Stalker
I came alert as soon as my phone chimed.
It wasn’t a standard one like the others that told you when a text was received.
It was a special one used to designate when an emergency message had been sent.
It was club-specific and set up by Outlaw.
Any of us could trigger it. My hand flashed to the nightstand to grab my phone.
I heard the rustle of bedding. I knew Predator was doing the same.
“What is it?” Daya asked.
Her tone was clear, as if she hadn’t just awakened. We noticed it before about her. She woke up clearheaded and ready to go. Her Marine training hadn’t left her.
In a flash, I was out of bed and on my feet.
“We need to get Breezy up and dressed, then to the clubhouse. We’ll explain later. Hurry,” Predator told our woman.
She didn’t argue. She ran from the room.
Predator replied, acknowledging receipt of the message.
As we dressed, we made sure to arm ourselves.
Daya was back within a minute. We paced as she dressed.
She was done in no more than a minute. I noted that she removed her handgun from the dresser where it had been.
She tucked it into the waistband of her jeans.
Breezy raced into the living room not long after we got there.
She was flushed and breathing slightly fast, but she wasn’t shaking.
Coats were grabbed, then we were out the door.
In case we needed to go somewhere fast, we rode our bikes to the clubhouse.
The women climbed on the back without a word.
Inside the clubhouse, the air was alive with chatter and questions. More and more people filed in right after we did. Keenan was at the door with a clipboard. As we entered, he marked it. I assumed it was a list of everyone. A way to ensure that all were reliably accounted for.
“Have a seat. Bull and the officers will update us as soon as everyone is here,” I told the women.
The four of us sat at the closest table. Moments later, Stryder joined us. It was tense until the original ten minutes lapsed. When it did, a loud whistle split the air. It was Bull. He had Tank, Payne, Bear, and Player with him. They were the five officers.
“Thanks for being on time. We want the women and children to go to the safe room as soon as I finish talking. We want Breezy and Daya to stay for a while. I know you probably want more information. What I can say at the moment is that we have intel indicating that the compound will be the target of an attempted breach in just over an hour. We plan to stop it. To do it, we need to know everyone is safe. More to come,” Bull stated in his booming voice.
At that, the women and kids were sent to the children’s playroom, which doubled as a safe room.
The fact that he asked Daya and Breezy to stay behind meant it had something to do with Webb.
There was no other reason I could think of.
As soon as the women and kids left the room, Bull went back to updating.
“I’m bringing in someone to explain. You can come in.” He raised his voice. Out of the kitchen came the last person I thought I’d see. It was Jessup Crane. Outlaw was with him. Both men were grim.
I heard Breezy gasp. When I checked on Daya, she was staring intently at her brother. Her expression wasn’t welcoming. He had a helluva job mending what he did. Stryder swore under his breath. There were murmured comments from around the room. However, when Bull held up his hand, they stopped.
“I want you all to listen. No interruptions until he’s finished. Jess, you have the floor,” Pres stated.
Jess stepped forward so he was slightly in front of the officers and Outlaw.
“I know that seeing me here is a surprise, and that you’re all pissed at me, especially my sisters and cousin.
I’m sorry for that. I hope once I explain, you’ll eventually forgive me.
However, there’s something that’s a priority right now.
My explanation will have to wait just a bit.
I’ll be blunt. Marshall Webb intends to breach this compound just before dawn.
Marshall knows it’s party time on Fridays and Saturdays.
He’s banking on everyone being asleep and drunk from partying last night.
He’s after both Daya and Breezy. He’s been watching from afar.
He couldn’t get his hands on them because they so rarely left and always had an escort. ”
What Jess said swirled around my head. I wondered how the hell he knew this.
However, I had to wait to ask. I clenched my hand that wasn’t holding Daya’s.
I felt Daya’s body stiffen. Breezy was trembling.
Stryder had his arm around her. His face, like Predator’s and no doubt mine, showed fury. Jess continued speaking.
“He knows that right before first light, one of the prospects always opens the gate and takes a stroll around the front of the compound. He plans to slip past him, if he can. If not, he’ll overpower him.
Once inside, he’ll search, possibly even hide, and wait to get his hands on the women.
You need to be prepared to take him when he makes his move. ”
When he paused, and there were no more words, Bull stepped forward again.
“I know you have questions. Like, how does he know this? Why is he here? Believe me, we want those answers. And we’re not taking it on blind faith that Jess is here for altruistic reasons.
However, he freely came to the gate and asked for entry.
We’ll get our answers once we’ve captured Webb.
We don’t have much time. Outlaw will give everyone the rundown on where you need to be.
We take him alive if possible. All women and children will be in the safe room until this is over. Outlaw, you have the floor.”
It was hard not to yell and demand answers from Jess, but I knew Bull was right.
The safety of our families and the compound was the priority.
However, I did wonder what Jess would do in the meantime.
I listened to what Outlaw said despite all my questions.
He explained he’d be directing things from his office.
He’d be able to monitor the feed for the various cameras covering the outside perimeter of the compound.
It was decided that Ivan would be the prospect to open the gate, though Keenan volunteered as well.
Bull told Ivan to let Webb knock him out rather than fight back.
We didn’t want Ivan to be harmed, or God forbid, killed.
Keenan would be set as a guard outside the safe room.
Even though it was secured, we never took any chances that someone would find a way inside.
Although if they did, some of the old ladies would fill Webb full of lead.
The rest of us were assigned certain posts throughout the compound.
Since no one knew whether Webb was aware that the women were living in the townhouse, it would have a concentration of hidden sentries, and so would the clubhouse.
They were the most logical places to start. Let’s hope Webb was logical.
The final order came from Tank. Our VP reminded us to get suited up with our firepower and anything else we wanted. When he was finished, I had to raise my hand before anyone said something else.
“Yeah, Stalker, you have a question?” Tank asked.
“I do. Where will Jess be during all this waiting and capturing? Is he leaving? Or are we trusting him to help? Or stay in the safe room with the women and kids?” I fired off.
My questions caused a stir and murmuring. Bull shook his head and held up his hand to quiet us.
“No, he won’t be leaving. As I said, we don’t know Jess’s motives.
Until we do, he will be treated as an unwilling guest. His weapons have been removed.
He won’t be part of sentry duty, nor will I allow him among our women and children.
He’ll be secured and tucked away in The Cellar.
Jess, you’ll be there until this is over, then we’ll come for you. ”
The look of unease on Jess’s face showed he wasn’t thrilled with being locked up.
Wait until he sees The Cellar. He probably thought we meant a basement.
The joke was on him. The Cellar was what we called the former crematorium building at the back of the property.
It was where we still had the old, functioning cremation oven, among other things.
“I understand, though I wish I could protect my sisters. Please, take care of them,” Jess sounded worried.
“Don’t you worry. We will,” Predator told him.
“I want everyone in place by five o’clock.
Dawn isn’t until close to seven. I doubt he wants to wait until it’s daylight.
Ace, would you and Rebel escort Jess to The Cellar?
Then, you can take turns getting armed. One of you stays with Jess at all times.
See Maverick if you need any additional weapons.
It goes without saying, but I will say it anyway.
Kevlar and earpieces are mandatory. If you have questions, grab me, one of the other officers, or Outlaw.
Okay, time for everyone to disperse except you five. ” Bull pointed at our small group.
Bodies moved. There was chatter, but no one lingered. Jess was marched out of the room. His arms were secured behind his back. He gave his family a pleading glance but kept his mouth shut. Bull and Tank came over to us.
“I know this is difficult for the three of you. I hate to do it, but I promise that after we deal with Webb, we’ll talk to Jess.
He’ll have to convince us he’s not a threat.
He seemed to know too much about what Webb intended.
It’s suspicious. We had to isolate him.” He directed his words mainly to Breezy and Daya.
“I understand. I’d do the same. But I do want to ask something else,” Daya replied.
“Go ahead,” Bull said.
“I understand the need for women and children to be in the safe room. I want Breezy there for sure. However, you’re overlooking an asset.
I’m a former Marine. You know what I’m capable of, and I work in physical security.
I’m more than proficient with a gun or knife.
I want to be assigned a post. I don’t think I can stand to be locked in a room and not know what’s happening,” she spewed.
My immediate response was to shout no and order her into the room. However, I bit my tongue. Daya was shifting her gaze back and forth between mainly Predator and me, though occasionally it rested on Stryder. There were several seconds of silence, then Bull replied.
“I do know what you’re capable of. Not only because you’re a former Marine, but I read your jacket.
You performed your duties more than admirably, and your work since you got out has been outstanding.
I figured you’d want to stay outside. However, that’s not my call.
It’s your old men’s and your call. I doubt they’ll be happy with it.
We bikers are overprotective of our loved ones.
All I can do is urge them to consider it from all standpoints, not just as your old men.
We’ll give you five minutes to talk. Sorry that it can’t be longer. ”
Without another word, he and Tank walked back to where they were. It left the five of us. I was about to speak when Stryder jumped in.
“As Daya’s cousin, I want her to be safe like Breezy, which means the safe room.
However, I know my cousin. She’ll go crazy and resent it.
She has amazing skills. Don’t discount them.
That’s all I have to say. It’s between the three of you.
Come on, Breezy, let’s give them privacy.
” Stryder took Breezy’s hand and led her a distance away.
Knowing we didn’t have time to piss around, I went for it.
“Daya, Bull is right. As your man, the thought of you being out there, exposed, in danger, and possibly getting hurt or killed scares me to death. I want to order you to go to the safe room. If you say no, I want to tie you up and take you there.”
Her mouth was opening, so I hurried to finish.
“However, I know that would cause tension that might ruin us. Predator and I need to learn to balance our capable warrior woman with the woman we need to protect. Yes, we’re overprotective alpha men. We have to be. But we will compromise when it makes sense.”
“I agree with everything Stalker said. I’m over here trying not to flip out at the thought of you being anywhere that bastard, who molested and raped you, is. It goes against my being a loving man. But I know you’ll come to resent me if I can’t tone it down. Just give us time to learn how, please.”
“I hear everything you two said. And I have to say, I’m in the same situation.
The thought of you guys and Stryder being out there, where you can be harmed or killed, makes me want to scream.
I might not be in the Corps anymore, but once a Marine, always a Marine.
You called me a warrior woman. I am. So, please, I’m begging you to let me protect my new family and home, and my men and cousin.
I’ll take whichever post you decide to give me.
But when we capture him, you promised already I could be there for his questioning and torture,” she reminded us.
“We did promise, and we’ll keep it. As for taking a post,” I paused to take a deep breath, then kept going. “I think we should go see Outlaw and Bull and see where we can put you. Predator, can you handle that?” I asked.
He wasn’t happy, but he did nod. “Yeah, I’ll do my best. But you better not get hurt in any way. And if I can figure out how to do it, you’ll be wrapped in Kevlar from head to toe,” he grumbled.
His remark made her chuckle. Then we gave each other a quick kiss before we went to tell Bull our decision. I was already praying.