Page 134 of Legacy

“It’s okay, Aimee. They’re here to help.”

She weighs my words, looking between Patch and me. Finally, after a long moment, she accepts the blanket.

“Thanks.”

Patch motions to the van. “We can take you somewhere safe. You’re free to leave whenever you want. But there’s a bed and a shower.”

She looks at me again, and I nod. While I’ve spent my fair share of time around people who are closed off and resistant, I get the sense Aimee’s distrust runs deeper.

At least she finally concedes, climbing into the van.

“Where are you taking them?” I ask Jesse.

“We have a safe house set up for this kind of thing. We’ll help them get back to wherever they came from or figure out what else we can do to help while they get back on their feet.”

I glance between the van and Jesse. “So, if you have a safe house already set up, you’ve run into this before?”

He nods, frowning. “It’s not only for this. Sometimes friendly clubs just need protection while they wait out a problem. But we ran into this particular thing with the Iron Sinners a few years ago. Seems they’re at it again.”

“That’s—” I swallow. There are no words. “Let me know if I can do anything to help with the girls. Some of them were there longer than me. They had it rough.”

Jesse doesn’t ask me to elaborate. He saw the conditions, and if this isn’t his first run-in with traffickers, he knows what I’m talking about.

“I will,” he promises. “How are you doing?”

“I’m fine considering.” I wet my lips. “You don’t need to worry about me.”

“You’re always taking care of everyone else. Let me worry about you for a change.” He brushes my cheek with his thumb. “Besides, it’s not just you I’m worried about.”

Jesse lowers his hand down my arm, my side, and finally plants his palm over my belly. I know logically it’s too early to feel the baby move, but it doesn’t stop the flutter that swims inside me anyway.

“You saw the test?”

“Right before I found out you were taken.” He frowns.

“That’s some announcement. Definitely not how I planned it.”

Jesse pulls me in for a hug, wrapping his hands around my back and looking down at me. So close I have to lean my head all the way back to face him.

“As long as the two of you are safe, I don’t care how I found out.”

“So you’re okay with me being pregnant then?”

“Okay with it? I’m fucking ecstatic.” A smile stretches his face.

I grip his cut, pulling him closer. “I just thought that maybe everything you said last night might have been because the test was negative. I know this is fast.”

“None of this is fast for me, sweetheart. I feel like I’ve been waiting my whole life for you—for the family we’re going to grow together. I want it all right now. I’m done waiting.” Jesse releases me, only to drop to a knee in front of me in the dirt.

It’s madness around us as the club circulates the house and the yard, but he doesn’t pay any of them attention, even as they pause to watch.

“I made you a promise when I made you my old lady. That with the club, you’ll always be protected. And I know this wasn’t a great start.”

“Don’t say that.” I shake my head. “You found me. You saved me.”

“I’ll always find you, Reagan.” He kisses the back of my hand. “I want it all with you. Your future. Your heart. I want any and all labels we can possibly put on each other to tell the world you’re mine. Will you marry me?”

Tears slip down my cheeks, and my heart feels like it’s on the edge of bursting. “Yes, of course, Jesse.”

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