The Biker's Fate Chapter 347

Poppy

I didn't wake up until well past noon on Saturday, but I wasn't happy Devon hadn't texted or called. I decided against calling him only because I was worried I might interrupt something dangerous or important… but I did send him a short text, letting him know I was thinking about him. I showered and dressed quickly, just in case I needed to be ready for something, then I walked out of my room and down the hall. Arriving in the kitchen, I froze.

Hatch lifted his cup of coffee toward me and grinned. "Hey, baby girl. Surprised?"

"Yes, but it's a happy surprise," I said, closing the distance between us and hugging him. "What are you doing here?"

He held me close and kissed my head. "Figured you could fill your old man in on a couple of things before I head out to Savannah."

I closed my eyes and asked, "Like what?"

He chuckled. "We're goin' with that, huh?"

I pulled away and busied myself by making a cup of coffee. "Spit it out, Sid. What do you want to know?"

"Need you to look at me, Poppy."

Steeling myself, I turned to face him and tried to keep a serene look on my face. He leaned against the fridge and studied me. I hated when he did the Dad stare on me. I caved when he did it… telling him everything I'd ever done wrong (including confessing to whatever I'd been caught doing) and getting punished accordingly (usually in the form of being grounded).

What I always came to find out, was that nine times out of ten, my parents never really knew the full story until I told it, and since I rarely did anything that concerned them, I rarely got grounded.

Not this time, though. I was a vault.

"What's goin' on with Devon?" he asked.

"Badger got beat up really badly," I said. "He's in the hospital."

Hatch grinned, taking a sip of his coffee. "I know that, baby girl. Not what I asked."

I shifted from one foot to the other. "You'll need to be more specific."

"Okay, cards on the table." He set his coffee on the counter and crossed his arms. "What, specifically, is going on between you and Devon?"

I dropped my eyes and stared at the floor.

"Eyes, Poppy."

I looked at him and sighed. "We're together."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning, in a committed romantic relationship, together forever, kind of thing."

He shifted (ever so slightly) and ran his hand through his beard. "When did all of this start?"

"For me? The second I met him."

"Yeah, baby girl, none of that's a secret," he said. "Wanna know when he engaged."

I sighed. "About a week ago."

He looked surprised. "No shit?"

"No shit," I breathed out.

"You happy?"

I bit my lip. "Stupidly."

He grinned, holding his arms out to me and I walked into them. "You're growin' up so fuckin' fast, Poppy."

I hugged him tight, the leather of his cut pressing against my cheek. "I love him, Daddy."

"I know you do." He stroked my hair.

"Are you mad?"

"Does he treat you right?"

"Too soon to tell," I admitted, and glanced up at him. "But he's always been good to me, even when I wasn't being particularly nice to him."

Hatch smiled. "Then I'm not mad."

He let me go and I grabbed my coffee. "I really thought you were going to kill him."

He dropped his head back and laughed. "God damn, if only that were an option."

"Hey now. That's my man you're talkin' about."

"Bottom line is that your mother has raised a woman just like her. I couldn't have been prouder to have been part of that process for the past decade. You've got a good head on your shoulders, and you can read people, so Devon's a good pick for you."

I beamed. "I know."

"I trust him with you, Poppy, but one step out of line, and I'll end him."

"I know that too."

"You talk to your mom already?"

I blushed. "Yes, but you were already on a plane..."

"It's okay, Poppy. You and your mom are allowed some secrets."

God, my dad was the best man on the planet… Devon had a lot to live up to.

"Thanks, Sid."

"Come on, let your old man take you and Gracie out to lunch. I have a plane to catch, but not for a few hours."

"I can't believe you stopped here first," I admitted.

"You're more important to me than the club, Poppy. Never forget that."

I hugged him again. "I love you."

"Love you too, baby girl." He patted my back. "Go get Grace."

"Okay."

I knocked on her bedroom door and she pulled it open, fully dressed, her purse in her hand. "I'm ready to go."

I grinned. "What time did Sid get here?"

"Around noon. He told me not to wake you. When we heard the shower start, he told me he wanted to take us out to lunch after you talked, so I got ready while you had your convo." She walked out of the room. "But now I'm starving and your dad's paying, so I want to eat."

"Well, let's hustle."

We followed Hatch out to my car and after lunch, I drove him to the airport for a teary good-bye, then went home to wait by the phone like a good biker woman.