Chapter Nine
L egend
The sound of someone beating on the door downstairs jolts me awake. Groggy as hell, I glance at the clock and groan. Who the fuck is knocking on the damn door at 6:30 in the morning?
“Fuck.” Braelynn stirs beside me, her eyes fluttering open.
“What is that?” she mumbles, still half-asleep.
“Stay here,” I tell her over my shoulder, already pulling on a pair of jeans. “I'll check it out.”
Taking the steps two at a time, I start to get real fucking pissed when the knocking intensifies. “Hold the fuck on!” I growl, looking through the peephole.
Who I see on the other side makes my blood boil even hotter.
Officer-fucking-Turner.
I take a deep breath, steeling myself before opening the door.
“Officer Turner,” I say, keeping my voice neutral. “To what do I owe the pleasure at this ungodly hour?”
Turner's lips curl into a smirk. “Just doing my job, Mr. Fischer. Surprise inspections are part of your parole agreement, remember?”
I grit my teeth, fighting the urge to slam the door in his pudgy red face. “Come in,” I mutter, stepping aside.
Turner saunters in and follows me back up the steps, his eyes scanning every inch of the apartment. “Nice place you've got here,” he remarks. “Must be doing well for yourself.”
“I work hard,” I reply, my fists clenching at my sides.
He chuckles, the sound cold and humorless. “I'm sure you do.” His gaze lands on a framed photo of Braelynn and Ryder and instantly my hackles go up. Something about this asshole being anywhere near my family doesn’t sit right. “Beautiful family. It'd be a shame if anything happened to them.”
My back goes ramrod straight. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”
Turner moves to face me, his expression hardening. “It means, Fischer, that associating with known criminals could be seen as a violation of your parole. And we both know you’re a member of the Saints.”
Before I can respond, Braelynn emerges, Ryder cradled against her chest. Her eyes widen when she sees my parole officer standing in our living room.
“Is everything okay?” she asks, her eyes coming to me.
Turner's demeanor shifts instantly, a fake smile plastering itself across his face. “Mrs. Fischer, I presume? Just doing a routine check. Nothing to worry about.”
Braelynn nods, but I can see the unease in her eyes. “Can I get you some coffee, Officer?”
“That won't be necessary,” Turner replies, already heading for the door. “I've seen all I need to see. For now.” He pauses, his hand on the doorknob. “I'll be keeping a close eye on you, Fischer. Keep your nose clean.”
As soon as the door closes behind him, Braelynn turns to me. “Is that normal to show up this early?”
I run a hand through my hair, frustration coursing through me. “Turner's just being a dick. Trying to rattle me.”
She frowns, bouncing Ryder gently as he starts to fuss. “Was he threatening us?”
“I don’t know,” I sigh, pulling her close. “Something is definitely off about the guy.”
Braelynn looks up at me, and I hate the worry I see. “Nico, what aren't you telling me?”
I kiss her forehead, trying to push down the growing knot in my stomach. “Nothing for you to worry about, baby. I've got it handled.”
She doesn't look convinced, but thankfully, she doesn't push it. Instead, she hands Ryder to me. “Here, can you take him? I need to pump.”
I nod, cradling Ry against my chest.
As Braelynn disappears into the bedroom, I can't help but feel the walls closing in around us. Turner's visit has left me shaken, more than I care to admit. The thought of anything happening to Braelynn or Ryder because of me... Fuck.
The next few hours are spent trying to focus on work, but there’s a gnawing in the back of my mind that keeps drifting back to Turner's threats, and by lunchtime, I’ve had all I can take. Parole officer or not, I’m not going to be able to let this go.
Something Brae apparently has noticed as well. “Okay, spill,” she says as she sets a plate of sandwiches on my desk. “You've been on edge all morning.”
I sigh, knowing I can't keep her in the dark any longer. “You were right about Turner earlier,” I admit. “When I first met with him, I could tell something was off about the guy. Since that first meeting, he’s been turning up everywhere.” I rub the back of my neck, trying to ease some of the tension. “I thought it was just a coincidence, but with him showing up here today... fuck, Brae. The way he looked at that picture of you and Ryder. It felt like an unspoken threat.”
Braelynn's face pales. “What are we going to do?”
I reach across the desk, taking her hand in mine. “I’m going to have Dex look into it. But until I figure out what’s going on, I don’t think it would be a bad idea to go stay at the clubhouse for a little bit.”
She nods slowly, her thumb tracing circles on the back of my hand. “If that’s what you think we need to do, I’m not going to fight you on it.”
“I do,” I agree, forcing a smile. “Just as a precaution,” I say, not sure which of us I’m trying to convince.
The rest of the day passes in a blur of paperwork and phone calls.
Just as I'm about to call it a day, my phone buzzes with a text from Viper.
Church Now
I groan, knowing this can't be good news. “Babe,” I call out. “I've gotta head to the clubhouse.”
She appears in the doorway, Ryder asleep against her shoulder. “Is everything okay?”
I wish I could tell her yes, that everything's fine. But the truth is, I have no fucking idea. “I don't know,” I admit. “But I'll be back as soon as I can.”
She nods, her lips pressed into a thin line. “Be careful, okay?”
I cross the room in two strides, pulling her and Ryder into my arms. “Don’t gotta worry about me.”
“I’m always going to worry about you,” she whispers, tipping her face for a kiss.
Fuck, I don’t deserve her, but I’m never giving her up.
After kissing her goodbye, I ride to the clubhouse. When I pull into the lot, I notice an unusual number of bikes.
Whatever's going down, it's big.
Inside, the tension is palpable. Viper sits at the head of the table, his face a mask of barely contained fury. Around him, the rest of the brothers look equally on edge.
“What's going on?” I ask as I take my seat.
Viper's jaw clenches. “The deal with the Kings is off. For now.”
A murmur ripples through the room. “What happened?” Sparrow asks, voicing what we're all thinking.
“Feds,” Viper spits out. “They've been sniffing around the Kings' territory. It's too hot right now.”
“Fuck,” Knox mutters, slamming his fist on the table.
I lean back in my chair, both disappointed and relieved. Part of me is glad we're not getting deeper into this shit right now, especially with Turner breathing down my neck. But another part knows how much we need this deal to break free from Hector's grip.
“So what's the plan now?” I ask, looking around the table.
Viper runs a hand over his face, suddenly looking every bit his age. “We wait. See if things cool down. In the meantime, we keep our heads down, stick to our usual business.”
“And Hector?” Wrath chimes in. “What do we tell him?”
A dark look crosses Viper's face. “Nothing. As far as he's concerned, nothing's changed.”
The room falls silent as we all process this. It's a dangerous game we're playing, and we all know it.
“There's something else,” I say, breaking the silence. All eyes turn to me, but I’m focused on Dex sitting across from me with his computer at the ready. “Need you to look into my parole officer. He’s said some strange shit, and this morning he showed up out of the blue. There’s something about the guy that isn’t right.”
Dex’s brows go up. “What’s his name?”
“Turner.”
Dex nods, his fingers already flying across the keys as he starts to get into it.
Viper's eyes narrow. “The fuck?”
I nod as the anger I've been trying to hold in all day bubbles to the surface. “I'm thinking about moving. Need to get Braelynn and Ryder somewhere safer.”
Viper's expression softens slightly. “Legend, you know we've got your back. There's that empty house on the other side of the compound, the one we were fixing up for prospects. It's yours if you want it, at least until this shit with your PO blows over.”
I consider the offer for a moment. I like my independence, but the thought of Braelynn and Ryder being safer eases some of the tension in my chest. “Yeah, alright. Thanks, brother.”
Viper nods, then looks around the table. “Alright, that's it for now. Keep your eyes open and your mouths shut. We'll reconvene when we know more.” He slams the gavel down.
As the others file out, Viper catches my arm. “Get your family moved in ASAP. I don't like the sound of this Turner guy.”
“Me neither,” I agree, clapping him on the shoulder before heading out.
The ride home seems longer than usual, my mind racing with everything that's happened. When I finally pull into the warehouse, I find Braelynn in the living room, folding laundry with Ryder asleep in his bouncer nearby.
“Hey,” she says, her smile fading as she takes in my expression. “What happened?”
I sigh, dropping onto the couch beside her. “A lot. But the most important thing is, we're moving to the compound. Tonight, if possible.”
Her eyes widen. “Tonight?”
I pull her close, breathing in her scent. “It's just a precaution, baby. Viper offered us a house on the compound, and I think it's the best move right now. At least until I can figure out what's going on with Turner.”
Braelynn nods slowly, her fingers intertwining with mine. “Okay. If you think it's best, we'll do it.”
I kiss her forehead, grateful once again for her trust in me. “I'll call the guys to help us move. Pack what we need for now; we can get the rest later.”
As I start making calls, I can't shake the feeling that this is just the beginning of something much bigger.