The Biker's Fate Chapter 255

Hatch

I covered Maisie with a blanket just as Poppy walked back into the living room and frowned. "Is Mummy okay?"

I nodded. "The meds make her sleepy. Want to see what we can find to eat?"

"I don't know what we have. Mum doesn't do much cooking."

"Well, it's a good thing I do."

Poppy nodded and led me into the kitchen. "There are a couple of restaurants around the corner. We have them deliver… a lot."

She showed me where everything was, and she wasn't exaggerating. There wasn't a whole lot in the way of 'prepare-able' food. At least they had milk, cereal, and coffee for the morning, but nothing as far as fresh veggies, fruit, or meat.

"Our housekeeper comes on Fridays and usually picks up groceries on her way. Mum gives her a list on Thursday."

I nodded. "Well, that's a few days away, so I'm going to call Cricket… have her pick up a few things."

"Who's Cricket?"

"My sister."

"Is that her real name?" Poppy asked, her eyes wide.

I shook my head. "Christina. We've just always called her Cricket 'cause she doesn't stop hoppin'."

"That's such a cool name." Poppy sighed. "I wish I had a cool name."

"Beautiful name for a beautiful girl, Poppy," I countered. "Your mom and dad did right by you."

She blushed. "Thanks, Hatch."

"Now, what do you want Cricket to get you?"

"Can she get Pop Tarts?" Poppy asked hopefully.

"Yeah, baby girl. What flavor?"

"S'mores."

"Got it."

Poppy glanced over her shoulder to a sleeping Maisie. "Don't tell Mum. I'm not allowed that much sugar."

"Life ain't worth livin' without sugar."

"Right? I knew I liked you for a reason." She beamed and then helped me make a more substantial list.

"What time do you need to go to bed?" I asked. "I feel like I should make you stick to the schedule your mom set up."

"I'm not going to school this week, so I can stay up until ten."

"Yeah?"

"I think so. I'll check with Mum when she wakes up." She leaned over the kitchen island. "You're gonna keep Mummy safe right?"

"Yeah, baby girl." I smiled. "And you."

"Thanks, Hatch." She pushed away from the island. "I'm gonna go call Grace."

"I'll let you know when Cricket gets here."

She nodded and headed down the hall. I texted a list to my sister, then settled myself on the sofa next to Maisie.

I found the television remote (stuffed in a side table drawer) and hit the power button, making sure to turn the volume down low.

About an hour into the slowest baseball game I'd ever watched, my sister texted that she was in the building lobby with groceries. I headed down the hall and knocked on Poppy's door, pushing it open at her quiet, "Come in."

"Hey, Cricket's here."

"I'll call the front desk," she said.

"Thanks."

Poppy led me out to the kitchen and called down to give Cricket permission to come up.

"Who's here?" Maisie asked sleepily.

"My sister Cricket's bringin' some food, baby. Don't get up," I said.

"I don't think I could if I wanted to," she complained.

Cricket arrived with a doorman who helped her with her bags, and seemed to be eyeing my sister, which I didn't particularly like much.

I grabbed the bags out of the man's hand and nodded. "Thanks. We'll take it from here." 

"Thanks, Mark," Cricket said, all flirty and shit. "It was really nice meeting you."

"You too."

"She's gotta go," I said, and closed the door.

"Well, that was rude," Cricket complained. "He was nice."

"He was eyeing you like a Rottweiler eyes a steak," I countered.

"Well, he was a really nice Rottweiler."

Poppy giggled and I glared at my sister, then introduced Maisie and Poppy to Cricket. "Let's get this stuff into the kitchen," I said.

"I'm gonna help Mum," Poppy said.

"Sounds good," I said, and led Cricket into the kitchen.

I watched as Poppy helped Maisie out of her chair. "You okay, Sunshine?"

Maisie smiled. "I'm fine, love."

It was the first time she'd used an endearment with me and I felt it all the way in my dick. I grinned and went back to helping Cricket.

Poppy walked out… alone… about ten minutes later just as I pulled pork chops out of the fridge. "Where's your mom?"

"She's really tired, so she's in bed."

"Harder to watch her if she's not in here, baby girl."

Poppy smiled. "I won't repeat what she said to say if you said that."

I nodded. "I'll go talk to her."

"Why don't you help me with dinner, Poppy?" Cricket suggested.

"You just transfer 'em from the packagin' to the plate, sissy… no tryin' to do anythin' more," I demanded, and headed down the hall. Every time Cricket tried to cook, she burnt something… luckily, she was past the stage of setting things on fire, but since the kitchen was unfamiliar to her, I wasn't taking any chances.

Knocking on Maisie's slightly open bedroom door, I whispered, "Maisie?"

"Unless you're here with chocolate, wine or drugs, I don't want to talk to you."

I pushed the door open wider and found her lying on her back on a huge bed, on top of what looked like fuckin' expensive bedding, her bandaged arm cradled on her stomach. "You in a lot of pain?"

Her head flopped to the side and she raised an eyebrow. "Me? No… what would give you that idea?"

I chuckled closing the distance between us, leaning over her with a smile. "I'm gonna make dinner, but let's get you some meds for now, yeah?"

She reached up and stroked my cheek. "You cook?"

Sitting on the edge of the bed, I wrapped an arm around her upturned knees. "Yeah, baby, I cook."

Her eyebrows dipped together in a concerned expression. "Are you a secret serial killer or something, because you seem way too good to be true?"

"If I tell you, it won't be a secret," he whispered.

Maisie giggled, and I couldn't stop myself from kissing her gently. "Love that sound, Sunshine."

"I really like you, Connor."

Fuck. Her saying my real name was like a punch to my gut. "You know my real name?"

"Yes, sorry, is that not okay?" She burst into tears. "Kim's husband mentioned it in the park."

"It's fine."

"Please don't turn into yet another bastard who tries to kill me and my daughter." She sniffed, trying to get her tears under control. "I couldn't deal with it."

"Okay, first," I shifted so I was closer to her, wiping her tears from her cheeks, "I love that you know my real name and you can call me Connor anytime you want. Second, you and Poppy are safe with me. Always. Even if you and I don't work out, you'll still be safe with me. I like you too, Maisie, so how about you worry about getting well and leave the rest to me?"

She sat up and looped her arm around my neck. "I don't know what we'd do without you."

"You don't have to find out, baby, I got you." I slid my hands up her back and pulled her close.

Maisie's lips slid along my neck, then my jawline, finally touching my mouth gently. I stroked her cheek and deepened the kiss, my tongue connecting with hers, the minty taste of toothpaste combining with the gum I'd been chewing earlier. I forced myself to break our connection when she whimpered. I didn't want to hurt her further. "Baby, you need to take something for the pain, yeah?"

"I took Vicodin about twenty minutes ago," she countered. "But this is helping more."

I chuckled. "Yeah?"

She leaned back and nodded. "You're a really good kisser, Hatch. Not that I have much to compare you to, but you really are."

"Back atya, Maisie." I slid her hair away from her face. "Are you hungry?"

"Starved."

"Pork chops okay?"

"Perfect." She pulled me close again. "But can we stay like this for a little while longer?"

"Sure, baby."

After a few more minutes, I slid off the bed, then lifted her and carried her back out into the living room. This time, she had the good sense not to resist…much (there was one minor comment about her legs not being broken, but I ignored it). I settled her into the overstuffed chair she was in before, and went about making dinner with Poppy and Cricket's help.