Chapter Four.
Kendara
I t made a delightful change, spending an hour with the women in the club. They were all super friendly and curious, which reminded me of the Rage wives. Clio and her siblings bemused me. One of which, Thalia, was the VP’s old lady. As I walked out to my courtesy car to drive home, Rooster accompanied me and said thanks for the cookies. I wanted to ask him more about the bitch that I had verbally slapped but didn’t. It was obvious Rooster didn’t want to talk about it, and I wouldn’t press.
Rooster gave me a kiss on the cheek and stared as I left the compound. I secretly desired more, but a kiss sufficed for now. I chastised myself for having mixed feelings. A relationship was out of the question, but I couldn’t help being attracted to Rooster. He had an irresistible pull, like a bee to pollen, cat to catnip, and dog to a bone. I longed to strip Rooster down, lick him all over, and fill myself up with his cock, which I knew by several quick glances today Rooster was seriously packing.
But Rooster hadn’t shown any signs of interest, and I didn’t want to assume something was there that didn’t exist.
I sighed. Anything resembling dating was so damn hard, and, once again, my life intruded into everything. I loved my job and enjoyed the pro bono side, and did not intend to give that up.
The quiet drive home gave me plenty of time to think, and some of my thoughts weren’t always pleasant. Even so, I kept an eye out for idiots driving like lunatics.
Detective Hawthorne had been to visit and had informed me they’d managed to track the truck so far, but they had lost it. To my surprise, he’d asked about any potential enemies and if I’d upset anyone. Although I’d talked about this with Drake and the others, it somehow shocked me that the police were thinking the same.
Rage and Hellfire were paranoid over protecting their families.
RCPD and SPD didn’t quite put the same importance on us as Rage and Hellfire.
Despite the setting sun, there was ample light to see as I arrived. An uneasy sensation hit, and I peered around before exiting the car. Once outside, the sensation of being watched heightened, and I forced myself to stroll up the path. Although I fought the urge to run to the front door, let myself in, and lock everything down. If somebody was spying, I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of seeing me panic.
That went out of the window when, as I calmly put my keys in the lock, I felt someone breathing down my neck. I turned and saw a hulking figure, threw my keys at it, and screamed.
“Kenny! It’s me!” Mac stated, surprised.
“Fuck, Mac. Where did you come from? Were you the one watching me?” I demanded as I bent over, wincing as my ribs complained. I was breathing far too fast from fear and panic, and it hurt my ribs even more with every rapid breath I dragged into my lungs.
“Babe, I parked at the side, as usual. No, I wasn’t perving on you, I’d just walked around the corner. I must have arrived thirty seconds before you did,” Mac explained as he picked my keys up. He turned to me, and I flew into his arms and burrowed deep into them.
“What the fuck?” Mac murmured as he guided me backwards into my house and kicked the door shut.
“I think I’m just panicking. Lio was asking me questions about enemies, and Drake and Hellfire have asked the same. When I got out of the car, I thought someone was watching.”
Mac stiffened.
“Kenny, wait here,” he said and left the house, shutting the door firmly behind him.
Now that I was safe inside, I started to feel foolish. I was probably overreacting and making a mountain out of a molehill. My breathing calmed down, and I sat on a chair in my hallway. As I waited for Mac to knock, my eyes roamed and landed on the window ledge before narrowing. Something was wrong.
Moments later, I was flying through the front door, which slammed back against the wall. Mac came running around the corner at the noise, and I headed straight for him.
“The birds look outwards, not inwards,” I babbled, and Mac frowned.
“What?”
“Someone’s been in my house. The window next to the door has two glass birds facing outward. They’re now facing inward,” I explained, my breathing hitching.
“Wait in the car,” Mac demanded and pulled a gun from his waistband before heading in.
Nervously, I sat inside the car and locked it until Mac came out.
“Kenny, I want you to see something,” he said, and I followed him back to the hallway.
“Are those the two birds you meant?” he asked, pointing at them.
The blood drained from my face. They were now facing outwards.
“Mac, someone was in my home at the same time as me,” I whispered.
“Kenny, I have to ask, are you sure they’d been turned around?” Mac questioned.
“Yes,” I replied firmly.
“Let’s check the rest of the house,” Mac stated.
As we searched, it became more frightening. Initially, Mac doubted me, but upon discovering anomalies in each room, Mac became convinced. Especially when I closed my eyes and told him to question me about the placement of my items. It was a strange quirk I possessed. Everything had its place.
“Honey, I’m gonna call Lance from the Fallen Warriors. They’ve just set up a monitoring company and are the best by far to upgrade your security system. Seriously, I could bypass this in a split second,” Mac said, nodding his head to the camera. “Did it throw up an alert?”
“No.”
“Okay, I’m going to check how secure the house is. Then I’m calling a prospect to guard your ass tonight until Lance gets here tomorrow. Once he’s here, we’ll get you covered. Also, we need to report this to Ramirez, so at least we have a record of it,” Mac said, and I nodded.
To my bemusement, Harley was dispatched to watch over me, and Lance had promised to come the next morning. Mac called Ramirez, who informed Mac to call it in, and two officers attended. I could tell that they thought I was imagining it until I showed them my memory recall. They took statements, checked the cameras, which had indeed been turned off, and left after delivering strict warnings.
I went to bed an anxious woman, despite the fact Harley was downstairs to watch over me. This situation was way beyond my experience.
◆◆ ◆
A few days later, I was out with Blue, happily shopping for my nephew, who was now two. I couldn’t believe how quickly Blue was growing, and as I pushed his stroller, Blue babbled at me. Apparently, Blue had a lot to say, just like his parents, but I could only understand a few words he spoke. Mom, Dad, En for me, and surprisingly clear, bike. I rolled my eyes as bike popped up several times.
Blue’s biological mother had given him a biker name, and she’d picked right. Blue was going to be a biker through and through. Despite Casey and Mac not being Blue’s bio parents, he was clones of them. To me, it showed that blood didn’t matter, rearing did.
Blue’s excited squeal caught my attention, and he bounced in his stroller as he pointed to a shiny Harley parked up. It was gold and red and had a beautiful rendering of an eagle on the tank. Blue got happier as we got closer, and I had to stop when his chatter rose when I walked past.
“If that kid isn’t gonna be a biker, then I’m a monkey’s uncle,” a deep voice said, and I turned quickly, shoving Blue behind me.
Approval shone in the dark brown eyes that checked me out from head to toe.
I refused to step back unless there was a threat to Blue and held the man’s gaze.
He smiled and bent to speak to Blue. “How ya doing, my main man? Does your daddy know you’re checking bikes out? We won’t tell him that Uncle Inglorious has a better bike than him. Don’t wanna make Mac cry now, do we?” the guy spoke to Blue. It appeared that Blue knew him when Blue reached for him.
“Gory!” Blue squealed.
“Yeah, you gotta learn either uncle or Inglorious, kid. You shouting Gory gives people the wrong impression.” His attention turned to me. “Hey, I’m Inglorious, President of the Unwanted Bastards. You must be Kendara, I’ve seen you at cookouts but never got a chance to speak to you. Rage hides the pretty ladies well,” Inglorious teased.
“How’d you know my name?” I asked, accepting his offered hand.
Inglorious winked and raised my fingers to his lips, where he kissed them and let go. “You’re famous, Kendara, amongst us anyway. Any woman who supports a friend like you did, and risks her career and life for a newborn baby, deserves our respect. And then getting beaten and held hostage? Yeah, lady, you’re a fuckin’ legend, and one we all admire,” Inglorious said, his eyes twinkling.
“Um, I’m not sure how to respond to that,” I responded, and Inglorious chuckled.
“How about, thanks and you join me for a cup of coffee?”
“I was going to rest because Blue is tired and hungry. We’d dropped the bags off, so I was deciding where to go for lunch,” I replied.
“I’m guessing kiddo doesn’t want anything fancy. Fries and a burger for him,” Inglorious said .
“Yup. Although I’d prefer something else,” I replied.
“Come with me, I know just the place,” Inglorious ordered and waved a hand towards me.
I followed him, laughing, and we headed for a diner that I had always meant to try but never had.
It was styled as it had been back in the 1950s and still played music from the 50s and 60s. Blue perked up on entering, and his little head began bobbing up and down. I unstrapped him from the stroller, and Inglorious took him as I collapsed it down and stuck it in the small area for strollers.
A waitress hurried over, and I saw her ovaries melt at the sight of Inglorious with Blue. I had to admit, Inglorious was an extremely attractive guy.
The waitress brought Blue a highchair and handed us menus. Despite her focus on Inglorious, I was gratified not to be ignored as her warm smile took in me and Blue, too.
“Love to see a guy carrying a baby. Reminds me of when my kids were little, my man used to haul them everywhere,” she said.
Inglorious offered a beatific smirk that stunned both me and the waitress. He winked at Blue and bent down to him. “Uncle Inglorious will teach you how to do that one day,” he whispered as the waitress and I laughed.
Blue babbled a happy agreement and banged his tray.
“Right, let’s take your orders,” the waitress said.
Blue was easy, burger and fries. I had a smothered chicken and fries with a side salad. While Inglorious ordered a bowl of fries, two burgers, four pieces of fried chicken, and sides of slaw and corn. My eyes were huge when he finished up with onion rings and garlic bread.
“You going to eat all that?” I gasped and then shook my head. “Never mind. I’ve seen how much the brothers can devour.”
Inglorious chuckled. “Yeah, it seems to come with the role. We all eat a shit ton.”
“And then work out like maniacs,” I said with a nod to his physique and blushed. “I’m not hitting on you!” I exclaimed.
Inglorious threw his head back and laughed as I reddened. Damn my impetuous mouth.
“I didn’t mean offence by that. You’re attractive, but I’m not interested,” I muttered, and Inglorious boomed again.
“It’s okay, Kendara. I know my reputation for hitting on women. But it’s cool. I’m thrilled to enjoy a lunch and conversation with a beautiful woman,” he said.
“One day, a woman will be thrilled because of you!” I stated, and Inglorious chuckled again.
“And you’re gonna keep your man on his toes,” Inglorious replied.
There was an expression in his eyes I couldn’t identify. It puzzled me. Inglorious seemed aware of something that I wasn’t.
“Oh, no. No guy in my life. I’m way too busy for that. ”
“That?” Inglorious questioned.
“A relationship,” I replied.
“Rage has claimed every beautiful woman within a ten-mile radius of them. I refuse to believe nobody from Rage made a move on you,” Inglorious teased.
“There was a prospect. Something could have happened, but I was too busy.”
“And now?”
“He’s shacked up with his old lady,” I answered with a laugh.
“Damn, not meant to be,” Inglorious mumbled.
“Nope. And although I don’t have time for a relationship, I dislike one-night stands. So, I’m in a lose-lose situation.”
“Seems you’re resigned to accepting that instead of fighting for what you want,” Inglorious responded as the waitress brought our food and drinks over.
I bit into a chip and considered his words.
“In a way, that makes sense, but I love my job and helping people. I work five days a week at the Trusts and do a lot of pro bono stuff in the evenings and weekends. Ensuring people get justice gives me a kick. Sadly, I have little free time. No man would tolerate that,” I stated plainly.
“Babe, is that experience or self-doubts?”
“Good question. A bit of both, I suppose,” I replied.
To my relief, Inglorious changed the subject, and conversation flowed freely between us. He asked my take on being an old lady, MCs in general, and how I felt about staying in Rapid City. I got the sense he was asking for a reason, not for himself .
Lunch was enjoyable, and Blue behaved himself, too, which was nice. Blue gazed avidly out of the window as people passed him, sometimes passing a comment of ‘Bah’ at someone.
Inglorious insisted on seeing us back to the car, and I didn’t disagree. As we crossed the road, I looked both ways and started walking.
Tyres screeched nearby, and suddenly Inglorious hauled me and Blue backwards. I hit the ground hard, and Blue began to scream. My head cracked on the pavement, and I lay there as people rushed over.
“Blue, Blue,” I called, unsure what just happened.
“Got him,” Inglorious said as he knelt down and pushed Blue’s stroller near me.
Confident hands checked my body and touched where I’d hit the floor with my head.
“You’ve got a massive lump coming up, everything else seems fine. But I’m calling an ambulance as you fell hard. Kendara, you might have a concussion,” Inglorious stated.
“Inglorious, help me up, Blue needs soothing. What the hell happened?”
“Stay there, I’ve got him. Who the fuck have you pissed off?” Inglorious demanded.
“Huh?”
“Kendara, that car was aiming straight for you,” Inglorious explained, and I groaned.
Three events happening could not be ignored. It did seem as if I had upset someone.
◆◆ ◆
Casey arrived first, running full out towards us as she saw me lying on the ground and Inglorious holding her son. She snatched Blue off him and held him tightly as she murmured in his ear.
“Kendara! No more bullshit… no… you lie there. Inglorious, don’t let her sit up. This is the third thing to happen to you and you can’t deny someone is targeting you!” Casey scolded.
“Casey, turn the volume down,” Inglorious warned, peering around.
Numerous people were staring, listening, and undoubtedly enjoying the drama.
“What are you looking at?” Casey demanded, and I rolled my eyes, which hurt, so I decided to close them instead.
“Mac is gonna freak the fuck out,” Casey muttered, and I felt guilty.
“Sorry Blue was involved this time,” I whispered.
A silence met my words, and then Casey hissed at me. “Do you think I’m worried just about Blue? You better stay down, or I’m going to kick your butt! I’m worried about you both. My boy needs his Auntie Kenny. And there’s someone clearly after you. Nope. Shut up. I don’t want to hear it. Apologising because some asshole has targeted you. My fat ass,” Casey seethed.
“Your ass is as perfect as ever, babe,” Inglorious said, getting a small smile out of Casey.
Pipes roared, and I guessed more than one headed our way. Sirens also wailed in the distance. Gingerly turning my head, I saw four bikes pull up, and then Mac’s face was shoved into mine.
“Where’s it hurt?” he asked.
“My neck is painful,” I replied, suddenly realising there was intense pain.
“On a scale of one to ten?” Mac questioned.
“About an eight or nine.”
“Okay, don’t move your head. The paramedics will be here soon, I think you might have a mild spinal injury. Probably caused by being thrown to the ground.”
“Shit,” Inglorious muttered.
“Not your fault. If you hadn’t grabbed me, Blue and I could have been hit,” I said, reaching blindly for his hand and grasping it.
“Was it deliberate?” Mac murmured to Inglorious.
“Yeah. Truck aimed straight for her. I noticed it pulling out of a parking space. There’s no doubt in my mind that it was aiming for Kendara with the intent to kill,” Inglorious stated.
“Shit. We need to update Ramirez and Lio,” Mac said.
“Both?”
“Kenny was forced off the road in Spearfish. And then her home was broken into a couple of days ago. This is the third incident,” Mac explained.
“No leads?”
“No viable or obvious threats. All hate mail is kept by Abigail at the Trusts, and while Kendara’s had a few from upset assholes, they all checked out. This person is under the radar and intends to stay there. We’ve got shit to move on. We might have to consider bringing in Nigel or Leila and seeing what they can dig up. The dark web might contain something. One of those two will find it if there is,” Mac answered.
An ambulance screeched up, and their conversation stopped. They stepped aside, and paramedics replaced them.
◆◆◆
Tiredly, I opened my eyes as Phoe walked into the room.
“Hey, sorry about this,” I said, waving a hand.
Phoe took a seat and studied me until I almost squirmed in the bed.
“No need to apologise, Kenny. But there is for me. See, I have to find out from my brother that you are doing pro bono work at home at night and during the weekends. To say that you barely have a life is an understatement,” Phoe said.
“I’m fine!” I stated.
Phoe’s eyes narrowed on my usual mantra.
“I disagree. When you return to work, you’ll work Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday on Trust clients. On Wednesday, you will work your pro bono cases. I shall continue your pay as it is, and there’ll be no arguments. In fact, I think it’s something I’ll be offering all my legal team if they want to do pro bono. You may work a Saturday morning on pro bono. But be warned, from one o’clock, someone will be at yours to ensure you then enjoy the rest of the weekend off,” Phoe warned .
I opened my mouth, and Phoe made a slashing motion with her hand.
“This is non-negotiable. And don’t argue with me, you won’t like the other option I have in mind,” Phoe stated.
“Fine.”
“Don’t sound so sulky. Now what the hell is going on, Kenny? Someone seems to have declared open season on your ass!” Phoe demanded and settled down.
“If I knew, I’d tell you!” I said, and Phoe’s eyes narrowed.
“Then we better figure it out quickly. I don’t want a friend targeted and severely injured,” Phoe announced as if whoever was after me was an affront to her.
“Believe me, I don’t want to keep ending up in hospital either!” I replied, and Phoe giggled.
“No, I suppose not!”