Claimed by the Biker Giant (Maxine and Tank) novel Chapter 173

Tank POV

I wasn’t going to let Fixer leave my lap. When Savage enters, he will see who she belongs to, and that I am keeping her safe, something he failed to do. Yeah, I was being petty and spiteful.

Savage was calm as he walked in, his eye glancing at Fixer and me, as he moved to sit beside Uncle Simon.

Then the questions started, and the long answer, which he said was a shortened version, and over time, more might be revealed, as they get to know each other.

“Do you believe his reason for not telling you? Did it sound like he would have rejected you if you were a bottle blonde bombshell?” I asked, looking at his face, which suddenly looked horrified by the accusation.

“No! No! No! I didn’t mean it that way, but I thought the chances of becoming friends would be harder if you were, because you would be looking down on me, a parent’s reject and all.” He looked panicked.

“So we are both rejects of sorts,” Fixer said, looking at him blankly.

“I never rejected you. I was stuck in a situation and didn’t know how to handle it. I had so many what-ifs and should haves, it was driving me crazy, like, should I have bitten the bullet and called my parents? They might have been able to get you out of there, but my own foolish pride would let me pick up the phone, afraid of more rejections and refusal to get you to safety.” He was in a mess, tears were flowing again, and I think he had a hard time when in the prison camp, and his emotions were still frayed.

“Sweetheart, I know you are hurting, but.” I left it unsaid and let her fill in the blanks.

“You think so?” She asked me, softly, leaning back into my chest, more relaxed.

“Yeah, look at him, he too was broken,” I said softly in her ear, unsure if the two men watching us could hear our quiet talk.

“I think you are right. Suggestions? It’s not like I can get over this in a flash.” Fixer asked, still watching the men, as Uncle Simon handed him some tissues.

“Give him an in, a hug maybe, it’s good for you too, but can tell him, he has to earn the name of father.” Fixer nodded and hesitated.

Fixer climbed off my lap, and walked to the office desk picked up the box of tissue, and handed the whole box to Savage, he looked confused at first, but took the box, holding it up, waiting, Fixer, being Fixer, moved forward, do she was standing next to Savage, reached out, and took his head, and rested his on her chest, and ran her fingers gently through his hair, and the tears started.

Savage took a tissue and wiped his nose and eyes, placing the box on his lap. One hand snaked its way around her waist and pulled her closer to him, and he held on, like she was his lifeline.

He didn’t hide his sobs; he cried like a baby.

Fixer waited, her face pale, but held it together, not letting any tears fall. I could tell it was difficult for her, but she wasn’t the kind of girl who let many people see her cry. Not if she could avoid it. Fixer might cry her eyes out later, once alone in our room, but will fight it as hard as she can while in here.

Fixer was looking at me when she said.

“Savage, you need to earn the right for me to call you Dad. Think you can do that?” Her voice is croaky.

“Tell me what? What about Barry and Sheila?” Savage asked, looking between Fixer, me, and Uncle Simon.

“You can tell him, Uncle Simon,” Fixer said, and so he did.

Savage growled, swore, threw the box of tissues across the room, swore some more, and wanted to be there when we questioned the accountant, but we all believed he was the man behind Barryand Sheila, the instigator of most of our troubles.

“Fixer, I am so, so, very sorry for all this. I had no idea they were behind your mother’s death, your grandpa’s death, and who knows if they didn’t shorten Grandma’s life too. All this suffering for what? Do we know?” Savage asked, his voice angry

“Think that might be why you always got caught coming to town, you went through the Jones gang turf, trying to stay away from the Astore’s, one of them would have recognised you, or your vehicle, and warned Barry and co,” I say when the dust settled and we were back to chatting normally again.

“Agreed, they had eyes everywhere, who’s to know they didn’t have someone near your base, watching who came and went.” Uncle Simon added and things just got a whole lot more frustrating.

“Can this really be over one man, who was slighted, because our forefathers didn’t let him be part of the town owners, or part of the original group that started the bike club?” I asked, still lost in the sea of information, and what was starting to form in my head.

“Could it all be that simple?”