Chapter 23
Storm
“Why were they targeting the café?” Porter asks as he glances around at the bodies on the ground.
If they had gotten here only a few minutes later, who knows what would’ve happened. I'm sure I would be dead and Dixie would’ve been taken. Artie would most likely have died in the fire and no one would’ve even known.
“We both know why, Porter. They had eyes on this place earlier in the week. They were scoping it out, I just didn’t think this was the plan. They probably thought the club was sinking money into this place and hoped to give us a financial hit.”
“You know… He had a point,” Porter says slowly, his gaze moving to where Dixie’s sitting on a stretcher with Artie.
“What do you mean?”
“She doesn’t have a property patch.” He fidgets uncomfortably.
“Well, she’d have to be someone’s old lady to get one.” I swallow hard, unsure of where he’s going with this conversation.
“Yeah, and I'm wondering how long you’re going to sneak around with her behind my back before you grow some balls and officially claim her.” He pins me with a knowing look.
My heart hammers against my ribs as I try to come up with something to say.
He’s going to kill me. I’ll be another body on the ground and everyone will just assume I'm one of the Reapers and not care. Honestly, the cops aren’t even batting their eyes at the bodies already there.
They’re saying it was personal defense because of them attacking me and trying to take Dixie.
They’re saying we were just trying to stop the destruction these men were causing.
Either way, they’re on our side because they know we don’t start things like this. We keep things peaceful in our town.
But now could be different. I touched his little girl and the last man who did that is on the ground with a bullet hole in his forehead.
“Porter, I…”
“Don’t even try to lie to me, Storm. We both know you’ve been in love with her for years. She’s happy with you. I couldn’t pick a better man to put in her life.”
“You’re not mad?” I ask slowly, not believing what he’s saying to me.
“Am I mad you didn’t tell me? Yeah, pretty mad.
” He scrubs a hand down his face. “But I know you and I know how much you’d have to love Dixie to do something like that…
You didn’t hide how she wanted to leave the club, instead you found a way to make her want to stay.
I’ll never be able to thank you enough for keeping my daughter in my life.
I'm happy she has someone to love her as much as you do.” He pats a hand on my back as Dixie comes our way.
“I love her more than I love the club,” I whisper.
“I know. That’s the only reason I'm not giving you a more difficult time. You love her the way I loved my wife.”
Dixie stops in front of us and glances between her dad and me. Her brows are tugged together and I'm sure she’s trying to figure out what we were talking about.
“I think it’s time you staked your claim.” Porter smirks.
I don’t waste a second. I sweep Dixie into my arms and plant a kiss on her lips. She frantically tries to push me away, but when she realizes Porter isn't stopping us, she wraps her arms around my neck and kisses me back.
When we pull away from each other, I tuck her against my side and keep my arm wrapped around her waist. I'm sure my face is bloody, swollen, and covered in ash, but I can get cleaned up later.
“Daddy?” Dixie turns her attention to Porter. Her hesitation is clear as day.
“He’ll treat you right, Dixie. If not, I’ll kill him.” Porter’s gaze strays to me and he smirks.
“You’re not going to stop us?”
“Nah, I know when my daughter is in love and I won't stand in the way of this. But he better give you a patch before this happens again. I want everyone to know who you belong to. It’s the best way to keep you safe… You should take her home.”
Porter walks away to talk to the police and handle the rest of the club. I wrap my arm around Dixie’s waist and tug her into my side.
“Let’s go home, beautiful,” I murmur.
“Oh my gosh! Storm!” Dixie gasps and scrambles off the bed when I exit the bathroom after taking a shower. She stops in front of me and brushes my long hair away from my face. “Your face is so swollen,” she whispers.
“I’ve had worse. I’ll be fine.”
“Did you clean the wounds? You have quite a few cuts. You need some ice too,” she mutters more to herself than to me.
“Baby, I'm fine.” I grab her hand and stop her from moving around my apartment.
“Please, let me take care of you,” she whispers as tears fill her eyes.
I nod my head. I might not be used to having someone take care of me, but I won't stop her. It’s nice knowing she cares and wants to patch me up.
This is why so many of the club members want an old lady. They like being taken care of when they get home after a bad day. They like having someone else to lean on and knowing they’re not alone in this life.
The question is… Will she be mine? Will she marry me and be my wife? I don’t want to just give her a property patch, she deserves so much more than that. I want everything with her.
I fire off a text before I can stop myself. I need to know if he’s ok with this before I make a move.
Storm: I know you approve of the property patch, but do you approve of me marrying her?
I blow out a long breath and pray he doesn’t storm my apartment and kill me before I can stop him. I know Porter likes and respects me, but a property patch is more about Dixie’s protection and less about her belonging to me.
Porter: Yeah, Storm. I’d love it if you married my daughter. You’ll finally be the son I always pretended you were anyway.
Storm: Thanks, Dad.
I smirk as I press send. I know he’ll chuckle at that, but Porter’s been more of a father to me since my dad died. He’s gone above and beyond to help me in life and I’ll never be able to thank him enough.
Porter: Let’s make sure she says yes first. Also, if you ever call me Daddy, I’ll kill you.
I chuckle as I place my phone on the nightstand. Porter knows I’d do it just to mess with him. Chopper would too.
“Ok, I think I got everything I need. I had to raid the first aid kit in my apartment for some things.” Dixie settles on the side of the bed and pats the mattress, telling me to lay down.
I take my time, knowing my body is pretty banged up and bruised. It could’ve been so much worse though. I could’ve lost her.
I tuck my hands behind my head and let Dixie blot at the cuts with some sort of antiseptic spray. It burns, but I keep my mouth shut. As soon as she’s finished, we need to discuss some things.
“Am I hurting you?” She asks softly as she applies ointment to another cut.
“Nah. I'm a tough guy.” I smirk and she rolls her eyes.
“Where else are you cut?” She pulls my arm out straight and turns it so she can check my entire arm.
“I think just on my face.”
She doesn’t listen though. She grabs my other arm and checks it before pushing my shirt up to my chest and glaring at me until I roll my eyes and take it off completely.
“Do you want me to completely strip?”
“That would be more helpful. I could check out your entire body then.” She grins, nibbling on her bottom lip.
“I want to talk to you.” I take her hand in mine and tug her closer until she’s straddling my waist and staring down at me.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing is wrong. Everything is perfect.” I grip her waist and let my fingers slip under the hem of her shirt.
“Then what do you want to talk about?” She tilts her head to the side, looking more than adorable.
“I want you to wear my property patch. It will keep you safe from other clubs.”
“Ok… Anything else?” She knows me well enough to know I'm hesitating.
“I want you to marry me,” I whisper.
“Storm… Are you sure?”
“I'm positive. I want you to be my wife. I don’t want to spend a single day without you by my side. Will you marry me, Little Fox?”
She leans down and presses her lips against mine in a slow and needy kiss. She cups my cheeks as she deepens the kiss and swipes her tongue against mine. I get lost in our kiss. In the taste of her. In how much I want more of her.
She pulls back and stares down at me. Yet she doesn’t say a word.
“Well? Will you marry me, Little Fox?” Anxiety begins building inside of me. Why isn't she answering me? Does she not want to marry me?
“Yes. I’ve never wanted anything more.”