The Biker's Fate Chapter 265

Maisie

AFTER HANGING UP with Hatch, I washed my face and rejoined my brother in the family room.

"You okay, Sausage?" he asked.

"Yes, I'm okay. I just can't believe they let Alison out."

"How does that work exactly?"

I sat in Niall's chair and sighed. "Money and privilege."

Beckett raised an eyebrow. "We have money and privilege, Maisie."

"Well, I suppose if I tried to kill my best friend and her daughter because I went on a bi-polar frenzy, then I'd get out too," I said a little more ungraciously than I intended. I burst into tears again and Beckett handed me a tissue. "Thanks." I blew my nose. "I'm warring with these feelings of frustration because she's my best friend and I love her, but she tried to hurt us—"

"Kill you," he corrected.

"Becks, she's not well."

He pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Well, she's not," I stressed.

"Forgive me, Maisie, if I'm a bit biased and a little less willing to give the woman who tried to murder my sister the benefit of the doubt!" He roared the last bit and I blinked as I watched him try to bring his emotions under control.

"Sorry," I whispered.

"No, I'm sorry," he said immediately. "I want to be sensitive to what you're going through, but I can't forgive her. Not yet, anyway."

"I understand, Becks."

Before anymore could be said on the subject, Hatch and Poppy walked into the flat and Poppy flew at her uncle with an excited squeal. Hatch, on the other hand, made his way to me and pulled me up for a gentle kiss.

"You didn't tell her he was here?" I asked as he wrapped an arm around me.

"Figured she'd like the surprise," Hatch said. "You doin' okay?"

I shrugged, snuggling against him. "I really wish you and I could go somewhere, just the two of us. I want to shut out the world for a while."

"I know, baby."

I lifted my head and whispered, "I really need you to make that happen. As in now."

His eyes got soft and he smiled gently. "Yeah?"

"Please."

"Okay, baby. I'll make it happen." He turned to face Poppy and Beckett. "Poppy, say hi to your Mom, I need to talk to her privately for a minute."

"About…?" Poppy asked.

"Yeah," Hatch said.

Poppy nodded and hugged me, then Hatch took my hand and led me into my bedroom.

"Tell me what's going on," I demanded.

He looked away.

"Hatch, you're all tense. What happened?"

He let out a breath. "Alison was at the school today. She didn't go anywhere near Poppy, but Poppy was confused… no surprise there. I filled her in, but she said Grace is scared to be at home, so now Poppy's also scared for Grace and she wants me to fix it."

I raised an eyebrow.

"The cryin', the stompin' of the foot, that kind of shit."

"She didn't!"

"Not sayin' she isn't valid in what's she's feelin', Sunshine, but I've been there. I raised Cricket. It's not fun. Poppy's a little miffed that I'm not rushin' in to rescue Grace from her "abusive" home."

"Oh dear," I breathed out.

"So, this now falls to you."

"Yes, I suppose it does."

"Not sayin' I don't have your back. Just sayin' I'm not gonna tell you how to parent your kid."

"I appreciate that." I dropped my forehead to his chest. "Let's just run away together. Beckett can finish raising Poppy. He can take her back to England. Kenna has kids, she can help. My parents would love it."

Hatch chuckled and wove his fingers into my hair. "You're obviously feelin' better."

"I always feel better when you're here."

"Yeah?"

"Yes," I whispered. Hatch sighed and I leaned back to catch his eye. "What?"

"Gotta head home tonight after church, Sunshine."

Church was what his club called their weekly Wednesday meeting.

"Oh." I swallowed back tears with a nod, dropping my head back to his chest. "Okay."

"I fuckin' hate the Vicodin."

"It's not the Vicodin."

"Really? The thought of me leavin' you for a night brings you to tears?" he challenged.

"I'm not crying," I lied.

He tilted my head back and kissed me gently. "I'll be back first thing in the morning."

"You're leaving now?" I sounded far too desperate, even to my own ears. "I mean, if you need to go…"

Hatch chuckled. "I just figured you'd want time with your brother. I'm not on a clock, so I can stay for a while if you want me to."

"It's fine, love. I know you have a life outside of me and I can't expect you to be at my beck and call every minute of the day and night…" I ran my good hand up his chest. "Even if I've come to really like it."

He slid his hand to my neck. "You want me to stay, Sunshine?"

I nodded.

"Then I'll stay."

I smiled. "Thank you."

"Wanna make out a little?"

"Ohmigod, yes please."

He grinned and locked my door, taking my hand, leading me to the bed, and pulling me down beside him.

That was as far as we got because my gorgeous, sweet, kind, lovely, generous, pain in the ass child began knocking on my door, jiggling the doorknob, calling through the door, and wondering out loud why the door was locked.

"I'm gonna find a place we can be alone together soon, Sunshine," Hatch promised.

"That would be really good." I slid off the bed and pulled open the door. "Poppy, we're trying to have a private conversation."

She glanced at me and then Hatch. "You never lock your door."

"Well, it's because we didn't want to be interrupted."

"So are you going to get Grace?"

"We can't go and get Grace, Poppy," I said.

"Why not?" she demanded.

"Because it would be illegal, sweetheart." I sighed. "We don't have any cause to take her from her home. Her father has to protect her from Ali, love. I can't."