Chapter 23
Storm
“Whyweretheytargetingthe 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.”
