Page 102 of Legacy

Her eyes meet mine, and she frowns. “Mommy doesn’t want to see me.”

“Why do you say that?” I look up, hoping Jesse is headed our way, but he’s still on the call.

“Austin heard Jameson and Tempe talking about my mommy. She was at the club, but she didn’t come see me.”

I squat down to meet her eye level. “Have you asked your dad about this?”

“Daddy worries if I’m sad.”

“Because you’re the most important person in the world to him.” I squeeze her hand. “But even if he worries when you’re sad, he would want to know so he could talk to you about it.”

“I don’t want to see her. She doesn’t sound nice.” Bea’s eyes are glossy as she holds back tears. “I wish you were my mommy instead.”

My heart lodges in my throat at her comment. It takes everything in me to hold tears back as I brush her blonde hair out of her eyes.

“Just because I’m not doesn’t mean I’m not here for you.”

“Even when you leave?”

I nod. “You’re forever a part of my life, Beatrice King. I promise if you ever need me, I’ll be there. Just like Margaret has always been there for me. We look out for family. Blood or not, that’s what you are.”

Bea reaches for a hug, and I wrap her in my arms. Her little body slams against me, almost knocking me over. I pat her back and wish I could be everything she just said. If only it were that simple.

My mouth opens to say something—anything—but I’m cut off as I catch gazes with someone across the store. He’s wearing a leather cut, like Jesse’s, but the symbol is different, and the look in his dark eyes is anything but friendly.

“Bea.” I rub her back, trying to sound calm. “We need to go to your dad.”

She pulls back, wiping the tears from her eyes as I slowly stand. Her face pinches with confusion, but before I can say it again, I see the man across the store lifting a gun.

I move without thinking, shoving Bea behind me.

I shield her with my body and hope that’s enough.

The shot rings out, and my heart stops.

Bea’s arms tighten around my legs, and I wait for the bite of the bullet to rip a hole through me.

I wait for pain.

But my eyes blink, and it doesn’t come as a river of blood slowly spills from a hole in the middle of the biker’s forehead.

He wasn’t the one who fired the shot.

One second, he’s standing, and the next, his body drops to the ground.

“We need to leave now.” Jesse rushes beside me, tucking something behind him.

Jesse pulled the trigger.

People are screaming and rushing around the store. Jesse ignores them, picking Bea up and tucking me under his arm. He has us both wrapped in his grasp as he hurries us to the truck.

“It’s okay, Honey Bea, I’ve got you.”

I didn’t hear her say anything, but he soothes her over and over.

He hurries us into his truck, not worrying about the things we leave behind at the store. We’re gone before I even hear sirens ringing. And as Jesse drives, he continues reassuring Bea, while I sit frozen, doing my best to hold her and comfort her.

It’s going to be okay.

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