Predator Chapter 19
Daya, Stalker, and I were gathered around the kitchen table. Eagerness made my pulse race. When Stalker and I got home from work earlier, Daya greeted us and said she would start dinner soon. That was when Breezy insisted she’d make it so we could relax and have time together.
Daya protested. Stalker and I chimed in, offering to make something. We weren’t gourmet chefs, but we did all right. It would be edible and not poison anyone. After a brief debate, we decided to work on it together. After checking with the others, I sent a text.
Me: Wanna make dinner with us? Join the insanity.
Stryder: You’re making it? Everyone? I gotta see this. Be right there.
I replied with a thumb-up emoji. It wasn’t long before Stryder knocked on the door and then entered the townhouse. He made his way to the kitchen. Seeing us all there, he shook his head.
“I don’t know if I should help cook or have the ambulance on standby. If you’re letting these two help, who knows?” He pointed to Stalker, then me.
“Hey, we’ll have you know, we haven’t poisoned anyone in three months,” Stalker wisecracked.
That set the tone for our dinner preparation adventure. It was fun orbiting the kitchen. It wasn’t huge, so run-ins were common. Laughter rang out. Teasing was front and center. Eventually, a meal was prepared and eaten. Overall, it was given a B+. I could live with that.
Afterward, we all pitched in to clean up the mess.
When we were done, Breezy excused herself.
She went to the clubhouse to hang with Stryder and whoever else was there.
As she left, she said that Daya had something to show us.
Her remark was what had us seated at the table, waiting for Daya to tell us what it was she had to share.
“Alright, I did something after I sent off my resignation letter. It was because I recalled our recent conversation. Remember when you said we’d have to find a house plan we all liked, so we could have Tank and one of the crews build us a house?”
My eagerness increased. Stalker perked up, hope on his face.
“I do,” I said.
“Yeah, of course,” Stalker replied.
“Well, I did that. And I have to tell you, the options are overwhelming. It was so hard to narrow it down. I don’t have a set style category I like.
I don’t know if you do. If so, let me know.
However, I want to show you what I’ve discovered so far.
I’m hoping you can point me toward ones that fit your style and needs, that can mesh with mine.
These should help you see what I tend to lean toward. ”
“Hailstorm, so you know, I don’t have a preference in style,” I told her.
“I don’t either. It’s a gut thing for me. We told you the bedroom count. A shared home office space would be great, too. Don’t torture us a second longer. Show us what you found,” Stalker pleaded.
Daya chuckled, then opened her laptop and got to opening tabs. We saw a dozen plans. There was so much that I hadn’t thought of that she did. Her choices were excellent. And it sure showed what her ideal house would need. When we finished, she sat back.
“Well, what do you think? Is there anything here we could use to search for one that all three of us love? I want it to be a home that reflects all of us, and that has the must-have things we want.”
I heard anxiety in her voice. I took her hand. Stalker mimicked me.
“Dolcezza, these plans show your preferences wonderfully. And you thought of things I hadn’t considered. As for anything we could build on, there are three in my book. What about you, Riggs?”
“I agree with what you said, and there are two I found jumped out at me,” he replied.
“There are? Great. Which ones?” Daya asked.
Stalker named his first. I followed up by telling them mine. One of his was included in my selection.
“Alright, it’s your turn. Show us your top three favorites,” Stalker insisted.
Daya smiled at us, then ran through hers. Among the three of us, each of us chose the same plan from the others’ lists. She brought it up for us to study together.
It was technically considered a cottage-style house with a wraparound porch. But the size of it, and the interior, didn’t scream cottage to me. It had four bedrooms, three and a half baths, but the downstairs den, the upstairs media room, and the bonus room left us with options.
Downstairs, the main bedroom had an attached bathroom and a walk-in closet.
Down from it was the den, which could be used as a nursery when the kids were small.
Later, it could be a guest bedroom. And in that same area was the entrance from the three-car garage and workshop into the laundry/mudroom combo.
It had a family room, a half bath, a kitchen with an eat-in nook, a dedicated dining room, and a butler's pantry that opened into a walk-in pantry.
Upstairs were two bedrooms, two full baths, a large bonus room, and a big media room.
Either of those bigger rooms could be converted to a home office that all three of us could use.
It was complete with a balcony that overlooked the area below.
After checking the website where she found it, we noted that customization could be requested to fit our exact specifications. Once it was, it would be ordered and given to Tank to get it on the schedule.
“I really like this one with a few tweaks. However, why don’t we take a few days and search for more? We’ll go through them and see if any of them we like better. When we decide, we’ll request a custom plan,” Stalker suggested.
Daya and I were on board, so she moved the one we liked so far to a folder and saved it.
With her seriously considering the house idea, we were marking off things on our to-do list. Now, if only we could take care of Webb, that would leave Stalker and me with one more major thing to do: ask Daya to marry us.
???
I couldn’t wait to finish out the day and get home.
It was Friday. I was ready to spend the weekend with my old lady, our club family, my best friend, and my future sister-in-law.
I’d played hooky for a while over lunch and did some shopping.
Stalker came to town and went with me. It was for our hailstorm.
I counted the minutes as quitting time drew near.
I tried to be out by four o’clock, at the latest four-thirty.
I was here by seven thirty most days and rarely took a lunch break.
When the clock struck four, I went to find Outlaw.
I found him with the staff who monitored during the four-to-midnight shift.
“Hey, everybody, you ready for your night?” I asked.
Hands were thrown up, murmurs of “Yes”, and a couple of thumbs-up were my answer.
“Outlaw, if there’s nothing you need from me, I’m heading home. Are you about ready to bounce?” I asked.
“I’m good. Can’t think of anything. I’m heading out, too. I’m eager to see my family. And I know you’re ready to see your old lady.” He winked.
“Damn right I am. Hope everyone has a good shift. Call if you need us,” I told the room.
I hung the extra five or so minutes it took Outlaw to finish up, then we were out to our bikes and on the road. I hated that it was already almost sunset. At this time of year, sunset was around four-thirty. The air had cooled to the mid-forties so far.
The ride was smooth despite the after-work traffic.
That was one of the benefits of riding a bike.
We could get around the snarled traffic jams from too many people all headed the same way, and those who couldn’t keep their minds on what they were doing.
I was relieved when the gate of our compound loomed ahead in the glare of our headlights.
Outlaw triggered the gate to open by pressing the button at the gate’s entrance.
After we were inside, he waved as he peeled off to go one way, and I went the other. Pulling up to our temporary home, I saw that Stalker was there. It would be strange if he weren’t. Each townhouse had an attached oversized single garage. I pulled inside next to his bike.
There was no wasting time getting into the house.
Walking in, I was hit with the smell of something cooking.
It made my stomach growl. I’d skipped lunch to shop, so I was starved.
I removed my boots and then went to find everyone.
I found the ladies watching television in the living room.
Stalker was with them. He had Daya cuddled up to him.
When she saw me, Daya came to her feet and greeted me with one of her fabulous kisses.
When we were through kissing, I gave Breezy a peck on the cheek before I sat down with Daya between Stalker and me.
“What smells so good?” I asked.
“We’re making jambalaya. I hope you like that. You guys said you like spicy food,” Daya explained.
“We love it and jambalaya, yum. How soon will it be ready?” I asked, rubbing my stomach.
Breezy laughed. “You’re as bad as Stalker. He said the same thing, and he’s been groaning so loudly we can’t hear the show.”
“Hey, don’t throw my ass under the bus like that, Breezy. You should mock him and say I’ve been stoic,” Stalker teased.
“Oops, sorry. Predator, you should be more like Stalker. He hasn’t said a word or made a sound like he’s hungry. He wanted me to lie and tell you that.” Her impish grin made Daya and me laugh, while Stalker growled mockingly at her.
Luckily for me, it wasn’t long until we were seated, inhaling the food. It was fantastic. Along with it and the white rice we spooned it over, they served cheesy biscuits. I was told when I asked where Stryder was that he had to go somewhere after work.
An hour after dinner, we were debating whether it was time to go to the clubhouse or stay home.
It ended in a split decision. Breezy went there.
She got a text from her friends, inviting her to join them.
I offered to walk her over, but she declined.
She said she was perfectly fine to go herself. We waved her out the door.
“We have the house to ourselves for at least a few hours. I can think of one or two things we can do to pass the time.” I leered at Daya.
“Hang on, before we go there, and I want to, believe me, I want to let you know what I did and what I heard today while you were both at work,” Daya stated.
“Of course, tell us,” I said immediately.
“First, I went online and found more house plans for us to look at. I think after we review these, we can decide.”
This news made all three of us happy. Since Tuesday, we've been checking out selections every night. We had three saved.
“I agree. We need to look them over. Go on,” Stalker said.
“The other thing I spent time on was drafting my notification to my landlord about my place in Cookeville. He requires thirty days’ advance notice before anyone can end a lease.
After the first year, I changed to month-to-month.
It cost me an extra hundred a month, but I wanted the option to move if I found a new rental or decided to buy a small house. ”
“So you won’t be heartbroken not to return there,” I stated.
“No, I won’t. It met my needs, and I liked it well enough, but it wasn’t my ideal home. I want to make sure you’re alright with me sending it. If I do, I can arrange for movers to pack and bring my belongings here. When I do, I wonder if it would be okay to…” Her words faded.
“Okay to do what?” Stalker asked.
“I want you to answer me honestly. Don’t be afraid you’ll hurt my feelings.
I want to know if you’re agreeable to Breezy bringing more of her stuff here.
I ask because, given how Jess has been acting and cutting us off, I don’t think she’ll be comfortable staying with him.
And half the time, she stayed with me. I want her to have an option rather than returning to live with Jess.
But if that’s not agreeable, I’ll move her to her own apartment here in Hunters Creek. ”
Stalker and I exchanged glances. We both frowned. I scooted forward on the couch, and so did he. It put us both within her sight.
“Daya, you don’t need to ask if she can stay here.
We told you before. She’s part of this family.
She can live on the compound. If she prefers not to be in the same house with us, we’ll ask if she can have one of the townhomes for herself.
We’re not forcing her to live with your brother.
After how he’s iced you out, we don’t want her with him,” I explained.
Her whole body sagged. Stalker pulled her against him.
“Thank you. I know you said she could early on, but I had to make sure. She’s so much better here. She feels safe despite the threat of Marshall, and that says something.”
“You don’t ever need to thank us, Melyster. Go ahead and send off the email to your landlord. As for setting up movers, we’ll handle it. That’s what you have us, the prospects, and all the other strong backs in this club for,” Stalker told her.
“You’re too good to me,” she whispered.
“No, it’s the other way around. Was there more you needed to tell us?” I asked.
“Oh, right, yeah. I heard it from Devyn, who said her mom told her. Remember how the police chief told Bull that he was at the end of his patience with Officer Talbot? He wasn’t kidding.
It seems that Talbot was placed on administrative leave for his conduct and various complaints about how he treats people.
“According to what Scarelli told Bull, it was a formality to get his final check and paperwork in order. He’ll be out of a job.
Normally, I hate the thought of anyone losing their job so close to the holidays, but after the way he acted the two times we met, and what various others have said about him, with him, I don’t. ”
Hearing this, I high-fived Stalker. “About damn time. We’ll have to have a toast when Zev comes for Christmas.
He won’t be shedding any tears at Talbot’s departure.
Great news. Alright, we’ve got the house almost picked, the landlord situation in progress, and a pain in the ass on his way out.
Any more news, babe?” I asked, grinning.
“No, that’s it. Do you want to see the plans or go to the bedroom?” She smirked.
It was a hard toss-up, but in the end, we all agreed to get the house out of the way. Then we’d spend the rest of the night doing only what we wanted. Breezy wouldn’t need us. We’d lock ourselves away in our bedroom.