that was happening. “Me and Conner will be fine without you.” I tried to force myself to smile. “We will just have dinner and chill.”
“I’ll be back before dinner.” Another kiss on the top of my head. He couldn’t seem to help himself. “It’s your birthday and I’m taking you out.” He smiled sadly. “No arguments.”
Across from us, Duke grinned. It was the kind of smile that said ‘I told you so’.
“What is that asshole smiling about?” Legacy cocked his head to the side. He didn’t look angry, just curious.
“You just went to prove my point, brother.”
“Point?” Legacy’s eyes flicked down to me. “What point?”
“Duke thinks you need me. That you are in love with me.”
“Oh.” Legacy shrugged. “I am in love with you. Pretty sure I’ve told you that before. And I need you. Probably more than you will ever need me. Don’t leave me, okay?”
“I…I just…” I stuttered. “I just don’t like being a bother.”
His arms around me tightened, squeezing the breath out of me but making me feel safe. “You’re the only thing in my life that doesn’t feel out of control right now. Don’t let go of me now.” His voice took on a begging note. “I need you.”
“I won’t leave you,” I promised, and there it was. No matter what my doubts and hang-ups were, I didn”t want to leave him. It had been ten years since Paul had died and in those ten years, I had never allowed myself to be happy. I hadn’t thought I deserved it.
Being with Legacy made me happy. Or at least it made me feel like happiness was possible.
“Go to bed, baby.” Lifting my chin, Legacy caught my lips with his for a second. “I’m just going to talk to Duke for a minute and then I’ll be up.” Another kiss. “I think we both need sleep. And I want you in my arms when I drift off.”