Page 12 of Emergence: Prequel

The rest of Church was taken up with making plans, strategies, and backup plans.

It was well into the early morning hours by the time we’d finished, but I had one more call to make, and while I hated that I’d have to wake him up, I knew he’d want to know what had happened to his sister. It seemed the type of man he was. How Grudge had managed to make such amazing kids boggled my mind, although I had a feeling it was more down to Stacey than anything else.

Putting the phone to my ear, I listened to it ring, wondering if it was going to ring out, but eventually a groggy voice answered, “Lo.”

“Kyle, it’s Maestro.”

The sleep was completely gone from his voice when he demanded, “What’s wrong? Are Mom and Rosie okay?”

“Are you alone?” I asked.

“Hang on,” he muttered. I listened as sheets rustled and there was a decidedly feminine groan before I heard his feet on the floor, then the sound of a door opening and closing.

“Okay, I’m alone. What’s happened? My jack-off sperm donor better not be fucking things up for them.”

Even with all the seriousness of the day, I couldn’t help but chuckle at his words. Kyle wasn’t as much of a stranger to me as Rosie had been because he’d worked in our garage on weekends and during school holidays. I’d always liked him, and the more I heard about him from his mother and sister, the more I liked him.

“No, it’s not him, but Rosie had some trouble at school today, and I thought you should know.” I went on to fill him in on what had happened and that I was dealing with it.

“Those fuckers,” he hissed. “I thought I’d made it clear before I left that they’d better leave her alone. I had more than one run-in with them, even if they were younger than me. Give me until the morning; I’ll pack and come home.”

“You don’t have to do that,” I assured him. “You being in school is important to your mom.”

“That may be so, but I can transfer closer. I only went here because it was away from the dickhead and Mom insisted because she was scared I was going to kill him. I’ll be home, and then I’ll deal with the shitheads. You can’t because of their ages.”

“Neither can you,” I pointed out.

“True,” he agreed. “But I know kids their age who would love to have a chance at them. They’ve hurt more than you know.”

“I’ve never asked your mom but what are you at college for?”

Kyle chuckled, “I’m pre-law, Maestro. I figured even if the MC was mostly legit, you could always do with a lawyer.”

“Fuck, you’re not wrong. I won’t say anything to your mom and sister about you coming home. Let me know when you get to town and come straight to the clubhouse; we’re on a soft lockdown.”

“Will do,” Kyle agreed. “One last thing, Maestro, did you say it was a kid called Ford that helped them out?”

“Yeah, why?”

“Interesting. He’s a good guy, but there’s always been something familiar about him, and I think I now know what it is. You need to bring him in.”

“You’re not going to tell me what you think it is that’s familiar about him?”

“No, because I’m not a hundred percent sure. I’ll wait and see what you think.”

“Okay, boy. Drive safe and let me know when you get in.”

“Will do. One more thing before I go. I wanted to tell you I’m glad Mom’s finally with the right man.” With those parting words, he put the phone down.

“Little fucker,” I grinned, happy to have his approval, even though I didn’t need it.

“All good?” Cash asked.

“Yeah, he’s coming home.”

Cash snorted and shook his head, saying what I’d been thinking, “Those kids are a testament to your woman, Maestro. It’s hard to believe Grudge had anything to do with the making of them. By the way, you have a houseful of tipsy women and tired girls.Lizzie sent you photos. In case you didn’t know, your sister is stoked that you finally have an Old Lady, and she’s one who is liked.”

With a smile, I opened up the pictures Lizzie sent; my breath caught at the sheer beauty that filled the frame, their beautiful faces the exact image of each other, cheeks pressed up together as they smiled at the camera. While there were still shadows in their eyes, they also looked happy. My heart, while full of love for the two of them, also beat with vengeance that anyone would dare touch what was mine. I’d do whatever it took to make sure that they’d never had another moment of worry from here on out. There was no doubt in my mind, Rosie may not have come from me, but she was my daughter just the same.