Chapter 20 #4
Legion seems to consider my request for a moment before finally replying. “One of them lacks the testicular fortitude to ever act on his own, which is why he wasn’t a priority on my list. However, he is still on it, and when our paths cross, I’ll end the former Knight, Shane, as well.”
“ Shane?”
Legion nods. “He was a very dedicated and willing pawn in the plot to destroy your husband.”
“He was in the wrong that night and got what he deserved,” I mutter.
“That is where his vendetta stemmed from, yes. Though I nurtured the hatred in him…molded him into something more useful to me.”
“Your mission to kill us both.” I scoff, shaking my head at the memories of all that transpired these last few years. I turn from him to stare out at the tree line bordering the property. I remember how fearful I had been of these trees. All the nights I imagined Jack lurking within them.
“Not you— ” Legion begins to say, but I cut him off.
“To think all along you were behind everything… Jack Nero, Aaron Hopper, bloody eyeballs, kidnappings, and explosions!”
“I was… And I’m? — ”
“ Ace and I almost died the night you took me .” I barely get the words out.
“ What?”
I turn to stare up into his startled expression. “There were complications… I almost died. Ace… almost died.”
For once, Legion seems stunned to silence. His eyes shift with frantic concern between my own.
“They had to cut him out of me… There wasn’t even time for anesthesia…”
His trembling hand gravitates to his face and grips his clenching jaw, unable to speak or look away from me.
“Fortunately, I barely remember it… But Dean does . Vividly.”
He nods, taking a breath as if he’d been physically unable to. “For that alone, he should want me dead.”
“I don’t think he’d disagree with you.”
“What can I do?”
“Nothing… I just thought you should know. If Dean can never forgive you, now you know why.”
S he turns from me, storming back toward the house. I trail after her, unsure of where we stand now. Does this render my redemption impossible? Is forgiveness forever beyond my reach? Keegan may never grant it, but… It isn’t his forgiveness I can’t live without…
“Vanna…”
“I’m sorry I said anything.” She barely spares me a glance.
She’s sorry? “For whatever it’s worth, from the depths of whatever soul I have left, I am sorry… Inadequate, I know. Perhaps even absurd… But I am sorry, Vanna. For every bit of fear and pain I’ve caused you.”
“I believe you.”
“ You do?” This seems to come too easily.
She halts at the foot of the front steps and turns to face me. “That doesn’t mean he ever will… And that complicates things. More than you even know.”
Things? I simply stare at her, silently, desperately willing her to elaborate.
“I don’t know how we move forward.”
We? Be still, my beating heart… “Move forward?”
“Yes.” An aggravated sigh brushes past her lips. “I don’t know how to… fit you in here … If it’s even possible .”
My heart continues to race. Something that feels like hope begins to swell inside the hollow of my chest. She believes I am remorseful. Does that mean she also forgives me? Is she implying she genuinely wants me in her life, somehow?
“Vanna, believe me when I tell you, I’ll do anything.”
“I know you mean for those words to sound reassuring, but I’ve experienced the lengths you’ve been willing to go, first-hand.
” She folds her arms across herself, and I’m not sure if it’s a subconscious desire to shield herself from me or because the cool evening breeze has picked up.
“You should go. There’s a lot I still have to prep for Thanks —Friends giving.
I have to have these orders finished by tomorrow, too. ”
“Well, you have given me a lot to be thankful for, sweet one,” I say, still in awe of her kind nature. “I shall bid you goodnight then and slink off into the darkness where I belong.”
She lets out another exasperated sigh before asking, “What are your holiday dinner plans?”
“I haven’t any. Never have, in fact, since I’ve been without a family most of my life. There’s nothing to celebrate when you’re alone.” I was only speaking the truth, but her brows knit together sorrowfully.
“ Never ? Not even when you were a kid? The orphanage didn’t do anything for holidays?”
I shrug. “Before the orphanage, we were too poor, and my mother was generally too high and without means to bring us to a soup kitchen. The orphanage tried, I suppose…but it wasn’t anything comparable to what I imagine your table must be like. I’m sure your traditions are quite lovely.”
She fidgets for a moment with her apron, picking at a spot of dried dough. I can tell by the strained expression on her face, she’s warring with herself over something. “Well… If you think you can withstand the heat, I’ll set a place for you.”
“I’m sorry?”
“Yeah...you’ve said that.” A nervous little smile plays on her lips at my surprise. “Shall I expect you then?”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
“ I’ll also expect your best behavior .”
“And you shall have it, sweet one.”
“There can’t be any of that either,” she insists.
“To the best of my ability, I will refrain.”
“Good night, Damien.” She turns and makes her way up the steps.
Stunned by this unanticipated turn of events, I watch the front door close behind her before returning to my bike. I promised I’d do anything… Perhaps it’s time for another olive branch.
M y son’s laughter pulls my attention from the engine I’ve been working on in my shop, and I turn toward the steel door. Ace is propped up on Viking’s shoulders, his little hands wrapped around his favorite uncle’s forehead.
“Vanna brought Ace by earlier so she could get some shit done before Friendsgiving,” Viking explains. He grabs Ace under the arms and flips him over his head before placing him down on his sneakered feet.
“Daddy!” Ace squeals through his laughter and dashes to me. I finish wiping my hands off in time to chuck the wad of paper towels onto my workbench and crouch to wrap my arms around him.
“Promised her I’d bring him by your shop before you clock in at the safehouse. You want to take a break and kick a ball around with us or some shit?” Viking offers.
“I wish I could.” I sigh, standing. Ace grabs my hand and steps up onto the steel toe of my boot to playfully teeter around on it. “Derek’s not in on Sundays and Mondays anymore. I have to stick around to man the shop. The owner of this bike is picking it up within the hour, too.”
“What’s left to do on it?” Viking asks.
Ace nearly nails me in the balls in his attempt to climb my leg. This kid really needs to burn off some energy.
“Just finished up as you two walked in,” I say, lifting Ace gently by his arm until he’s dangling in the air. I do a few arm curls with him while he laughs. “The dirt bike over there needs a couple of adjustments. That’s due to be picked up by closing time, too.”
The rumbling of a motorcycle pulling into the lot outside draws our attention.
I can tell from the sound of the engine and exhaust that it’s not a Harley.
Besides Snowy and Viper, the rest of our MC brothers all ride Harleys.
And since Snowy is no longer with us, and Viper’s at a safehouse, this is either a customer or someone else with an affinity for Indian motorcycles.
I lower Ace to the cement floor until he’s steady on his feet again. “Alright, you guys. Daddy has to get back to work.” I gently cup Ace’s little face in my hand. “You be good for Uncle Viking, you hear?”
“Uh huh.” Ace smiles.
The steel door creaks open and shuts.
“ I require a moment of your time,” a grating voice announces.
“ Legend!” Ace runs off excitedly and wraps his arms around Legion’s leg, stopping him in his tracks.
“Quite the friendly young fellow…” Legion leans back, hands raised, making a very obvious display of not touching my kid.
Viking shifts his glare from Legion to me. “I can call Cherry over here to come get Ace for a few.”
“It’s fine,” I say. “Take Ace. I’ll catch up with you later.”
“Ace.” Viking’s deep, no-nonsense tone has my son’s head whipping around to face him. “Let’s go, buddy.”
Ace releases Legion and makes a beeline for his favorite uncle. Viking scoops him up in one arm and heads for the door. Ace and I exchange parting waves as they exit, and then my gaze slides back to Legion. “Why are you here?”
“I’ve just come from your wife.”
“You need to work on your fucking phrasing.”
“You need to stop reading into everything.”
I glare at him.
“Fine. Fair point, all things considered,” Legion concedes.
“Pretty sure I told you to stay the fuck away from my wife.”
The corner of his mouth twitches, and I know he’s attempting to suppress a sneer. “What happened to the roses?”
“What do you think?”
“Intercepted, obviously... Trash?”
“You bet.”
He nods, chuckling now, a low, sinister sound.
“I’m busy,” I snap. “Whatever you’re here for is going to have to wait. I’m on a deadline.”
He cocks his chin at the old Kawasaki. “What’s the dirt bike in for?”
“The owner is picking it up tonight. Routine maintenance and a tension correction. I still have to measure the deflection on the chain.”
“ Ah, the only chain in the world that sets us free …” Legion replies. “I can do it while you finish up this Road Glide.”
“I’m not letting you work on a customer’s bike.” I scoff at him. “You’ve done enough damage to my businesses.”
He crooks a brow at me. “You think I don’t know my way around a motorcycle?”
“Oh, I’m sure you know your way around a motorcycle… A little too well.”
“I’m not going to sabotage your client’s bike.”
“Why wouldn’t you?” I don’t give a fuck if he’s offended.
“Because the fallout would impact your wife and kid. For them , my policy regarding you is do no harm.”
It irks the fuck out of me that I actually believe him, in this matter, anyway. “So…you work on your own ride?”
Now he scoffs. “Of course.”
“Passion or paranoia ?”