Tex’s Angel (Savage Legion MC #11)

Chapter 21

Clara

W e lucked out with Zen. He gave us three addresses for Todd Blake, his parents, grandparents, and former employer whom he might be working under the table for again. The employer was someone who owns a small factory. He popped up on Zen’s radar because several years ago they got into some legal trouble for getting their employees to work overtime and paying them straight time, and there was also a bunch of health and safety violations recorded.

Rigs gets pulled into some kind of club business so Tex and I head out in his truck to see if we can track him down.

It takes us the better part of the afternoon to get to his parents’ house only to find that he’s not there. Nor is he at his grandparents’ house. When they ask who we are we just say we’re friends looking to check on him because we haven’t heard from him since his wife passed. Since we look like the nice, average middle-class people we are, his parents and grandparents are warm and welcoming to us. They tell us he’s working evening shift at the only factory in town.

Climbing back into Tex’s truck after speaking with the grandparents, Tex looks beat. “It’s getting late. I think we should pay a visit to that factory and just get this over with. He’ll be less likely to freak out or get aggressive where he works because he won’t want to risk his job.”

“You’re right. His place of employment is our best chance of talking to him in a controlled setting.”

He turns his phone around for me to see. “My GPS says it’s twenty minutes away.”

We keep up the polite conversation because we can both feel that this is all coming to a head. Todd Blake is going to give us the answers we’re looking for. I have a gut feeling that Tex won’t stop until he does. If there’s one thing I’ve learned about Tex, it’s that he can be very persuasive. I hope Todd turns out to be the one stalking me because if he’s not, it means we’re no closer to figuring this out. I want this to be over now. The stress is killing me.

Since they’re not just going to let us walk into their place of business, Tex flashes his ID to the balding, middle-aged man who comes to greet us when we ring the afterhours bell. “We need to speak with Todd Blake right away.”

He glances behind us nervously, “Um, do you have a search warrant?”

Tex shoots back, “We don’t need a search warrant. We’re not gonna be searching anything.”

Looking from one to the other of us, he begins to sweat. “Do you mind if I ask what all this is about? We’ve been in compliance with all state and federal employment regulations for over a year now.”

“This has nothing to do with your business or how you pay your employees. We’re here to speak with Mr. Blake.”

“Todd has been working here for a few months. He’s still grieving over his wife, who passed away. Would it be possible for you to catch him at home?”

“No,” Tex responds firmly. “We need to talk to him now. It’s urgent or we wouldn’t interrupt him at his place of work.”

I speak for the first time. “It will only take a few minutes. It’s about his son.”

I can see the indecision on his face but when I say, “Please,” pleadingly, he caves.

Pulling the door open, He grumbles, “I’m probably gonna get into trouble for this but follow me.”

“Thank you. We’ll make it quick,” I tell him, my voice thick with gratitude.

He takes us back to a work floor with one empty station. “Where is Todd?” He calls out to the man at an adjoining station.

“He’s been in the bathroom for the last forty-five minutes. He’s either passing the world’s biggest turd or fallen asleep on the can again.”

I immediately get a bad feeling. Glancing around, I see the overhead sign for the restroom. Tex is moving towards there already, so I follow him. He pushes the door open and looks inside. Barging into the room, he yells over his shoulder, “Call an ambulance!”

Not caring that it’s the men’s room, I dive in right behind Tex and that’s when I see a man passed out on the floor. He’s got an empty syringe in one hand. While Tex tries his best to revive him, I scramble to my feet and head out, “Do you have a medical box?” I ask.

One of the men comes running with a box in his hand. I pull it open and rummage around, California State law requires workplace medical boxes to include naloxone. I’m hoping that this is one workplace rule that they follow. Finally I find what I’m looking for and pull out a naloxone twin pack, I grab it and run back into the restroom. Before anyone can respond, I pull out one of the pens, press it against his shoulder muscle and press down the plunger.

I rest back on my knees while Tex keep trying to wake him up. The naloxone works because he opens his eyes, though still seems groggy.

Thankfully, it’s not long before EMS arrive. The paramedic asks him, “Are you okay?”

He’s shaking his head as if in a daze.

One of the EMS workers picks up the syringe and asks, “What did you take?” While another begins checking his vitals. Todd isn’t very forthcoming with information, either because he’s not thinking straight or because he doesn’t want to incriminate himself. I let them know about the naloxone I gave him and give them the other pen.

It’s pretty clear he’s in good hands and we aren’t going to be able to talk to him.

We hang around long enough for EMS to load him into the ambulance and then thank the man who let us in. He looks a little shellshocked. “If the two of you hadn’t showed up, he might have died on the restroom floor.”

I quickly reassure him. “In a factory this size, surely someone would have walked in found him there.”

“Maybe, you’re right. I just don’t know. You know, Todd and I grew up together. Our families still go to church together. After his wife killed herself, he’s just been mindlessly drifting deeper into addiction.”

I reach out and grab his arm, because I want him to remember what I’m about to tell him. “She didn’t kill herself. She got a hold of some bad drugs. The coroner’s report listed her death as accidental.”

He stammers, “Todd said she did it intentionally.”

“He was really out of it after she passed away. I’m sure they told him the truth. Maybe he wasn’t able to retain it in all his shock and grief? He can call and get a copy of the death certificate if he doesn’t believe you.” I give his arm a little squeeze to reinforce the message and then we climb into Tex’s truck and leave.

A short silence spins out between us as we drive along. Finally I state the obvious, “I guess we can rule Todd Blake out as potential suspect. He seems like he’s given up on everything.”

“Agreed,” Tex murmurs. “Seeing him still mired in his grief brings back memories.”

“I don’t know if I’ve come right out and said it, but I’m really sorry you lost your wife. I can tell you were deeply in love with her.”

When he glances my way, I can see a world of hurt in his eyes. “Thank you for saying that, Clara. I know it sounds strange to say, but I believe my wife would have approved of y’all coming into our lives the way y’all have. You’re good people and that’s all she ever wanted for us after she died.”

“We’ll just have to do everything we can to keep her memory burning bright, for you and for Levi and for all of us who never got an opportunity to meet her.”

The next thing I know, Tex pulls the truck over and then pulls me into his arms. I can only imagine what’s running though his mind right now. But I know what’s going on with his heart. He’s coming to grips with loving two women separately but equally. We just sit there in the tightest hug I’ve ever had for what seems like forever. I’m contented to hold him for however long he needs it. As long as he wants and needs me, I won’t ever be the first to let go.

***

By the time we make it back to the clubhouse, Levi is strutting around in his junior prospect cut and, along with Evan, is manning the front gate with three other prospects.

Tex gives them a jerk of his chin and says, “Levi, it’s getting late, and you’ve got school tomorrow.”

“Okay, Dad,” he says in a disappointed tone.

“You’ve got the whole rest of your life to sit at this front gate, son.”

The other prospects encourage him and Evan to call it a night, and they follow us to the clubhouse.

The boys head off to bed and Tex and I do the same thing. After a quick shower, we dry off and go to bed naked. We start out by just cuddling and talking about the day. He says something that really captures my notice. “Have y’all ever thought about fostering or adopting a kid?”

I look into his eyes, trying to figure out where he’s going with idea. “Why would I do that?” I truly don’t understand what he’s thinking on this issue.

“Seeing Robbie got me thinking about kids like him. Also, I remember y’all mentioning at one point that your husband said he didn’t even care anymore that y’all couldn’t have kids. He just wanted to come home. Knowing y’all can’t have kids made me wonder if you’d ever considered fostering. You’d make a wonderful mother.”

I’m taken a back. It takes me a few seconds to think about how I want to respond. Finally, I find the words I need to explain. “No, adopting or fostering wasn’t something that we’d talked about or that I’d considered. Chris thinks I’m infertile because he couldn’t get me pregnant as easily as he thought he should. Chris is a bit a dick when it comes to things like that. If there’s a problem, in his mind it’s always the other person’s fault because he sees himself as perfect and blameless in every situation.”

“So no doctor ever verified that y’all couldn’t have kids. He just assumed that was the case?”

When I nod my agreement, Tex lets loose a long string of curses under his breath. “I can’t believe the gall of that asshole.”

“Yeah, he’s an arrogant, obnoxious asshat who thought it was a good idea to have sex with my sister. That’s why I ditched him and started hanging out with a handsome biker who is everything I always dreamed of in a man.”

“Y’all serious about wanting me, darlin’?” he asks in a husky voice filled with emotion.

“Of course. You and Levi, the whole package. To be honest, I want to have my own babies someday. I’m not quite at that point where taking care of a newborn makes sense in my life. You’re lucky to have a teen. They’re conversational and independent.”

“Is that another way of saying sassy and stubborn, cause that’s more like Levi.”

“Levi is amazing, he’s smart like his old man, whom I adore as well.”

“Yeah, I guess I’m in pretty good shape for my age.” He glances away when he says this, like he doesn’t quite believe it.

“I think you’re smoking hot. Remember, I’m the one who put myself out there by flirting with you?”

“Oh, I remember. I remember thinking y’all were a little young for me.”

I bring up my arms up around his neck. “Then we established that I’m not. Keep up with the excuses, old man because I can do this all night long.”

He gazes at me with a thoughtful expression on his face. “To be honest, I was worried that Levi might think I was trying to replace his Mama. But I’m not sure how important that is now that he’s half-grown and seems to be fond of y’all as a friend. In a few years he’ll be wanting to make his own life.”

“I really like you and your son. It would be heartbreaking to never know what could have been because of something as inconsequential as age.”

“Age is no small thing, sugar. “I’m ten years older than you.”

“That doesn’t put you quite in the same category as my father, Tex.”

“I’m not saying it does. Until now, I didn’t think I had a lot in common with a younger woman. Now I can see that I need the kindness, companionship, and love that you’re offering more than realized.”

“I know we haven’t known each other for very long, but when you put it that way, it seems like giving me a chance to prove I can be a good fit for you and Levi is the smart choice.

“I’m willing to give this a try because walking away from y’all takes more strength than I have at the moment,” he says with a smile.

“I can’t believe I used to think of you as my grumpy neighbor and you turned out to be a big ole softie.”

“This isn’t the first time someone has accused me of being grumpy. It is, however, the first time someone has called me soft.” He says the last part while shifting his hip to rub his hard cock against my stomach.

“We’re good together. Let’s just keep walking down the path and see where it leads, without putting a bunch of expectations on each other, okay?’

“Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. I’m not sure I could walk away now if I wanted to. You’re too important to me.”

When his lips meet mine, there’s something new in his kisses. They’re still hot and sexy but there is also a tenderness, deep affection, and a gentleness that wasn’t there in the rush to find pleasure of our earlier lovemaking. This is what it feels like when Tex opens up and let his emotions flow naturally, when he allows himself to trust and to love.

The more we kiss, touch, and move together, each seeking to give the other tenderness and pleasure, the more our bond solidifies. It feels like knowing him on a whole new level and it’s truly the most amazing experience of my entire life. This was so far above and beyond anything I’d ever shared with Chris that everything that came before had been shallow and lacking. This must be what it feels like to truly love a man, a good man that would do anything for you. And a man that I would stop at nothing to care for and love, for however long he’d let me.

After the longest and most breathtaking lovemaking session of my life, we lay entwined together. Only then did I realize how different we are. I’m short, pale, and curvy with wild red hair. Tex is shaped like a body builder, only with tons of intricate tattoos and even a few scars. I bring up one finger to touch a round scar where his chest and shoulder meet.

“In case you’re wondering, that scar is from a gunshot wound. Got shot by some dumbass trying to rob a liquor store in Austin when I was a rookie police officer.”

“I’m sure every mark on your body tells a different story.”

He tugs me closer. “Yeah, but y’all only get to ask about one a day.”

His hand slides up my back, his rough fingers tracing along my spine. “I like how soft and perfect your skin is.”

“No scars or tattoos for me then, right?”

“Heaven forbid. You’re perfection, just the way y’all are, sugar. I wouldn’t change a thing.”

“Flatterer,” I tell him in a teasing voice.

He puts one hand under my chin and tilts my head up to look into my eyes. “I’m dead serious about y’all being perfect. You’re my idea of the perfect woman. You’re strong, smart, capable, friendly, sweet, loyal, trusting and absolutely gorgeous. Don’t let any asshole ever make y’all feel second best in life.”

I tuck my head under his chin, thinking to myself that I honestly didn’t think men like Tex existed in the world. Now, I’m lucky enough to be with him.