“Nope, we’re going to my office. Would you mind bringing a cream tea for four and those pastries Chance loves?” Clio asked, and we followed her through the back and into a fair-sized office.
“How’s Amber working out?” Chance asked, sitting on an oversized comfortable leather chair and hauling Clio into his lap.
“What can I say? She’s a mini-Leslie,” Clio chuckled. Chance smiled and dropped a kiss on my sister’s head.
“She is Leslie’s niece,” Chance muttered and turned and faced Kelly and me.
“I’d like to talk to my sister alone,” I demanded.
“Not happening. Clio is pregnant, and I won’t allow anyone to upset my wife. Not even a sister who’s appeared out of the woodwork,” Chance said firmly and shook her head. Clio snuggled into the giant man’s embrace and stared at me suspiciously.
“This is awkward,” Kelly laughed.
“No, not how I expected our first meeting to go,” I agreed ruefully.
“Why don’t you start talking?” Chance rumbled as the door opened, and Amber appeared, pushing a tea trolley. She shoved it inside and shut the door.
“Where to begin?” I asked. I’d only discovered the story myself two months ago.
“The beginning helps,” Chance said wryly, and I glared. Chance shrugged at me while twisting a lock of Clio’s hair around his fingers.
“That starts with our parents,” I said and paused as a wave of pain drifted over me. Clio waited silently, and I swore I’d get her free from whatever mess she was in. This Chance wouldn’t have my sister under his control much longer.
“We’re waiting,” Clio said resentfully. Her large grey eyes, identical to mine, stared at me with shock and hurt. And a shed load of suspicion.
“Okay, I discovered you existed two months ago. Since then, I’ve been looking for you,” I said.
“Tell us what we don’t know,” Chance snapped, and I glared at him again.
“What hold do you have over my sister? How have you forced her to be with you and your gang?” I snapped, and Kelly placed a hand on my arm. Chance threw back his head and laughed. Clio looked stunned.
“Ain’t no one holding your sister hostage. Whatever fucked up thoughts you got in your head, get rid of them. Clio’s here by choice,” Chance said when he stopped laughing.
“You would say that,” I snarled.
“First, don’t you ever accuse Chance of anything terrible. I’m here by choice and considering Chance and his MC saved me twice, shut your mouth concerning them. Chance saved my life. Where were you? He doesn’t run a gang but a motorbike club, an MC with an excellent reputation that works with law enforcement here to keep Spearfish clean.
His cousin is Drake Michaelson, who runs Rage MC and is married to Phoenix, who runs the Phoenix, Rebirth, and Eternal Trusts. Believe me, whatever pre-conceived ideas you have, throw them away, or we aren’t listening. I’ll not hear a word against my husband, who has always been there for me. The fuck you’ll say anything wrong against the man who set me up in this tearoom and signed it over to me as a wedding gift. At a substantial personal cost to his own private pocket,” Clio snarled.
“You own this outright?” Kelly asked.
“Yes, with my stepmom Leslie. Tell me your story and what you want, and then fuck off. Because if it’s money you came for, you aren’t getting none.” Clio bit out anger in her eyes.
“I don’t need your money; instead, I came to offer you your inheritance,” I said calmly, realising that my sister was highly suspicious of me.
“Do you know how many people have tried to get close to me just to gain Chance’s approval? Why should you be any different?” Clio snapped.
“Why would I want Chance’s approval?” I asked on the back foot, and I spread my hands placatingly.
“Did you not hear me? Chance is a major power player in Spearfish and the surrounding towns. Phoenix is his best friend and a sister in Hellfire MC. Chance knows a senator and congressman and is on first names with the chief of police and mayor,” Clio said. Chance squeezed her gently before dropping his hand to her stomach. Oh my God, she was pregnant. The fact hit me like a bolt out of the blue.
“You’re pregnant?” I gasped; the big brute had said she was, but it hadn’t sunk in.
“Six months,” Chance rumbled when Clio kept glaring at me. Holy hell, I was going to be an aunt.
“Shit,” Kelly muttered. This was a complication.
“Look, whatever he’s got on you, we can handle it. Come with me, and I’ll protect you and the baby,” I urged.