Stalker Chapter 4
I let Predator tell Dayanara that we’d be her backup.
I hated the idea of her entering anywhere alone where that fucker was.
Just because he seemed to like young girls, it didn’t mean he wouldn’t try something with an older woman.
And if he did, I’d be hard-pressed not to tear him apart right then and there.
“Fine, the three of us will do it, although I think just one of you is more than sufficient,” Dayanara eventually said.
“Those two are practically attached at the hip. You have to take both,” Vex chimed in.
There were other murmurs of agreement.
“Well, far be it from me to divide up a couple,” she replied.
“Hang on. No one said we’re a couple—just brothers who survived prospecting together. No worries, we’re one hundred percent into the ladies,” I told her.
For a few moments, she appeared flustered, then her neutral mask slid back in place. But while it was gone, I swore I saw relief there. Was it possible that she was feeling what Predator and I were? God, I hoped so.
The awkwardness was relieved when she asked a question. “What if there are cameras? A lot of places have them for security reasons. It could be a neighbor has them outside their house, or Marshall has some inside his place.”
“That’s where I come in. I can find out if there are any outside and in his place. Plus, if there’s any on neighboring buildings. If there are, leave it up to me. I can tap into them and put them on a loop. Or knock them out altogether,” Outlaw assured her.
“You can do that?” Jessup asked, surprised.
“Yeah, I can. And there’s more I can do, but we’ll see what we’re up against. I’ll take a ride over to his address tomorrow and see what I can find.
Then I’ll go digging. If he has a security system in his house and it’s not monitored, we won’t know it exists.
But you can wear an RF jammer to prevent them from functioning while you’re inside with him. ”
I was always amazed and proud of the work Outlaw did. It was beyond me, but for him, it was easy, and he loved doing it.
“Let’s assume that everything goes as planned.
Eventually, when he doesn’t show up for his meetings with his PO, and if he’s in contact with others, they’ll come looking and start asking where he is.
Undoubtedly, they’ll call the police. He has no family, so his possessions and money will go to the state, I assume.
” Jessup seemed to be thinking out loud.
“Yes, the house and car will be sold off and taken by the state if there is no will or family who petitions for it. As for his money, well, sometimes things like that can disappear. We’ll set it up as if he transferred the funds out.
We’ll make it appear that he ran. They’ll try to find him, but the false trails I’ll lay will end in nothing.
Eventually, it’ll become a cold case,” Outlaw told him.
“You seem to have thought of it all. How often do you do things like this?” Jessup asked.
“Often enough,” Outlaw vaguely answered.
“What will really happen to the funds?” Dayanara asked.
“They’ll be distributed to organizations that help victims of abuse and other related crimes. We do sometimes take a percentage to help fund services at Warriors’ Haven,” Bull stated.
“Warriors’ Haven? What is that?” Dayanara asked.
“As the name implies, we have a safe place for those who have suffered abuse, kidnapping, rape, and things like that. It’s open to all, but so far, we’ve only had women and kids there.
It’s just down the road from here. It’s enclosed like the compound.
Various ones of us give our time, and we have some dedicated staff.
Demon manages it, and I work there full time,” I told her.
Her face lit up with admiration. “I had no idea. That’s incredible. I know it’s needed. So many don’t come forward for many reasons. It’s great to know we have something so close.” I heard the sorrow in her voice. She must be thinking of her sister.
“We started it about seven years ago. Some stay for months, others for weeks. We help them get counseling. Zara provides medical care. Some need schooling to improve their lives and survive on their own. We help them get enrolled and pay for it if needed. Others need to start a whole new life, so we help them do so. I hope one day we won’t need it any longer, but I know that won’t happen, unfortunately,” Demon said ruefully.
“If you ever need help with security, let me know. It’s my job, but I don’t mind doing something like this on my off time,” Dayanara said.
Her words reminded me that we had no idea what she did now that she wasn’t an active Marine. Before I could ask, Predator did.
“What exactly do you do now that you’re out of the Corps?”
A scowl appeared on Jessup’s face. Stryder appeared resigned.
“I work for a company out of Nashville. I work as security for certain clients’ homes or businesses. If necessary, I provide personal one-on-one protection as well.”
“You mean you’re a bodyguard?” Torque asked.
“Exactly. I found that when I left the Corps, I didn’t want to be a police officer.
And the usual security guard gigs didn’t do it for me.
A night watchman at a warehouse or something, carrying a baton, isn’t for me.
No shade on anyone who does that. They’re way more patient than I am,” Dayanara admitted.
“She likes the shit that puts her at risk of getting hurt or killed,” Jessup chimed in. His scowl worsened.
“That’s one way to look at it. However, I find that if I protect a man, I’m discounted as a bodyguard.
Anyone going after those men thinks I’m not a threat.
They hate it when they find out they’re wrong.
If a woman needs personal protection, many are more at ease with another woman.
And I have the training to do it. I’d be at risk the same if I had become a cop.
Sitting behind a desk or on my ass all day isn’t me. ”
I could tell by her tone that this was a long-standing argument she’d had with her brother.
Was I thrilled by the idea? Hell no, but I knew that suppressing who someone was made them unhappy and might eventually lead them to jettison you from their life.
A thought sparked in my mind. One that I’d have to wait to mention.
???
Jessup and Dayanara had left half an hour ago.
Once they were out the door, Predator and I spent time talking over what everyone’s impressions were of how the meeting went.
Overall, we felt it went well. Stryder thanked everyone again for offering their help.
We assured him that was what we were here for.
Once that was over, my bestie and I told the crew we were retiring for the night.
There was light protesting and jokes about us being sick, which we grinned and ignored.
When we got to our rooms, Predator was the first to gesture to me.
“Let’s talk in here,” he said as he unlocked and opened his door. This was becoming a nightly occurrence. Inside, we assumed our standard spots. I let him voice whatever was on his mind first, though I could guess what he was about to say.
“She’s under my skin even more after tonight.
Did you see how she reacted to the news that we’re not gay?
I’ll bet my next paycheck that it was interest. And speaking of paychecks, what the hell is up with her job?
If she insists on doing dangerous work, maybe we can talk her into working at Haven.
There she’ll have our brothers and us nearby.
And when we go in after Marshall, he’d better not put a scratch on her.
If he does, I’ll make him bleed more. Damn it, Stalker.
She’s gotta be meant for us.” There was a distinct rumble of excitement to his voice.
When he ran out of air, I took each of his remarks one by one. When he got excited, Predator tended to talk like this. The look of determination on his face said it all. He would do everything in his power to make Dayanara ours.
“I agree that she affects me even more this second time. My desire for her is crazy, but it’s not just sexual, though God knows that’s there, too. And yeah, I did see her face. I think she was relieved we’re not into each other.” I chuckled before continuing.
“As for her job, I’m not feeling that shit either, but I know if we come on strong about it, she’ll dig in.
You can tell Jessup has been after her about it.
I thought of her working at Haven, too. As for Marshall, I want to kill him as is.
If he puts a mark on her, I’ll make him suffer more.
I don’t know what we have to do or say to make her see us as viable old man material, or to get her to recognize that being with both of us isn’t outside the norm of all society.
Yeah, it’s hardly mainstream, but it’s not taboo like it used to be.
It can work if you have support behind you and the ones you’re with have a strong bond,” I finished.
“Exactly. If she saw how Hammer, Regan, and Steel are together, or even Thorn and Tiger with Neriah, she’d know how the clubs accept them.
They have support. Does everyone out in the world agree?
No, but they wouldn’t even if it were a traditional male-female couple.
Fuck, is there a way to get them here or for us to go there and take Dayanara with us?
I don’t know what I’ll do if she won’t consider us,” Predator muttered.
I hated to voice it, but I had to. “Or she likes one of us and not the other. That’s a possibility. What then?” I asked him.
He groaned and closed his eyes as he lightly pounded the back of his head off the headboard. “Christ, don’t say that. I wondered the same thing. I love you, brother, but it would be a terrible strain. I don’t know if I’d be able to stand seeing the two of you together. What about you?”
“I honestly don’t know if I could either,” I admitted.