Chapter Six
Dakota
Finding Charming was easy enough. I followed the only light in the house, straight to the kitchen.
He had two notepads, a pen, and lots of balled-up paper scattered across the table, and it looked like he’d drained most of a pot of coffee.
Unless he hadn’t brewed a full one, which was doubtful. The man loved his coffee.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, pulling out a chair beside him.
“I’m not sure where to even start.”
I smiled and leaned my head against his shoulder. “The beginning is usually a good spot.”
He sighed and kissed the top of my head. “It’s not a pretty story. There are things you don’t know about me. No one does.”
“You know who my brother is. Do you really think anything you say is going to make me run the other way?”
“Guess not. You want anything to eat or drink?”
“You’re stalling,” I said, poking him in the ribs. “Get to it, Halden. I’m not getting any younger.”
He smiled and put his arm around me. “All right, oh ancient one. The story starts when I was just a kid. My grandparents immigrated here from Russia. My grandfather was Bratva, and my father followed in his footsteps.”
“So I’m with a biker who has Mafia ties. Does my brother know that?”
“Not yet,” he said. “When I was seventeen, I knew I didn’t want any part of that life. My father had been grooming me to join the ranks. When his actions resulted in the death of my mother, I knew enough was enough. I was only ten when she died, but in that world, I was wise beyond my years.
“He replaced her with a much younger woman, who also died about five years later. Similar circumstances. It took two years of planning and waiting. I made my move, and… died. Or rather, the man I’d been died that day. With my connections, I knew who to reach out to for a new identity.”
“So your real name isn’t Halden?” I asked.
“It is. Sort of. My birth name was Romeo Halden Strayer. As long as I had my father’s last name, he didn’t care what my mother called me.
She’d always been a romantic, even when her husband cheated on her or beat her.
If anyone believed in happily ever after and true love, it was her.
I have no idea why, since she clearly hadn’t found it. ”
“Unless she did, but it wasn’t with your father,” I said.
He tipped his head, and I could tell he’d never considered that angle. With a nod, he continued his story.
“I became Halden Roberts. It was easier to use a name I’d been familiar with, so it was more likely I’d respond if someone called out to me.
I made my way across the country, working jobs that paid cash under the table.
When I was nineteen, I bought my first motorcycle. Been in love with them ever since.”
“And you eventually became part of the Devil’s Boneyard,” I said. “What does all that have to do with right now? Something triggered those memories.”
“Wire,” he said. “He did some digging and found out who I really am. Worse, he put Romeo Halden Strayer back on the map, and among the living.”
I tensed a little. “What’s that mean exactly?”
“Might as well tell you. We’re married. Except Wire married us in Las Vegas and under my true name.
If anyone is searching for you, they’ll think you’re across the country.
But it also means someone from my past could discover I’m not dead.
I have no idea what sort of fallout might happen from that. Not even my club knows who I was.”
“And that has you up scribbling on paper, then balling it up?”
“Something like that.” He held me a little tighter.
“I’m not sure how they’ll react to my news.
How do I tell them without also admitting I’m married to you and you’re living in my house?
I still want to keep your location a secret, even from those I trust the most. Wire figured it out.
Others might. I don’t know what the fuck to do right now, Dakota. ”
I cuddled closer and put my hand on his thigh.
“I know you’re the big bad president of the Devil’s Boneyard, and apparently have ties to the Russian Mafia, but it doesn’t mean you have all the answers or are all powerful.
You’re only a man, Halden. One I care about and admire, but an everyday human just the same. It’s okay to ask for help.”
“I have Church at noon today. Need to make some changes around here, but Phantom is also bringing his new family home. I can maybe argue the changes are for the betterment of the club in general. We have quite a few families now, and more children could account for us taking a step back from some of the less than legal things we do.”
I nodded. “You’re right. All that would make sense.”
“I’ll table the discussion about my true identity for now.
I’ll tell them when the time is right. This isn’t it.
I’ll drop some hints that I have a past I need to discuss with them, but that I need some time to figure things out first. Might hold them off and explain my odd behavior.
” He shook his head. “I know they have to be wondering why I keep running home.”
“Maybe you should have gotten a puppy. Then you’d have the excuse of having to let a furball out of the house.”
He smiled and kissed me. “I think taking on a wife and baby is enough for right now. We can discuss a dog when our kid is a little older. Not sure either of us is up for changing diapers, midnight feedings, and potty training a puppy all at the same time.”
“Probably not.” I wrinkled my nose. “I don’t think I’m going back to sleep anytime soon. Want me to help with your lists or whatever you were writing?”
“Sure. I need some family friendly ideas for physical changes to the compound. We already added a play area and picnic pavilion. Maybe some family friendly events other than potlucks at the clubhouse?”
“All right. Never had kids before, but I’m sure I can think of a few ideas. How old are the children here?” I asked.
“They range from infant all the way to seventeen years. There’s quite a few between the ages of seven and ten, then another group between twelve and seventeen, with a handful that are younger. Phantom is coming home today with a woman and three kids, so that’s going to add to the numbers.”
“I’ll work on that list, and you focus on whatever else you were writing out. Together, we can do the work in half the time.”
He kissed my cheek and pulled the two pads over, sliding one to me. He gave me his pen and got up to get another one for himself. We spent the next half hour working in silence until my stomach grumbled. As hungry as I felt, I wasn’t sure I’d keep down the food.
“I’ll start some toast and eggs. You seem to do okay with those,” he said, getting up from the table.
“I’m not incapable of feeding us,” I pointed out. “You don’t have to cook for me all the time.”
“Humor me. I haven’t had a woman live with me. Ever. I like spoiling you a little. If you want to cook, you can make lunch while I’m at Church. Shouldn’t be more than thirty minutes to an hour.”
We ate and spent some time cuddling on the couch.
He let me pick the movies, even though I knew he couldn’t possibly want to watch the romantic comedies I preferred.
Although, I did like a good scary movie now and then, as long as they were of the paranormal sort.
The ones based on reality were a little too much for me.
I didn’t think Krampus was going to come after me anytime soon, but taking a wrong turn and ending on the lunch menu for cannibals?
Maybe not likely, but it could happen. So I avoided those.
His phone rang, and he took the call. “Hey, Phantom. You nearly here?”
I couldn’t hear the other side of the conversation and tried not to eavesdrop. It was a little hard to ignore him entirely since he was sitting beside me while he spoke to the guy.
Charming chuckled. “Already taken care of, brother. We got Li the same system Taggart likes, and Jian has the one Levi and Caleb have. The women went a little crazy on Nova’s room.
She has dolls, stuffed animals, art shit, puzzles and all kinds of crap in there.
Your dog is about to lose her damn mind trying to figure out what the hell is going on, though. ”
I had a feeling he was talking about the kids coming to the compound. He’d been gone for a bit last night around dinner, saying he had a few things to handle. Since he’d brought back pasta and cheesecake, I’d assumed he’d only gone out to get food. Sounded like he’d done more than that.
“The kids are covered. Just bring your family home. Everyone is eager to meet them.” He ended the call and shoved his phone back into his pocket.
“You’re going to go over and greet them, aren’t you? Might make them feel more welcome to meet you right away.”
“That what you want?” he asked.
“Well, I’d love to go with you, but we both know that can’t happen right now. You should introduce yourself to his new family. I’ll be fine staying here.”
He kissed me softly. “All right, sweetheart. I’ll grab Scratch and head over there in a few minutes. Phantom doesn’t live far, so I can walk.”
“You should shower and dress first.” I eyed him. “Although, I’m liking this look. I’d just prefer you don’t show off your body to everyone.”
He pinned me to the couch and rubbed his whiskers against my shoulder.
I squealed and giggled as I pushed at him.
Not that I really wanted him to go anywhere.
He hadn’t shaved yet, and I kind of liked the sexy five-o’clock shadow he had going right now.
I wondered if I could talk him into growing a beard.
I knew most of the bikers I’d met before had one.
No idea why he hadn’t grown one, or maybe he’d had one before and shaved it off.
“Want me to tattoo your name across my heart?” he asked, nuzzling my neck. “Because I will. Don’t want anyone but you, Dakota. I’d do anything to make you happy.”
“Anything?” I asked.
He leaned back to peer down at me. “Yeah. What did you have in mind?”