Chapter 11
The morning sun finally broke through the heavy gray clouds by the time Jax and Leo pulled up in front of a weathered maritime office located near the city docks. The sign on the door read Marcus Vance - Attorney at Law, an old friend of Jax’s from his rougher days who had managed to put himself through night school and build a legitimate practice representing people who fell through the cracks of the system.
Jax killed the engine, turned to Leo, and helped him remove his helmet. "You okay, kid? That was a close run back there."
"I'm fine," Leo said, his breathing only slightly elevated, showing a resilience that continued to amaze the biker. "Did we lose them?"
"Yeah, they didn't follow us past the second block," Jax reassured him with a reassuring smile, running a hand through his messy dark hair. "Come on. Let's go see Marcus."
They walked up the wooden steps and pushed open the door, setting off a small brass bell that jingled overhead. The office smelled of old law books, salt air, and strong black coffee. Marcus Vance, a sharp-eyed man in his fifties with silvering temples and a tailored gray suit, looked up from a stack of case files behind a cluttered oak desk.
"Jax?" Marcus raised an eyebrow in surprise, taking off his reading glasses. "It's been a couple of years. And who is this fine young man?" Marcus's gaze shifted to Leo standing beside the biker.
"Marcus, I need your help, and I need it to be strictly confidential," Jax said, pulling out the metal lockbox and setting it on the edge of the desk. "This is Leo. He's my son."
Marcus stared at Jax, then down at Leo, and finally back at Jax. He let out a low whistle, leaning back in his leather chair. "Your son? Jax, you never mentioned having a kid."
"I didn't know until last night," Jax admitted, his voice carrying a rare vulnerability. He opened the box and slid Clara's birth certificate and the official hospital documents across the desk. "Clara passed away three weeks ago. The kid has been on his own. I need to establish legal custody immediately before any state agency steps in and puts him into the system."
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Marcus picked up the birth certificate, adjusting his glasses to read the fine print. His professional skepticism melted away as he recognized the official seals and signatures. He looked at Leo, noting the striking resemblance in the boy's hazel eyes and jawline.
"Well, seeing as your name is right here on the state-certified birth certificate with matching hospital footprints and affidavits from Clara, establishing paternity won't be as difficult as a standard contested case," Marcus said thoughtfully, tapping his pen against the desk. "However, because Clara passed away without a formal will designating you as sole guardian, we have to file an emergency petition with family court to prevent child services from temporary placement."
