Chapter 14 #4
Viper lets out a sigh wrought with frustration.
“What he said goes beyond us!” We all turn to look at him.
“He’s forcing his way in. He made it so we have to watch his back, too!
The sneaky prick! He mentioned he may have enemies.
Enemies that might want to take him out as well!
We don’t have to be the ones to kill Legion for his contingency plan to go into effect…
Anyone can . We have to protect Legion… It’s the only way to protect Axel. ”
I nod, relieved that Viper was the one to fully voice this point to our brothers.
“How do we handle this?” Viper asks, looking to me with worry, anger, and disgust etched across his expression. “He’s responsible for the death of a Savior! We can’t allow him to slither his way into a Saviors’ cut when Snowy’s is hanging on the wall in memoriam!”
“Fuck no!” Viking booms. “That’s never gonna happen!”
“Who’s to say how far he’s going to play this card?” Viper mutters, a measure of defeat in his tone as he stares almost distantly at the skull and angel wings logo carved in the center of our table. “There’s got to be a way to keep him in check…”
“There is,” I mutter, shifting uncomfortably in my seat as bile threatens to work its way up my throat. Squeezing my eyes shut again, I bring my fist to press against my pounding forehead.
Once again, Legion’s making moves in a 4-D game of chess. Only this time, it isn’t the King he’s after… It’s the Queen.
“ M rs. Keegan?” There’s a soft knock on the exam room door just as I finish dressing and pull on my boots.
“Yes, come in,” I reply, sitting down on the edge of the exam table. My doctor reenters the room.
“All of your results look great, but I see here in your notes, you’d like to discuss other birth control options?
” She peers over my chart at me. “You’ve been on the shot these last few years, and you’re right on schedule for your next one.
Is there a problem? Are you experiencing any adverse side effects? ”
“No, no side effects… I just want… more options …” I stammer. “We’ve been thinking about trying for another…and, well… The pill is a bit more flexible than the shot. I’m not saying we’re one hundred percent on board with the idea…but…”
“When, or rather, if , you do decide it’s time, you don’t want to have to wait out the effects of the shot.
Understood. I’ll write you a script for an oral contraceptive.
” She removes a small prescription pad from the pocket of her white coat.
“Your last dose was about fifteen weeks ago, so it’s safe to take your first pill when you have this filled.
” She scribbles something down, then tears off the slip and hands it to me. “Anything else while you’re here?”
“That’s all.” I smile, eager to be on my way. Cherry is watching Ace at the house so I could make this appointment. I don’t want to keep her waiting. I’ll be able to fill the prescription at our local pharmacy on my way home.
“This script is refillable for twelve months. However, if you experience any issues, don’t hesitate to make another appointment, and we’ll try something else.”
After taking care of my copay, I head for my car in the lot, only to discover my back driver’s side tire is completely flat.
“Great.” I sigh, beeping the SUV unlocked.
I toss my purse on the driver’s seat and pull the lever for the trunk release to grab the jack and spare.
Fortunately, the parking space beside me is vacant, so I have some room to work.
I could call Dean to come help me, but he’s at work, and I have attempted to change a tire before.
I remember where to place the jack, and I have a star for the lug nuts.
I shut the door and shove my keys in my pocket before moving to the back.
As I lift the trunk open, I’m startled by the sudden proximity of a disheveled-looking man.
“I can help you change the tire for thirty bucks,” he says, scratching at his thin, scabby arm.
“I can do it, but thanks,” I politely decline.
“Twenty, then,” he pushes, and I notice the minuscule level of initial friendliness in his tone no longer exists.
“No, thank you,” I insist a bit more firmly this time.
He reaches into the trunk for the spare tire anyway, roughly pulling the compartment open, and grabs the tire iron. “I’ll do it, and you can just give me whatever it’s worth to you.”
“I said no!”
When the man turns to face me head-on, his furrowed brow shoots to his forehead, and he takes a fearful step back. The tire iron slips from his grasp and clatters loudly to the pavement.
“Go run your little con elsewhere,” a gravely, threatening voice warns from behind me. Somehow, I’m both relieved and unnerved as Legion steps around to stand by my side, flashing the guy a holstered gun within his jacket.
T he miscreant bolts for his worthless life, and I readjust my leather jacket, turning to face Vanna, only to be met with suspiciously narrowed dark eyes.
“A con?”
“Flatten a tire, stick around to hustle an unsuspecting victim for a quick buck.” I shrug.
“Beats sucking dick for drug money, I’d imagine.
” She blinks silently at my crude words, and I’m unable to suppress a slight smile at her reaction.
My delicate little flower. “Anyway, fancy meeting like this again.” I gesture to the same parking lot where she had fainted years ago.
“Quite.”
“Not even a thank you for my assistance?” I attempt to infuse my words with a measure of humor to put her at ease. “Is that any way to treat your Savior ?”
She retrieves the tire iron and turns back to the trunk, seemingly determined to ignore the reference.
“Perhaps the lady prefers, Knight ?” I jest.
Vanna graces me with a little scowl. “Did you set this up?” Her accusatory tone might have wounded me if I weren’t metacognitive of the fact that it wasn’t beyond the realm of my capabilities.
“Whether I did or not, you’re safe now, and I’m more than happy to assist with the changing of your tire.
” I extend my hand for her to pass me the tire iron, which she stubbornly refuses.
“Oh, come now, Vanna. Was that junkie hustling you not example enough of the dangers the fairer sex often contends with in unsavory parking lots? This is a dark, dangerous world, my dear.”
“I’m sure it wasn’t your primary incentive to instill an impromptu lesson and mansplain the dangers we womenfolk face,” Vanna chides me, “ Men being the vast majority of the dangers, by the way.” She finally hands me the tire iron.
“I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt this time.
However, I should warn you, in case it somehow slipped your mind…
Dean’s tolerance for you is at an all-time low.
This isn’t going to win you any points.”
She lifts the cover to the spare, exposing the tire and jack.
“Ah, I’m pleased to see you won’t be traveling on a donut,” I say.
“Dean didn’t want me driving around on one if I ever got a flat, so he purchased an extra tire when he bought me the car.”
“I approve.”
“I’m sure he’ll be thrilled.”
“Well, I do believe your beloved and I have come to an understanding. Though if he still considers me an enemy, one might think it wise to keep me close… Close enough to keep a watchful eye. You remain quite the appealing incentive, though,” I wink at her as I reach inside the compartment and remove the jack.
“What?”
“Don’t play coy.”
“He’s never going to allow you around me. Where do you see this going?”
“Despite the rumblings of my reputation, I’m afraid seeing the future is beyond my wheelhouse,” I say, setting up the jack beneath the frame before retrieving the spare tire. I pause to study her. “Would it please you to know I’ve secured his blessing in my stay?”
Her expression softens, surprised, and I find myself hoping she is pleasantly so. “How did you manage that?”
I suppress a smile and hoist the spare from the tire well, placing it beside her vehicle. She seems eager for an explanation, watching me go to work on her tire.
“Legion, how did you manage that?” she presses while I loosen the last lug nut and proceed to jack the car up the rest of the way.
“ Are you pleased?”
She fidgets, rubbing her palms against her jeans. Eye level with her thick thighs, I make a valiant effort not to stare at them and force my gaze to meet her inquisitive eyes once again. She appears conflicted.
“I don’t know how to navigate this,” she says.
“One day at a time… And if it eases your mind, sweet one…No, I did not set this up. I just happened to?—”
“Be stalking me again?” she interrupts, though there is a minuscule undertone of nervous play in her accusation.
Was her initial display of annoyance simply a pretense? Her loyal attempt at keeping up appearances for Keegan’s sake? Could it be possible she was relieved to see me again, regardless of the fact that I ran that dreg off? If so, perhaps all is not so perfect in paradise…
“Such a pointed word,” I tease, swapping out the flat for the spare. “Might I offer a more flattering light on our situation?”
Wry skepticism eclipses her expression, though this time, it’s with less conviction. “ I doubt it.”
“Merely looking out for your well-being, sweet one. Your husband wasn’t here to do it himself. He’s volunteering a shift at one of those safehouses, is he not? Seeing to the well-being of anoth ?—”
“ Stop it ,” she snaps. “I know what you’re doing. Just stop it right now.”
“I’m simply stating the?—”
“Obvious? What’s obvious to me is that you haven’t changed much these last three years, Legion.
If you think you’re going to drive a wedge between Dean and I, you’re wrong.
I married him, knowing full well what I was getting into.
I don’t resent him or the MC. Their mission is admirable.
It’s worthwhile and it’s needed. Don’t think I can’t spot your manipulations from a mile away, so you better just be straight with me. ”
After ensuring her tire is properly installed and secure, I remove the jack from beneath her vehicle. It seems I’ve pushed a tad too hard, too soon on this one with her.
“I assure you, sweet one,” I say, getting up to place the jack and her flat tire back inside the tire well. “When it comes to you, I’m straight .”
“The double-entendres can stop, too,” she quips.
I suppress another grin as she comes to stand beside me, fussing with the cover of the compartment.
“If you want a chance at… at…” she lets out a frustrated huff, taking the tire iron from me, then tosses it into the trunk.
She seems to struggle to find her words, taking a moment to slam the trunk closed before jamming both fists against her hips.
“If you want to make this situation with the Saviors work… If you don’t want to be run out of this town, or worse …
No more games, Legion. You’re going to have to try your hand at complete honesty. ”
Fine… “I was following you.”
“Alright, a compromise. You were following me.” She crosses her arms and leans against the vehicle. “Why?”
“True—”
“ Don’t say it .”
“ North?” I blurt the word out instead, awkwardly, and somehow manage to pull a small smile from her.
“True North?” she says, attempting to hide the amusement in her tone.
“I don’t know how to navigate any of this either, Vanna… You’re my compass in all this…” In all things now, really…
She removes her keys from her pocket and stares down at them, avoiding my gaze. “I can’t be your anything…not even your friend…at least not until you make nice with Dean.”
At least she seems to harbor a level of regret over the matter.
“You’re really holding to that, aren’t you.” It’s not a question. I find her stubborn resilience irritatingly commendable . “I’m working on it.”
She swallows before nodding. “Well then, I wish you the best of luck.”
“Perhaps you might find it within your heart to put in a good word?”
Vanna steps around me and wraps her hand around the driver’s side door handle. “I have to get back to Ace. I’m late… But… I’ll do what I can,” she says, though she seems doubtful of her influence.
I watch her slide into the car and then drive off.
“And I’ll endeavor to do as you wish.”