Page 2 of Lake's Legacy

An advantage to taking Angela Westbrook’s private jet is that we could take our bikes. Jake arrived with the SUV and loads our suitcases. Dixie introduces his guests and our new prospects to Jake. With help from Pirate, Dixie smuggled two men fromIreland into the US, Conor Byrne and Danny Flynn. The two men are brothers, but Dixie’s grandfather adopted Danny soon after Conor’s arrest for participating in the theft that led to the death of Dixie’s parents. Conor served his sentence but ran afoul of a gang leader in prison. Dixie brought them to the US to protect both men. Their arrival also helps us out. We need more prospects, especially after our previous prospect, Irish, betrayed us.

We say goodbye to Dante, Chaos, and Maia, who continue to San Diego.

As I mount my bike, my phone rings. The display shows it’s my younger brother calling. Ignoring the call, I slide my phone back into my kutte. I can call him back once we’re at the clubhouse. After Olivia has welcomed me home. Preferably naked.

Cleo and Delphine rush outside the clubhouse before we can park our bikes. Cleo flies into Hex’s arms while Delphine walks calmly toward Dixie. I glance around, disappointed not to see Olivia. But then, I remember she’s working a shift and sometimes can’t leave on time. Dixie wraps Delphine in a hug and swings her around before kissing her. Then, without warning, he drops to his knee and proposes.

Pirate and I smirk at each other as my phone rings again. My brother. Again.

“What?” I answer.

“Is that any way to answer a phone?” he gripes.

“If you just called to check my phone etiquette, I’ll save you the time. It sucks.” I move my thumb to end the call, but he calls for me to wait.

“Lake, stop. I need your help. We need your help,” he says.

“Did he tell you to call me?”

My brother’s pause tells me what I already know.

“Look, you know how he is…”

“Yeah, an arrogant bastard who thinks he never needs help, least of all from his wastrel of a son.”

Two-Feathers sighs, which sets off a twinge of guilt. My father’s stubbornness isn’t my brother’s fault. He’s been the unlucky buffer between my father and me for his entire life.

“What do you need?” I relent.

“Could you come for a visit? Some of our people need medical help, and you know how they are. They won’t go to the hospital if they have a choice. We have two pregnant women who need ultrasounds. Some of the kids need their vaccinations. That sort of thing.”

“What about the clinic?”

“That’s something I need to talk to you about. Someone broke into the clinic and ransacked it. They sent the doctor to the hospital.”

“Do you know who did it?”

“No one saw anything. The doctor was unconscious and can’t tell us anything. Can you come?”

“Yeah, I can do that.” I’m the unofficial Medicine Man for our tribe. Unofficial because our father, the Chief, won’t acknowledge me.

“We also need to pick your brain,” my brother continues. “I can’t discuss it over the phone, but we need your help. I need your help.”

“I don’t know…” I start.

“Please. I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important or if I could handle it myself.”

Knowing this is true, I consider relenting. “Has Dad acknowledged you as his successor yet, Toff?”

The pause is longer, and I can feel Toff’s pain. “You know he hasn’t. He still thinks you’re going to come to your senses and take back your birthright.”

“I’m not. You know that. Coyote knows it. He’s just being an asshole. Look, I just got back and need to get some sleep. I’ll come by tomorrow, and we’ll talk. Let those who need medical help know to go to the clinic. For those who can’t travel, I’ll see them before I return home.”

“Thanks,” Toff says.

I end the call before he can say anything more.

Dreading the following day, I go inside and unpack before heading to the infirmary to prepare my medical bag. This doesn’t take me long since I’ve made this trip too many times to count, although it has been a while. After they built the clinic, they didn’t need me.

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