The Biker's Fate Chapter 270

Maisie

I AWOKE THE next morning to an empty bed and turned my head to see my clock said nine a.m. I sat up with a gasp and shook my head. Hatch must have turned off my alarm. I saw a bottled water and a pill sitting on top of a post-it note.

Take this when you wake up. I told Cricket to come at eleven and turned off your alarm. See you after I drop Poppy off – H.

I'd just taken the Oxy when my bedroom door opened, and Hatch walked in. "You're awake."

"Just. I can't believe you turned off my alarm," I complained. "I have work to do."

He chuckled and closed the distance between us. "You needed to sleep."

"I get it, but your sister has class this afternoon and we have limited time."

"You'll work better if you're not exhausted," he countered.

"You did kind of wear me out."

Hatch kissed me gently. "I grabbed bagels and coffee, and got the mail while I was out. You need help gettin' dressed?"

"I might. But you have to promise you'll actually dress me… no getting sidetracked." I heard a quiet yip and frowned. "What was that?"

Hatch stretched his arm out toward me. "That was Little Fucker."

"Excuse me?"

Opening his hand, the tiniest little puppy rested its head on Hatch's fingers before trying to chew one of them off. Hatch gave it a little cuddle then handed it to me. "Some asshole dumped six puppies at Cade's site yesterday. I was taking them to the Club and Poppy begged to keep one. I told her I'd talk to you. So, I'm talkin' to you. Yay or nay to Little Fucker?"

"Honey, I can't deal with a puppy." I slid out of bed as I hugged the furball to me. "You and I both work full-time, Poppy's in school, we're heading to London in a few months… no. No to…"

Hatch grinned again. "Little Fucker."

"You cannot call him that, Hatch." I held the puppy to me. "Can he? No, he can't. You're not a little fucker, are you? At least you won't be when your tiny little balls get chopped off. We need to come up with something better."

Hatch chuckled. "You name him, you keep him, Sunshine. That's the law."

"What the heck are we going to do with a dog when we're out of the country?"

Hatch slid his arm around my waist. "Got a family who can watch him while we're gone, honey. He can come to work with me as well. He'll be good in the office and I bet the customers will love him."

I smiled slowly, my heart racing. "Does that mean you're really coming with us?" I asked hopefully.

"Said that already, right? Gotta get a passport, but yeah, baby, I'm comin' with you."

I jumped a little and let out a squeak. "I wish I could clap my hands."

Hatch laughed. "Fuck you're cute."

"Glad you think so." I kissed Hatch's chin. "Because you're potty training Little Fucker."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah," I retorted. "We'll let Poppy rename him."

Hatch shook his head. "Like hearin' Little Fucker outta your mouth, Sunshine. Gonna miss it."

I batted my eyelashes. "I'll call your cock that next time I blow you."

Hatch laughed so hard he started coughing. "Holy shit, baby, warn me when you're gonna be funny."

"No way. This is way more fun for me."

The puppy started to squirm, and I handed it off to Hatch. "Looks like he needs to pee. I think I'm good to get dressed on my own, so I'll meet you in the kitchen."

Hatch took the puppy and left my room and I got dressed as best I could and headed for the food source.

I walked out just as Beckett arrived wheeling his bag past me. "You're leaving?"

"My job here's done. I'll report back to Kenna that you're better than expected," he said. "But I'm coming back if you're not at the table for Mum's birthday."

I rolled my eyes. "I'll be there. And I'll ring them soon."

"I already said good-bye to Poppy." He pulled me in for a gentle hug. "I love you, sis. Don't ever doubt that."

"I don't Becks. I love you, too." I grabbed his arm. "But if you ever disrespect my man again, I may do something nasty to you in your sleep."

With a chuckle, he kissed my cheek and then walked out the door.

Hatch walked in a few minutes later and locked the door. "Saw your brother. All good?"

I nodded. "I think so."

"Did you know he was leaving?"

I shook my head. "My brother does his own thing. No one knows what he's doing unless he wants you to know." I raised an eyebrow. "A lot like someone else I know."

Hatch handed me the dog. "Coffee?"

"Yes, love, that would be great." I snuggled close to the furball. "Thanks."

"What time's your brother's flight?" Hatch asked, and handed me a cup of coffee and a bagel.

"No idea. I'd imagine his pilot filed the flight plan a while ago if Becks just left."

"Come again?"

"Beckett has his own plane, Connor."

"No shit?"

I shivered at his tone. It was flat. This was not good.

"Just how much money do you have?" he asked.

"Not enough to have my own plane," I assured him. "Beckett's loaded, Connor. I'm comfortable. And you haven't met Kenna. She's in between me and Beckett, age-wise. She's a total nut. You will love her."

Hatch's knuckles were white as he gripped the island.

"Don't shut down on me, Hatch."

"Just give me a second here, Maisie."

Growing up the way I did, I learned pretty quickly that money separated you from the real people. Moving to America evened the playing field a little bit, but if Hatch knew just how much money my family had, he might run before he knew how little I cared about it. "Please don't think this changes us."

"Changes us, how?"

I shrugged. "I don't know. You're freaking me out a little because you look like you just swallowed poison."

He took a deep breath. "I grew up rough. Poor. Poorer than poor. Mom died when I was barely twenty, Dad went to prison the same year. I was left to raise myself and my siblings, including Cricket who was three. I was makin' minimum wage. We had nothin', so I have no concept of flyin' anywhere, let alone overseas and in my own plane. You gotta give me a minute."

I blinked back tears. "You raised—"

He shook his head. "Not havin' this conversation right now, Maisie. Don't want your pity."

"I'm not giving you my pity," I snapped.

"Yeah?" he challenged. "Why you cryin'?"

"Because sometimes I cry for no reason!"

Hatch's expression went blank and my heart raced.

"Forget it." I slid off the stool. "Your sister's going to be here soon, and we have a lot to do. I'd just like to say that I can't help that I have money and if you come with us to England, you're going to have to gird up your loins because you're going to meet other people with money. You may even meet the queen."