Page 84 of Property of Legend

“I kept up with the barn logs,” I say, flipping through my tablet.“The new colt, Caught in 4K, he’s fast.Real fast.Might be one to watch come fall.”

Daddy nods, chewing thoughtfully.His hands are still a little shaky, but his mind?Sharp as a damn tack.“Lettin’ the youngin’s name the horses, are ya?”

I chuckle, but he’s not wrong.Then I take a breath.My stomach knots.This part isn’t business.I have to ask him.

“Daddy…” I set the tablet down.“That night.When Midnight Glory died.Was it really you?”

I don’t say murder.I don’t have to.His face twists anyway.

He stares out the window a long while.His mind seems a million miles away.For a minute I think he’s gone into a coma again.Finally, he speaks.“Yes.It was me.But not like you think.”

I sit straighter.My throat is so dry it hurts.

“I hired someone,” he says quietly.“We were gonna lose the farm.I was drowning, Soph.I didn’t know what else to do.I paid some bikers to take Midnight Glory.Just… take him away.Give him a good home.Greener pastures.I didn’t ask questions.I didn’t want blood.”

“But there was blood,” I whisper.“Lots of it.”

He nods.Shame written in every wrinkle on his face.“Mike and Hudson… they weren’t supposed to be there.They got caught in the middle.I didn’t mean for it to happen like that.When it did, I couldn’t go after Mike.That’s why I didn’t press charges.When he finally quit runnin’, I gave him that land instead.”

“The town?”

“Wasn't much of a town anymore.County condemned most the old buildings instead clearing up the asbestos.Was gonna bulldoze it.So, I bought it.Handed it over.Let Mike make what he wanted of it.Wasn’t part of the city anymore, so I hired some lawyers to help them incorporate it.

“You did all that?I always wondered how it happened.”

“Guilt eats you alive, baby girl.”

“I didn’t think you’d have anything to do with Hell and bikers.”

“Didn’t turn out like I hoped.But I let Mike take the reins.He was angry.He lost years with his son because of me.”

“So, Legend’s father knew the monster was a lie?Never said anything.”

“It was a little too late to come clean, baby girl.”He looks at me then, tears in his eyes.“I let you carry it.All of it.That was cowardly.I knew I wouldn’t last much longer, and you’d be the one left.But I also knew… you’d do whatever it took to save Paradise Falls.Like I did.”

He reaches for my hand.I take it.

“I’m so sorry, baby girl.”

I swallow hard.“I paid off the debt to the Reverend.All of it.”

His hand squeezes mine.“I never wanted that for you.But I’m proud of you.”

I hug him.And I mean it when I say, “I forgive you.”

But there’s more.I know there is.I need to tell him about everything that happened while he was barely awake.The new threats.The blackmail.Becki in Mama’s gown.The lies I told Legend to protect him and Daddy both.But first, Legend.He deserves to know.Maybe he can help me figure a way out from under the Reverend’s boot.

Tears in my eyes, I head to the King’s clubhouse.I’m ready this time, ready to come clean, consequences be damned.

I don’t knock.I just barge in.The place is empty, but I know the way to Legend’s room.Reminders of that night flood me, him saying I’m his.Our promises to each other.The way he claimed me.

I can almost hear that night.The roar of the club as they welcomed me.

No.I hear something in real life.

A moan.Low.Familiar.The creak of a bed.Legend’s bed.The sound of skin on skin.

Thud.Wack.Groan.

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