Chapter Eight

Knox

Danny didn't show up that afternoon. In fact, he didn't show up the following day or even the following week. It had been a month since I'd seen or heard from him. Even Crush had been unable to find much. From the looks of things, Danny and his wife had split, but he was still trying to get back into her good graces. He'd already tried to empty their checking account, but she'd moved everything to a new bank in only her name. I told my dad about what had happened the second he stepped on the place, though.

"If he shows up here, your mother may turn over in her grave, but I swear, I'll kill him myself." I wasn't sure I'd ever seen my dad this angry. "He's not been a father to those children since they were born. How dare he try to start now?"

"I can't imagine his wife wants the children of his mistress. There has to be more going on."

My father looked at me. "Find out what he's up to, Knox."

"Already on it, Pop. Should hear back from my guys soon."

"Good, because I don't plan on losing more of the most important people in my life. Not again." Dad went inside, slamming the door for once.

I cursed low under my breath. I didn't have to ask what he meant. He was talking about me and Mom. He'd said he essentially lost us at the same time. And we both knew if Danny got the kids, he'd use them as leverage. For money. He'd bleed us dry and make the kids' lives miserable. Those two loved Evelyn. Watching them all together, it was easy to see. And Evelyn loved them just as much.

The next few weeks passed uneventfully. I'd pulled Luke aside and told him to watch out for his sister and not to leave school with anyone he didn't know.

"It's Danny, isn't it." Luke didn't phrase it as a question. The kid knew. "He coming for us?"

"Not sure." I gave him an encouraging smile. "I'd just rather be safe than sorry."

Luke studied me for a few seconds, then seemed to come to a decision. "I saw him." He lifted his chin toward a hole in the fence. That hole had been there since I was a kid. Danny and I had put it there so we could sneak into the neighbor's yard and play in their pool when they were gone. "He tried to get me to come to him, but I got Aneshya and went inside."

Everything inside me stilled. "He what?"

"I'm pretty sure he thought he'd get my attention and that Aneshya would follow me." Luke shook his head. "I don't want nothing to do with him no more."

I had to tread carefully here. Even with what happened, that both Luke and Aneshya knew Danny was married to another woman and that Luke at least knew what that meant, Evelyn had been very careful not to speak badly of Danny around them. She never indicated why, but I was sure she just didn't think it was appropriate to badmouth the kids' father. He'd never hurt any of them physically, hadn't verbally abused them. Sure, he was neglectful and that was its own abuse, but she tried to let them have the information and make their own conclusions.

"That's your decision, Luke. You can talk to your mother about it if you want. But I don't think she's going to make you have a relationship with him if you don't want it."

"He hurt my mom." Luke lifted his chin, angry in the extreme. "He never hit her or anything, but that day in the hospital, I could see it on Mom's face."

"Yeah, buddy. He did."

"I don't want nothin' to do with anyone who hurts my mom." That was said with the twelve-year-old looking straight into my eyes. I got the message.

"I understand. Completely."

That seemed to be what Luke needed. He stuck out his hand and I took it immediately. "I'm Mom's protector now. I ain't big or strong enough to do much yet, but you are. So as her protector, I'm putting you in charge of keeping her safe. And keeping Danny away from her."

I straightened, my grip on Luke's hand tightening fractionally. "On my honor, Luke. I'll keep her safe. In all respects."

He nodded, then I let his hand go and he turned, heading back inside the house as I scrubbed a hand over my face. I hoped and prayed Dad saw Danny first. If it was me, there was the possibility no one would see the swine ever again.

Luke looked out over the big backyard. "You know, this place is pretty big."

"Yeah. It is. Dad always hated mowing it, but my mom wanted a big yard. She used to have flower beds everywhere." I smiled at the memory.

"Mom always said she wanted a house with a really big place to put a garden. She said her parents used to grow their own fruits and vegetables. She said she misses stuff like that."

I stroked my beard thoughtfully. "You think she'd like something like that here?"

With a shrug, Luke looked up at me. "Dunno. Just sayin'."

Oh… challenge given.

"I see. Well. I might have to talk to Dad. See what he thinks."

"It's his place."

"Yep. But I'm bettin' he'd enjoy seeing your mom happy."

"What about you?"

I took my time, really thinking about my answer to that question. "I think your mom deserves to be happy more than just about anyone I know. And I'd love to see the smile on her face."

That must have been the exact right thing to say because Luke actually grinned. "You might be all right, Knox."

I was about to follow Luke inside when Evelyn pulled into the driveway. Likely with a trunk full of groceries. Immediately, four guys approached us from where they'd been sitting on their bikes just off the property and out of sight. Lemon had ordered a protection detail for Evelyn, the kids, and my dad. They generally stayed out of the way, but when Evelyn came home with groceries, they all came out of hiding to infiltrate our happy home. I couldn't help but smile. Evelyn loved to cook for us all, and the guys appreciated it.

"Hey, Evie!" Wolf, a guy who was normally very secretive and withdrawn, smiled as he approached Evelyn. "Whatcha got there? Need help carrying it in?"

Evelyn graced him with a beautiful smile, and an ugly green-eyed monster reared its ugly head inside me. "Mine," I growled. Evelyn just laughed, stepping into me and lacing her arms around my neck. She went up on her tiptoes and kissed me gently. Which wouldn't do. So I wrapped my arms around her, bent her backward, and gave her a deep, proper kiss.

Catcalls all around.

"Get a room, you two."

"Someone's staking a claim. You got her property vest yet?"

"Jesus, Knox. Never saw you kiss a woman like that before."

Everyone laughed at me. Which, fuck them anyway.

When I ended the kiss, Evelyn looked adorably embarrassed and dazed. Also like she was more than ready to go find that room.

"Never wanted to kiss a woman like that before. Just makin' sure you dumbasses know Evelyn is mine. Not yours."

"They know." Evelyn snuggled in closer. She'd become more comfortable with our relationship and how she could touch me. She loved snuggling. Adored it. I never had, but with Evelyn, I was becoming addicted. I loved the closeness with her. Being able to pull her into my lap and kiss her or just hold her was a luxury I never knew I needed. And I learned all this about myself in the space of a few weeks. "I need to talk to Lemon about getting some better cooks in your compound because clearly your men don't get enough to eat."

"Oh, they get plenty," I groused. "They're just growing boys."

"Who love your woman's cooking." Wolf grinned at me before snagging a couple of the bags in the trunk to carry inside. On his way, he leaned in and kissed Evelyn's cheek.

"Not cool, man. I will get even."

"Still worth it." He winked at Evelyn and continued on. Evelyn giggled and buried her face in my chest. I chuckled and kissed the top of her head. She still didn't know everything about us, but I'd tried to feed her small things from time to time.

"I'll give you something to laugh at," I growled at Evelyn before picking her up and throwing her over my shoulder, marching into the house with her as I clamped an arm over her thighs to hold her steady while tickling her with the other hand.

The other guys had snagged grocery bags from the trunk along with Wolf and were carrying them inside. I'd just made it to the steps of the front porch when there was a screeching of tires. Three gunshots rang out in rapid succession, one bullet whizzing past my ear and planting itself into the siding of the house.

Evelyn screamed. I dropped down, covering her with my body even as I scanned the area looking for the shooter.

"Shooter!" I yelled as another shot barely missed us. The bullet ricocheted off the wooden porch and into the glass window of the living room.

I pressed Evelyn down, covering her as completely as I could, my arms wrapped around her head to protect her with my own body.

"Did you see ‘em?" Leather and Mace were outside in an instant, standing in front of me and Evelyn, making themselves the target.

"Which way did they go?"

"I heard a vehicle turn the corner," I said, trying to check Evelyn over but still keep an eye on our surroundings. "But I didn't see anyone."

"I'll get Crush on city surveillance. See if he can pull up something in this area and find out who did this." Mace had his phone to his ear. Probably calling Crush or Rocket.

There was a shrill scream from inside the house. I heard someone grunt, then there was a thump.

"Oh, my God!" Evelyn's voice was a strangled croak. "The kids!" She struggled to get up, but I wasn't ready to let her up.

"Calm down, honey. Whoever did this could still be out there."

"Luke! Aneshya!"

"Mom!" That was Aneshya's frightened voice. "Something's wrong with Grandpa!"

"Fuck." I crawled to the door with Evelyn underneath me, moving her along with me until we were inside. Mace and Leather crouched down, keeping a lookout in case whoever had done this wasn't gone. "Dad?"

My father groaned, looking up at me. Blood was pooling on the floor beneath him where he lay on his back.

"Oh no! Grover!" Evelyn was finally able to push out from underneath me and crawled to my dad's side.

There was blood all over his button-up shirt. Evelyn grabbed the collar and yanked, sending buttons flying. His undershirt, too, was soaked in blood. Evelyn shoved it up over his chest to reveal a large exit wound.

Shock and fury washed over me, along with a sense of urgency. I pulled out my phone and called 911. If there was any hope of my dad making it, we had to get him to a hospital immediately.

Evelyn snagged a pillow from the couch and pressed it to his chest with both hands. "Grover, please. Hang on." Her distress was clear. "Luke? Aneshya, where's Luke?"

"I'm here, Mom." The boy was pale and trembling, but he'd brought the first aid kit, obviously trying to help in the only way he knew how. "Do you need this?"

She gave her son a watery smile. "Thank you so much, Luke. That was great thinking, but I think this might be too big for our little kit. Do you think you could take Aneshya to her room and stay with her?"

Luke nodded, never taking his eyes off his grandfather. "I love you, Grandpa," he said, urging Aneshya from the room.

My father tried to speak, but blood bubbled from his lips. He nodded at Luke before turning his gaze to Evelyn. He held her gaze for a long time before raising a bloody hand in my direction.

Immediately, I knelt beside him, grasping his hand firmly in mine. When I did, my father guided my hand to Evelyn's, urging me to take hold. "Keep… her… safe." The sickening gurgle of blood punctuated his words. "Protect…"

"I will, Pop. I'll protect her and the kids. Long as I live. Long as anyone in my club is still alive."

Dad nodded before meeting Evelyn's gaze once more. "Love… him…"

She nodded her head. "I will. I do."

My dad smiled. "You're a… good… woman… Evelyn."

"I love you, Grover." Evelyn sobbed out her words. "Please don't… You're like a father to me. I don't want to lose you!"

He smiled. "Daughter… of my… heart. My… son…"

Then my father's eyes went lifeless, his face slackening. The rise and fall of his chest stilled.