Page 18 of Ace's Legacy
"Morning." I head straight for the coffee maker, pouring myself a cup of the strong black brew Ghost always makes. "Anything happen overnight?"
"All quiet." He sets down a piece of the disassembled weapon. "Reaper wants to meet when everyone's up. Talk about next steps."
I nod, leaning against the counter. "I'm taking Sarah to her apartment today. Her and Viper."
Now Ghost looks up, his haunted eyes piercing through me. "Smart?"
"Necessary," I counter. "She needs her things."
"She needs to be alive," he says flatly.
"Which is why Viper and I are going with her." I take a long sip of coffee. "We'll be quick. In and out."
Ghost returns to his gun. "Reaper told me. Your kid, your call."
My kid. My responsibility. My blood.
"Speaking of," I say, setting down my mug, "I should check on her."
Ghost nods, already absorbed back in his task. I grab a second mug and fill it. Milk, no sugar, the way she took it that night at the diner, and head upstairs.
I pause outside my door, suddenly unsure of the protocol. Do I knock? It's my room, but she's sleeping there. Is she even awake? What if she's changing?
Settling on a light tap, I call out softly, "Sarah? You up?"
"Yes, come in," her voice answers.
I push the door open to find her sitting cross-legged on my bed, already dressed in yesterday's rumpled pink dress, her hair pulled back in a messy ponytail. She looks tired but calm, more composed than I would expect after everything that's happened.
"Brought you coffee," I say, holding out the mug. "Though, uh, I'm not sure if you can have caffeine. With the..." I gesture vaguely toward her belly.
A small smile touches her lips as she accepts the mug. "A little is fine. Thank you."
I hover awkwardly by the door, suddenly aware that this is the first time we've been alone together since our conversation last night. "Sleep okay?"
"Better than I expected." She takes a sip of coffee. "You?"
"Fine," I lie. No need to tell her about the cramped cot or the nightmares that kept startling me awake. Visions of Sarah caught in crossfire, of a child I've never met crying for protection I couldn't provide.
She looks at me over the rim of her mug, those perceptive hazel eyes seeing more than I'd like. "You look tired."
"It's been a long couple of days."
"For everyone," she agrees. Setting down her mug, she straightens her shoulders. "So, about going to my apartment..."
"After breakfast," I say. "Viper's coming with us. We'll take my truck, not the bikes."
"Thank you. For not fighting me on this."
I shrug, trying to play it casual even though the thought of taking her outside the clubhouse's safety makes my stomach knot with anxiety. "You were right. Some things you need to handle yourself."
She seems surprised. "Really? Just like that?"
"I'm stubborn, not stupid." I lean against the doorframe. "Besides, Reaper would kick my ass if I tried to keep you prisoner here."
At the mention of Reaper, her eyes widen. "I talked to him last night. He's... not what I expected."
"How so?"
