Lake’s Legacy (Demon Dawgs MC: New Orleans #3)

Chapter Twelve Olivia

CHAPTER TWELVE: OLIVIA

The physical force of the chief’s animosity toward Lake has me stumbling off the bike. I brace myself for the fall, but Lake’s strong arms wrap around me and hold me steady. I expect him to stiffen at the man’s words, but he seems unaffected. The older, angry man is muscular with broad shoulders and a commanding presence. I don’t need to hear Lake’s greeting to know these men are father and son. Looking at the chief is like looking into Lake’s future. I can’t say I’m not pleased to see he’ll be just as hot when he’s older.

The man next to the chief shares DNA but is a pale imitation—like a copy of a clone. However, the third man standing next to a beautiful woman must be Lake’s younger brother.

“Hello, Dad. Nice to see you, too.” Lake’s tone is dismissive, but I can hear the tightness underlining his words.

“You can get back on that machine and get your ungrateful ass back to New Orleans.”

“I will, once I’ve seen the patients Toff called me about,” Lake says.

“Dad, we need Lake’s help now that Dr. Sinclair is unavailable,” Toff says.

“We don’t need a medicine man. It’s time your brother stops throwing his life away and accepts his role.”

“I’m not having this conversation with you again. It isn’t going to happen. I will never come back and take over as chief.”

“You are my firstborn. It is your responsibility!”

“No. Your responsibility is to do what’s best for the tribe. I’m not the best choice. You know it, I know it. Toff is the leader this tribe needs. Not me.”

“Tradition…”

“Shouldn’t become a detriment to the tribe. We have to evolve to survive. Our ancestors lived in thatched houses and made our clothes from the animals we hunted. You no longer live in a thatched house. You’re wearing jeans instead of a breechcloth. Times change. When are you going to stop being so stubborn and recognize that Toff is the best fucking chief this tribe could hope to have?”

“I’m not saying Toff won’t be an asset. He’ll be your right-hand man, like Crow has been for me. It’s time for you to come home.”

Lake drops his head and takes a deep breath. “This is not my home. It hasn’t been my home since I joined the Army. My home is in New Orleans with my club. They’re my family now. My brothers.”

“You think your wife will want to leave the tribe and live in New Orleans? Will you strip her of her family, too? Are you so selfish that you’d take her from everything she knows?”

I stiffen at his words. What does he mean? Lake’s wife? Is Lake married? I shift away from Lake, but he pulls me closer to his side.

“That won’t be a problem because I won’t marry a woman from the tribe. I see my future, and that future includes Olivia. If she’ll have me, she’s the only woman for me.” I glance up at Lake and take in the set of his jaw. He casts his eyes down to me and gives me a sheepish grin. “I know we haven’t discussed marriage, but I can’t deny how much I want a future with you.”

“You can’t marry her! She’s not one of us. Annette is for you. She’s our Medicine Woman. The tribe sent her to medical school. She’s to stand at your side like your mother did for me. Your mother would be ashamed of how you’ve turned your back on us.”

The gasp from the pretty and, until now, the silent woman standing next to Toff draws our attention. Coyote’s face reddens as he sends her an apologetic look. “Annette…”

“Annette Solon?” Lake asks, leaving me and moving to the woman. She nods. He chuckles before lifting and swinging her around before putting her back on her feet. “I never would have recognized you. When was the last time we saw each other? You were what? Sixteen?”

“Yes,” she says with a sweet smile. I feel a twinge of jealousy toward the lovely girl. Her long, straight hair is gorgeous. Light brown eyes stare at Lake out of a heart-shaped face. She’s almost fragile in appearance with her slight body and short stature. I’m not a large woman, but I have curves—more curves than I want. Annette is like a perfect little doll.

I hear a growling noise and glance around. Thinking it’s coming from Coyote, I glance at where he stood, but he’s gone. My attention returns to Lake to see him watching his brother. He chuckles. “I see how it is. Don’t worry, bro. I wasn’t hitting on your woman. Just happy to see an old friend.”

Lake backs up until he’s next to me. He slides his arm around my waist and pulls me close again. I keep myself stiff, uncomfortable with everything that has transpired. However, Lake slips his thumb under my shirt to brush against my skin. His touch is intimate and conveys his message, mine.

“So, you’re Dr. Annette Solon now?” Lake asks.

Annette shakes her head. “I just graduated from medical school. I still need to do my residency.”

“Congratulations! You and Olvia can talk shop. She’s training to be a nurse practitioner.”

“Um, about what Coyote said. I didn’t know he expected me…to you know…be…”

“Offered to me as a bribe?” Lake finishes for her.

Annette blushes and looks down. “Right. God, I’m so embarrassed.”

“Don’t,” Lake and Toff say together.

“You have nothing to be embarrassed about,” Toff continues.

“He’s the one that should be embarrassed.” Lake jerks his chin toward Coyote’s front door. “Coyote is embarrassed. It’s why he disappeared. He knows he has crossed the line but hides instead of saying he’s sorry. He believes saying sorry makes one weak.”

“He’s only doing what’s best for the tribe,” Crow defends his brother.

“Is he? Because what’s best for the tribe is Toff,” Lake argues.

“But you are the firstborn. Leading the tribe is your legacy,” Crow persists.

“The order of my birth isn’t what makes a man a leader. It’s something inside him. I don’t have it, but Toff does. He has made himself into the person this tribe needs to succeed because that was his calling. At the same time, I’ve found my place with the Demon Dawgs. The United Huoma Nation will always be a part of me, but it is no longer my driving force.”

Crow glances at me. “Because of her?”

“No. She’s another reason, but I decided when I joined the army. I decided again when Hex started the Demon Dawgs. Olivia is the final piece. You know I’m right about Toff. As Coyote’s second in command, you can help him accept the truth. Will you?”

Crow gives Lake an exasperated look but nods. “I’ll see what I can do. Maybe this is for the best. Many in the tribe believe your club is responsible for our problems. ”

“When did these problems start?” Lake asks after a long moment.

“Two weeks ago,” Toff responds.

“I was in Ireland with my club for the last two weeks. We returned yesterday. It wasn’t us, but I’ll try to help you figure out who. However, this further proves why Coyote needs to stop forcing the issue. Why would the tribe follow a leader they believed terrorized them?”

Crow bows his head in agreement before leaving us.

“I didn’t know your mother was your tribe’s Medicine Woman. Is she why you became a medic in the Army?”

Lake chuckles. “Kind of. I hadn’t signed on to be a medic. In BCT, I made a tincture out of marigolds to heal blisters. My mom knew everything there was to know about healing with herbs and plants. She taught me. I used that information to help my squad through training and deployment. When our medic got hurt, I took over.”

“Is it a tradition for the chief and the Medicine Woman to marry?” I ask.

Lake frowns. “I don’t think it’s a rule or a tradition. My mom and dad did, but my father’s mother wasn’t the tribe’s Medicine Woman.”

“My grandmother was the Medicine Woman before your mother,” Annette says. “She’s why my dad went on to become a doctor. She’s also why I followed in his footsteps. I found her old journal. She had a remedy for everything in that book. I saw myself solving all the world’s illnesses with her knowledge.” Annette laughs. “That hasn’t happened, but I plan on using her cures in my practice. I want to bring back some of the simple remedies.”

“That’s a good idea,” I tell her. “I wouldn’t mind looking at it if you didn’t mind sharing. Natural remedies often work just as well and with fewer side effects.”

“I’d love to show it to you.”

Toff glances at his watch. “We should get over to the clinic. Several men and women repaired and cleaned it so we could use it to see patients today.”

“How much damage did they do?” Lake asks.

“Enough. We got lucky. Dr. Sinclair locked up the supplies and equipment in the X-ray room. The assholes tried to break through the wall but couldn’t get inside. They broke chairs, cabinets, and the exam tables. We purchased two new exam tables from the hospital where Annette’s father works. We also got some basic supplies from them. We should have everything you need.”