Legacy (RiffRaff Records Book 2)

by L. P. Maxa

  My mom stepped forward, taking my dad’s hand, clasping their fingers together. “Your fathers will all speak briefly about Jared and then they’ll play a short set. While all this is happening, we want you kids where we can see you. After all that is done, you can scatter, but you have to stay inside the venue. No wandering around downtown Austin. We want to get everyone back to the compound as soon as possible.”

  Our parents hated us being in the public spotlight, and they avoided it at all costs. We lived a simple life here on the compound. We went to a small progressive school with kids we’d known since kindergarten. There was the occasional asshole that would post pictures or give us a hard time. But for the most part, we were just normal kids. Until moments like this. Award shows, charity events, reunion gigs, press releases. We called them “rock and roll moments” growing up.

  “I guess I’ll see you when we get there?” Beau’s fingers squeezed my hip, pulling my attention away from my mom.

  I nodded. “Yeah, see you there.”

  I piled in the car behind my sisters, sitting between Jett and Cash along the long wall. Crue somehow ended up sitting across from Avory and he kept staring at her exposed legs, a wicked gleam in his eye. I snorted. “Subtle.”

  “You have room to talk? Beau couldn’t keep his hands off of you in there.” Cash nudged me with his shoulder, a concerned look on his face. “You want to tell me what all that was about?”

  I spoke out of the side of my mouth. “Now’s not really the place.”

  He mimicked me. “No one is listening to us, and the parents are all the way in the back.”

  “He came over last night and we talked. Then we kissed.” I winced when Cash’s eye got wide. “I know. I know, okay? But I still love him. So much.”

  His expression softened. “Hales. I don’t want to see you get hurt. When he left—”

  “He broke me. And he made a mistake, a mistake that he has apologized for over and over. He hates that he left.”

  “Be careful, okay? Don’t let him in all at once. Make him earn it, Hales. He has a lot to make up for. He has years of making up in his future. Right?”

  Before I could say anything else, Crue kicked Cash in the shin, getting his attention. He made the universal drink gesture with his hand—also not very subtle. Cash rolled his eyes but dug the flask I knew he had out of the inside breast pocket of his jacket then unscrewed the cap.

  Marley suddenly leaned forward, gesturing wildly out the back window. “Oh wow, did y’all see that?” All adult heads whipped around to look where she was pointing while Cash quickly poured a healthy dose of Crown into Crue’s waiting cup.

  “See what?” Jett played along, sitting taller to block what his older brothers were doing, like he was trying to see something he knew wasn’t there.

  “I just saw two cows getting it on.” Marley shrugged and sat back in her seat. “Too bad y’all missed it.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Beau

  The limo ride into downtown Austin had been pretty silent. Emmie was just a quiet kid, and Evie was probably contemplating the mess her life had become. And Landry? Thinking about the baby she was carrying. My dad and Uncle Smith had been pretty stoic as well, which was normal for Uncle Smith but not for my dad. I assumed they were sad; maybe they were remembering the old days. When they’d first formed the Devil’s Share, Jared had been front and center. And now he was gone, and that had to hurt.

  “We’ll exit by family,” Uncle Smith instructed. “Mine first, and then the Coles.” The limo came to a stop and all at once about fifty cameras turned in our direction. There was a plush black carpet running from the curb into the small dive bar the dads had chosen for the memorial. “Stay close together. Beau, hold onto your sister.”

  All us kids thought our parents overreacted about things like this. What was a photographer going to do? Kidnap one of us in broad daylight? But the cameras and strangers always tended to make the adults antsy. We’d learned to deal with it. I watched as Uncle Smith climbed out, holding his hand down to help my Aunt Dilly to her feet. Then he stayed right by the door, making sure both his daughters got out safely. He walked behind all three of his girls, his shoulders tense the whole time. I could hear reporters shouting at him, but I couldn’t quite make out what they were saying.

  “Beau.”

  I turned to my dad when I heard him call my name. “They are going to ask you how you feel about your father’s death.”

  I narrowed my eyes. “Why? He wasn’t my father and I haven’t seen him in years.” Maybe when I was younger I remembered Jared, maybe there was even a time when I missed him. But that was so long ago.

  “They just will, bud. They feed on the drama, the family web.” He sent me a sad smile. “Don’t engage with them, you hear me?” When I nodded, he exited the car, helping my mom to her feet.

  I got out next, helping Landry out too. My dad held his arm out for her and he tucked both my mom and my big sister against his side. I started to trail behind them, but then I saw Halen step out onto the black carpet. Uncle Dash had four girls that he needed to worry about, so I headed over to help them. I took Halen’s hand and wrapped it around my arm. “Come on, Sweets.”

  She rested her cheek on my arm. “Thanks.”

  “Beau, how do you feel about your father’s death? When’s the last time you spoke with him? Did he make amends with you?”

  I kept my head down, walking us quickly into the safety of the venue. How did I feel about my father’s death? I didn’t feel anything. My father was still alive. When was the last time I spoke to Jared? Five years ago, maybe? Did he make amends? Well, he served jail time for attempted murder, and he signed his rights away to be my parent. So. I mean, I guess. Maybe? But I couldn’t say any of that. Our parents would be pissed if we talked to the press.

  We bypassed everyone, our parents herding us into a corner with two giant round tables set up. The parents sat at one with Marley and Emmie, and the rest of us older kids took the other. The bar was darkly lit, even though it was bright and sunny outside. There were white tablecloths and candles everywhere. The giant bar was stocked to the brim, three bartenders working frantically. And there were waiters walking around, passing out small plates of food. The place was packed. I reached down and rested my hand on Halen’s thigh under the table. “You good?”

  She nodded, pulling her bottom lip through her teeth and glancing around the room. “I hate that they quarantine us away when we come to things like this.”

  I did too. I knew they wanted to keep us safe, but we were all growing up. Landry was a surgeon with a baby on the way. I had been living on my own for two years now, and Halen and Evie were in college. It was almost comical to some degree. They needed to loosen the reins when we were out in public, and tighten them back at the compound.

  We all watched silently as our fathers took turns speaking about Jared, paying tribute to one of the founding members of the Devil’s Share. They shared funny stories, and they talked about his recovery. But for the most part, which didn’t surprise me, they kept us kids out of it. They didn’t mention that he was my bio father, or that he’d tried to kill Aunt Lexi while she was pregnant with Halen. They kept it brief and light.

  “I need a damn drink.” Crue leaned back in his chair as our fathers warmed up on stage.

  Cash pulled the flask out of his pocket and slid it across the table. “Stop whining.”

  “It’s stupid that we have to sit here with our hands in our laps like we’re a bunch of toddlers. I mean we’ve grown up around a lot of these people. Why can’t we go talk to them? They sequester us like we’re the dang Papal Conclave.”

  Landry’s eyebrows shot to her hairline. “You know what the Papal Conclave is? Color me shocked.”

  “You and me both.” Evie reached under the table, digging around for a bit before Crue yelped and she sat up straight, bringing the flask to her lips.

  He scowled. “You could have just asked.”

 
“And you could have just offered.” She smiled sweetly at him. “Also, what you two are doing under the table?” She pointed her finger, waving it between Crue and Avory. “Not okay.”

  “What are they—?”

  When Jett lifted the tablecloth and started to stick his head under there, Cash grabbed him by the back of the shirt and held him in place. “Nope.”

  Through all this, Halen was sitting silently beside me, just taking it in. I put my arm along the back of her chair. “You want me to go find you some wine?”

  When she turned to answer me, her face was so close to mine I could’ve easily moved a fraction of an inch to kiss her. My heart rate sped up, my pulse pounding in my ears. I wanted her. She looked so damn sexy in her short dress and tall boots. “I, uh, I think…”

  “Family has always, and will always be the most important thing in our lives.” Uncle Dash addressed the room, back in his element behind the mic. “The Devil’s Share, we are a family. Not by blood, but by heart. Jared went through his ups, and a fuckload of downs. But in the end, he was clean and he was sober. Best of all, he was making amends. Jared helped found this band, and he will live on in the life he created, and the music he made.” His eyes found mine, and even though I didn’t care about Jared, my chest swelled with emotion. It was in that moment that I realized my bio father was dead. And even though I’d tried to deny it, tried to push it away, there was something to mourn in that. “We thank you all for being here, for celebrating Jared.” As our fathers began to play one of their oldest songs, one Jared had helped them write, Halen reached under the table and put her hand in mine.

  I turned, meeting her eyes and holding her gaze. Suddenly, I didn’t care who was watching. I didn’t care what our parents would say if they saw. Because despite everything I’d put her through, Halen was still here, holding my hand when she knew I needed her most. “I love you, Sweets.”

  Her smile went from sad to soft. “I love you too, Beau.”

  I put my hand on her cheek, wrapping my fingers around to the back of her head, and pulled her toward me. I did it slowly, gently, giving her plenty of time to stop me. But she didn’t, and seconds later, her soft, perfect lips touched mine.

  Our kiss was brief, but it spoke volumes.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Halen

  We’d been back home for about thirty minutes. We’d all changed out of our rocker-chic duds and were dressed in yoga pants, t-shirts and sweats. My hair was piled on top of my head and Avory had scrubbed all the makeup from her face. The limo ride home had been silent. Our fathers were exhausted from playing for an hour straight, and from the emotions they’d shared with the crowd. But now everyone had a drink in hand and we had a catered dinner spread before us on the pool house deck.

  Beau came up behind me, his mouth discretely by my ear. “You look just as beautiful now as you did at the memorial. No matter what you wear, Sweets, you still look fucking edible.”

  I bit at my lip to keep my smile small. My father was standing five feet away and he had just turned in my direction.

  “Meet me at the tree house tonight?” My skin broke out in goosebumps as Beau whispered against my neck. “We need to talk. I want to come clean to our parents. No more lies. No more secrets. I want you. I want a life with you, a future.”

  I spun around, meeting his soft gaze. “You want to tell them everything?” I didn’t know if I was ready for that. I didn’t know if I’d ever be ready for that. Didn’t Beau know the meaning of the words “baby steps?”

  “We tell them as much or as little as you want, Sweets. But we do need to tell them. There are so many secrets floating around this compound…I’m ready to get one of them gone.”

  I nodded silently and he walked away.

  I guess we did have a lot that we needed to talk about. But more than anything I wanted to be alone with him. I wanted him to kiss me, to hold me, to let me know that everything was going to be okay. To tell me that he wanted me, and only me, for the rest of his life. That he’d never leave again. Never.

  “Okay guys, let’s eat. It’s been a long day for everyone.” My mom held her arm out, gesturing for us to get in line and fill our plates.

  We sat, the older kids at one end of the table, the younger ones separating us from our parents. Beau sat across from me, his phone in his hands. I couldn’t hide my smile when I felt my cell vibrate in my pocket.

  Beau: I couldn’t sit next to you. I wouldn’t have been able to keep my hands to myself.

  Me: Who said I wanted you to keep those hands to yourself?

  I watched, biting my lip when I saw the sexy smirk spread over his handsome face. He looked up and met my eyes, shaking his head slowly. I laughed and put my phone facedown on the table. I couldn’t wait for this dinner to be over. I couldn’t wait to be alone with Beau. Forgiving him was never in my plans; survival had been the only thing on my mind when I’d heard he was coming home. He’d hurt me; he’d destroyed me. But he hadn’t done it to be cruel or to be selfish. I believed him when he said that everything he did was for me. And I believed him when he said he was sorry, that he was wrong.

  I knew that things wouldn’t be easy. I knew that there was a lot we’d still need to get through. Our parents, for one. I had no idea how they would handle the two of us being together. They raised us like brother and sister, but I’d never seen Beau that way. I’d fallen in love with him when I was five years old, and I’d never fallen out of it. Even when he’d left, as hard as I tried, I couldn’t hate him. My phone vibrated loudly on the table, the noise making everyone look at me. I picked it up, my cheeks heating.

  Beau: Touching you is all I can think about, Sweets. Sitting across from you is making my pulse race.

  I met his eyes, blushing deeply at the fire I saw in them. His breathing was shallow, his lips parted. He grabbed his camera and snapped a pic. He saw what I knew was there and he wanted to capture the heat on my face, the lust in my eyes.

  Tonight couldn’t come soon enough.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Beau

  I barely made it through fucking dinner. Halen looked so good sitting across from me—so damn innocent. I knew she wasn’t. I’d defiled her years ago. But the blush on her cheeks and the smile flirting on her lips had me on edge for forty-five minutes straight. And now, sitting with my dad and Uncle Smith? Absolute fucking torture.

  “Are you sure you’re okay, bud? You seem a little agitated.” My dad was watching me over the rim of his whiskey glass, concern in his eyes. “I saw you kind of tear up today at the memorial.”

  Was that all he’d seen? Because after that I’d kissed Halen. It wasn’t a sexual kiss; it was kiss that spoke of love, affection and understanding. It was possible that if he had seen it, he thought it was nothing. “It didn’t really hit me until that moment that Jared was dead. He’s not my father. He’s not even a friend. But, he is gone. And…”

  “I know, bud.” My dad reached out and put his hand on my shoulder.

  “How long are you staying in town?” My Uncle Smith caught me checking my watch, and his eyes met mine when I looked up.

  As long as Halen wants me here. Forever. Until we get caught and you guys flip shit. Those were the first answers that went through my mind. “At least until after my show downtown.” That was acceptable. That answer wouldn’t shock anyone, wouldn’t raise any suspicions.

  Neither one said anything; they both nodded their heads. I took a picture of their drinks sweating on the table, their tattooed arms a blur in the background.

  “It’s been a really long day. I think I’m going to head to bed.” I stood, setting my drink on the glass coffee table and letting my camera hang around my neck. We were still down at the pool house.

  “I’ll come with you.” My dad went to stand, but I put my hand out to stop him.

  “You still have a full three fingers of that expensive whiskey left. You stay and finish. I’ll see you in the morning.” He relaxed back into the armchair.r />
  “Okay, bud. Good night.”

  I glanced over at my Uncle Smith with what I hoped was an unassuming smile on my face. “’Night.” He nodded his head. He wasn’t a man of many words, and that head nod was actually a really sweet endearment. You just had to know him.

  As soon as I was out of their eyesight I pulled my cell from my pocket, texting Halen without slowing my stride.

  Me: Headed to the tree house.

  Halen: Already here.

  I took off in a dead sprint. Completely out of breath and panting once I reached the majestic old oak tree, I put my hand on the rough bark, bending at the waist and trying like hell to gain some composure.

  “Did you run over here?”

  I looked up, a smile breaking over my face. Halen was gazing down at me, humor dancing in her gorgeous eyes. “I may have.”

  She giggled. “Then what are you waiting for?” She moved out of the way so that I could climb up the ladder.

  She’d made us a pallet, using what appeared to be every single blanket from her house. The only light in the room was from the full moon outside. The whole moment felt surreal, magical.

  Halen was sitting in the middle of the fluffy makeshift bed, wearing only a thin white slip. She looked like an angel with her hair loose down her back. My heart stuttered in my chest. “You’re so fucking perfect, Sweets.” I crawled over her, pushing her body down into the pillows. “There was not one minute while I was gone, not one second, that I didn’t miss you. That I didn’t long to hold you, to see your face.”

  She smiled up at me, unshed tears shining in her eyes. “I missed you too.”

  I hung my head. “I’m so sorry, Hales. I’ll never be able to apologize—”

  “No.” She put her finger to my lips. “No more apologies, okay? We move forward, no looking back.”

  “I don’t deserve your—”