Page 64 of Property of Legend

I shove away from the bar, fuming.

She’s alive.

She’s in the hospital.

And I didn’t get to her first.

I find the hospital in they took her to in Lexington by following the scent of media vultures and state troopers.The whole damn parking lot’s crawling with press vans and cops in unmarked trucks.

Inside, security blocks me like I’m a bouncer’s worst nightmare.

“She’s not takin’ visitors,” the man says.“Orders from family.”

“What family?”I growl.“I’m…”

But then I see him.

James.

Hair slicked back.Button-down clean.Not a scratch on him.He’s outside the ER entrance, arms crossed like he’s been waiting to rub this in my face.

“You knew,” I say, storming up.“You didn’t call?”

He lifts his chin, cool as ever.“Ihopedshe’d be found.Unlike you, I didn’t make promises I couldn’t keep.”

I grind my teeth.“You wanna throw punches, do it like a man.Don’t stand out here like a smug little bitch.”

“What did you call me?What are you implying?”His voice goes high like a bitch, too.

“You’re the one being a sassy ass motherfucker.Are you a fruit or somethin’, James?I mean, there’s nothin’ wrong with that… Just wanna know who I’m dealin’ with.If I can kick your ass or if I should let Sophie do it when she’s healed.”

“I’m happily married, you asswipe.To a beautiful woman who happens to be visiting her mother in California right now.”

Shruggin’, I sort of remember that now but don’t say.

“My sister’s not your fight anymore, Legend.You made that clear when you left her alone.”

“I never left her.”

He studies his nails.“That’s not what I heard.Sis told me you can’t keep it in your dirty jeans.That you broke her heart.That you called it off.”

“I was tryin’ toprotecther.”

He sneers.“You can’t protect someone from your world when your worldisthe danger.You think she’s coming back to you?You think my sister is gonna walk away from the biggest race of her life, from a legacy that dates back a hundred years, give up an inheritance that will make her one of the richest women in Kentucky for a biker who deals with criminals and rides with murderers?”He scoffs.“One who fucks his own sister.”

I want to break him.

But he ain’t wrong.

Not entirely.

“If she wants to be with you,” James scoffs, stepping close.“She’ll have to give it all up.The farm.The press.The breeding rights.The Derby.The bloodline.Everything.”

“I never asked her to.”

“No, but you will.And she’ll give it up to your semen demons.”

“Ain’t that what you been after all along?Sophie out of your way?”

---