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

Chapter Nineteen Lake

CHAPTER NINETEEN: LAKE

Olivia’s statement has all of us turning our attention to the house. As chief, my father’s door is always open, but figuratively, not literally. But there it was, wide open. My gut churns as I leap out of the SUV, stopping only long enough to shout at my brother. “Stay in the SUV, protect the women.”

Pulling out my gun, I step inside. Pausing to listen, I hear someone coming in through the back door. Turning in that direction, I expect to find Toff, but instead, it’s Crow.

“What’s going on? Why are you carrying a gun?”

“Dad’s door was open. Any reason why he might do that?”

Crow shrugs. “I don’t know. Maybe he didn’t shut it all the way, and it blew open?”

“Or maybe someone was in a rush to get the hell out,” I say, nodding toward a mess of papers lying outside Dad’s office. Pushing Crow to stay behind me, I stand at the door and scan the room. Papers cover every surface. It looks like a copier exploded. Stepping into the room, I take in the damage. The bookshelf that once held all the tribal records for generations is now empty. Their contents are tossed haphazardly around, along with the contents of several file cabinets. Every drawer in my father’s desk lies upended on the floor, their contents dumped. Someone wanted to create a mess, or they were looking for something. Not seeing my father, I turn to Crow. “We need to check his room and search the house. Toff has a gun so that you can arm yourself. I don’t think whoever did this is still here, but don’t take any chances.” Crow nods and jogs outside.

Before I can back out of the room, I hear a moan that draws me to the bathroom connected to his office. The door’s partially ajar, so I push it open, only to find it blocked. Sticking my head through, I spot my father on the ground. He’s on his back, blood pooling at his side and soaking his shirt—too much blood. Kneeling, I feel for his pulse. I let out my breath when I felt a faint pulse.

“Lake,” my father grunts. Lifting his hand, he grasps mine. I think he’s looking for comfort, but I feel him push something hard into my hand. A USB drive. “Don’t let him…” But he loses consciousness before he can finish.

“Don’t let who?” I mutter, shoving the USB drive into my pocket as I pull out my phone to call for an ambulance.

“Lake?” Crow calls from the door. I step back into the office.

“I found Dad. He’s hurt. I called for an ambulance. Get Annette and Olivia. They can treat him until it arrives. Go,” I bark the order when Crow approaches me instead of doing as I asked. Dad needs help.

Olivia and Annette rush in and look at me. I nod at the bathroom door and watch them disappear inside. Toff comes in and looks around the room.

“Stay with the girls. I’m going to check the rest of the house. The ambulance should be on its way. The hospital is re-routing the one we ordered for Celeste.”

“How is he?”

“Alive, and I hope to keep him that way,” I say before making the rounds around the house. I check every room except one. My old bedroom is locked up. Bypassing it, I verify that no one else is in the house. No other rooms show the same level of destruction as the office. So either the person who attacked my father found what he wanted, or he got spooked before he could extend his search. When the ambulance pulls up, I return to the office in time to see the EMTs rush in, pushing a gurney.

I stand in the hallway to stay out of their way. Toff joins me. “Where’s Crow?” I ask him.

He shrugs. “He took off after he told us what was going on. I don’t know where he went.”

Frowning, I don’t have time to think about Crow because the EMTs are wheeling out our father. I study the frail man on the gurney as he passes under the hallway light. He’s pale, his face slack. I’ve never seen my father sick, so his appearance jolts me. I must have made a noise because Toff clasps me on the shoulder, and Olivia wraps her arms around me. I squeeze her tight before remembering that she’s injured, too.

“Maybe you should go with them. Get your head looked at,” I suggest.

“I don’t want to get in the way. It’s better if they focus on your dad. I feel fine. We can go to the hospital, and I’ll check myself into the ER.”

“Want to run next door and wash up first?” Annette asks Olivia, who nods gratefully. They leave Toff and me in the hallway. We’re staring into the office, both of us lost in our thoughts.

“I’ve called the cops. They’re on their way,” Crow says, returning to the house. “I can talk to them if you two want to go to the hospital.”

“Where did you go?” I ask him.

“To call the police and to call the elders to let them know what happened. We need you to step up while Coyote is out of commission,” Crow says.

I grimace, knowing he’s right. While I want to insist that Toff take my place, I know it won’t fly with the elders. We’d be bucking tradition; the tribe needs stability, not more upheaval. I glance at Toff.

“You have to. We need to call a meeting and tell everyone what happened and what we know. Our tribe is under attack. Everyone expects you to take over. I know it isn’t what you want.”

“But it’s what I must do, at least for the interim. While you wait for the cops to arrive, contact the elders again and tell them I need to meet with them,” I direct Crow. “I don’t know how long we’ll be at the hospital, so make it for sometime tomorrow morning.”

He steps away to make the call while I run my hand through my hair in a failed attempt to calm my nerves. Taking over as chief of the tribe was a role I’ve avoided ever since Dad laid out the plan when I turned twelve. That day, he explained every detail of my life as if it had already happened. Where I would go to school, what subjects I would take, who I would marry, and how many kids we’d have. His plan had me attending meetings to learn about the tribe’s business and their quest to achieve recognition by the government. Coyote has spent his entire life working to achieve this recognition. It is the legacy he’s worked toward. If he can’t succeed in his lifetime, I know he’ll expect Toff and me to continue the battle.

“Was Dad conscious?” Toff asks.

“For a minute,” I pull out the USB drive and show it to him. “He gave me this and then muttered something about a man.”

“Who?”

I shrug. “No idea. He only managed to say, ‘Don’t let him.’ I don’t know who or what he’s trying to do. Maybe we’ll find some answers on the drive. My brothers are meeting us at the hospital. Maybe Pirate can find something. He always has his computer with him. But for now, let’s keep this between us.”

Toff nods as the girls return. “Ready?”

“Okay, they’ll expect you at eleven,” Crow announces before we can leave. “They’re happy to hear you’re taking over as chief.”

“You are?” Olivia asks me.

“Have to. The tribe needs a leader and expects me to step up.” I take Olivia’s hand and kiss her fingers. “It won’t be forever, just until Dad gets out of the hospital.”

Olivia nods as Annette studies me. I give her a questioning look, but she shakes her head and turns her attention to Toff.

“You guys take off. I’ll come to the hospital after the cops finish here,” Crow says.

The engine's hum is the only sound during the forty-minute drive to the hospital. We’re all lost in our thoughts. I glance at Olivia often to make sure she’s not sleeping. I’m still not convinced she doesn’t have a concussion, even though she isn’t showing the signs. She’s staring out the window, her eyes open as she chews on her bottom lip. I feel guilty for not paying her more attention. Lifting her hand, I kiss her knuckles.

“You doing okay, baby?” I ask her.

She jolts but smiles at me. “I am. I'm just coming to terms with everything that’s happened today. It’s a lot.”

I grunt in agreement.

“Do you think our kidnapping has anything to do with the attack on your father?”

I sense Toff and Annette stiffen as they tune into our conversation. “I don’t know. Seems like it should. I can’t imagine we’re facing more than one enemy. However, we won’t know until we figure out who attacked the chief.”

“Once you become chief, do you think whoever attacked him will come after you, too?”