Page 22 of Lake's Legacy

I agree with their plan since it leaves me free to talk to the people Toff said were victims of harassment.

We hear the front door open and someone calling out. I step outside to see who has come in. In the waiting room is a man several years older than my father. He’s holding an adorable little girl with big brown eyes. She’s clutching a doll to her chest as she stares at me with suspicion. I guess her to be about five years old. Next to them is a young woman with the same dark eyes and hair as her daughter. She’s holding a protective arm around her middle. I recognize the older man as Pieter Oxbridge. So, this means the young woman is either his wife or daughter-in-law. I remember Pieter’s wife having died a few years back. Pieter has two sons. His oldest, Stefen, is my age, while his youngest, Manuel, is a few years younger than Toff.

“Pieter, good to see you,” I say, holding my hand out to shake his.

“Lake. It’s been too long.” He shakes my hand before gesturing toward the young woman. “My daughter-in-law, Muriel. She’s married to Stefen. And this little cutie is Marie. She’s Steven and Muriel’s oldest.”

I smile at Muriel before turning my attention to Marie. “Hello, Marie, who do you have there?”

Marie drops her head on Stefen’s shoulder as she turns away from me. The older man jiggles his arm until she turns back. “Her name’s Sutton. I don’t want a shot.”

“Marie’s starting school in the fall. She needs her vaccines,” Stefen explains, lowering his granddaughter to the ground.

“I see,” I say as Olivia and Annette join us.

“I hear you’re starting school soon. Are you excited?” Annette asks, taking the girl’s hand and leading her away.

“They’re in good hands,” I assure Pieter, who watches them walk away as if he thinks he’ll never see them again.

“We’re keeping a close eye on both those girls,” Pieter says. “We’ve had some trouble, and I’m not taking any chances.”

“What kind of trouble?”

Pieter looks at Toff. “Did you tell him?”

“I told him outsiders are harassing some of our people, but I wanted him to hear you tell it. Joseph and Celeste are coming in later. I already told Joseph I want him to fill Lake in on what happened to him.”

Pieter nods. “Two weeks ago, I heard several motorcycles pull up outside my house. I went out and found two young punks straddling their bikes. I told them to get off my land. They laughed at me and told me to return to where I came from. That spics weren’t welcome. Before I could tell them off, the door opened behind me, and a third man dragged Muriel and Marie behind him.”

“Fuck!” I explode, glaring at Toff for not telling me sooner. “What the fuck happened? Did they hurt them?”

Pieter shakes his head. “No, but only because they didn’t get a chance. Stefen and Marcel came back and threatened to shoot them. The men hopped on their bikes and took off. Since then, Marcel’s been staying home while Stefen does all the work. We’re falling behind on our orders because he can’t keep up, but they won’t leave the girls and me home without backup. It’s why I volunteered to bring the girls here today. That way, Marcel can help Stefen out.”

“Did you tell my dad and Crow about this?” I ask.

“We did. The trouble is, no one knows where the assholes hang out or where they’ll strike next. They attacked Joseph a few days after they came after me; then, they took out the clinic. They ride those fucking bikes so they’re able to cover terrain cars can’t.”

I nod as I consider the situation. “Did you get a look at them? Do you think you’d recognize them again?”

“Fuck, yeah.”

“You said they rode motorcycles. Did they have on kuttes?” When Pieter gives me a confused look, I thumb my kutte. “Like this? A leather or denim vest with a logo on the back?”

He nods slowly. “Yeah. They were all wearing denim vests. Had a bald eagle on the back.”

“Anything else?”

Pieter shakes his head. “I didn’t get a good look. I was too busy comforting Muriel and Marie. Maybe Marcel or Stefen saw more.”

“I’ll ask them. Okay, thanks, Pieter. Dad and Crow will probably hunt them down first, but I’ll have my club look into it, too.”

“I only came out of the house because I thought it was you and your club,” Stefen admits. “You guys are the only bikers we know.”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN: OLIVIA

Once we're in the exam room, Marie tells us, “I get to spend time with my friends. We also get to read and learn math. I can read a little and count to one hundred.”

I help her onto the exam table while Annette preps. She swipes alcohol over the girl's arm while I distract her.

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