Chapter Eleven.
Mike
Was I getting through to her? Dynamo looked stunned, as if unsure of what I was saying, and that killed me.
Without a doubt, she’d known her value before being trafficked.
Now, because of the abuse she’d suffered, she was riddled with doubt and fear.
Those assholes who tell raped women to get over it—God, they had no idea.
Each victim handled it differently, and Dynamo’s coping method was to shut everyone out physically.
“All men want to fuck,” Dynamo finally pushed out.
“Yup. My cock fuckin’ adores you. The shit stands to attention whenever you’re close.
But I control him. Dynamo, I’m not an animal, and there are ways around sex.
If you watched me masturbate, that would be the hottest thing ever.
If I did that while you touched yourself, I’d blow in moments.
Believe me, I find you attractive. Those assholes raped you, but rape isn’t who you are. ”
“Mike, I don’t have sexual feelings,” Dynamo retorted, shaking her head.
That was a lie. I’d seen her thighs press together and her eyes dilate.
She felt them, but she didn’t acknowledge them.
That was fine. This was on Dynamo’s terms at her pace.
I’d never been a victim; how the hell could I tell her how to act?
I’d no right to, and she needed careful handling.
Dynamo had to feel safe and secure to make her own intimate decisions again.
Acts of violence had taken that away, and I’d not force the issue.
“Let’s date. No sex for now. Let’s keep going as we are, but exclusively. Babe, I don’t like cheating,” I said.
Dynamo stared at me, clearly wondering if I was high. “You’d settle for a non-sexual relationship? A man like you?”
“What’s that meant to mean?” I shot back.
Dynamo laughed bitterly. “Mike, you’re gorgeous. Look at you. Women trip over themselves to be near you. You could have anyone, and you want me?”
“Yup. If you put yourself down, there’ll be consequences.” I avoided the word punishment, unsure if that was a trigger.
“Like what?” Dynamo challenged.
Completely out of character, I got to my feet. “Hey, ain’t I with the most beautiful woman in the club?” I yelled. Those below me, including ACI, looked up and roared an approval.
Dynamo blushed, hard to see in this light, but she did, and it amused me.
“Sit the fuck down!” she ordered. I grinned, opened my mouth, and drew another laugh. “Okay, I get it. Sit down, Mike!”
Chuckling, I did as she wanted. “Tomorrow, I’ll pick you up. Ever been riding?”
“My hog?”
“A horse,” I replied.
“Yeah, I can ride. I grew up on a farm.”
“Good, see you at eight,” I said.
“In the morning?” Dynamo shook her head. “Nope. Pick me up at ten.”
Since she was agreeing to a date with me, I let her set the terms. I’d won whether or not she realised it.
“The clubhouse?”
“That’s home.”
That was interesting. “You don’t have an apartment elsewhere? You all live there?”
“Yup,” Dynamo popped the p. “The clubhouse is perfect for all of us, but since we started shacking up, we’ve begun building houses. Spice and Lindy’s is done, same as Warden and Iona’s. Soul and Bryony’s is currently being worked on.”
“Where are you on the list?”
“Nowhere, I’m not really fussed. There’s a construction company we’re working with, but they keep having hold-ups. We’re not sure if it’s on purpose or not. Warden’s reaching the end of his tether. If it comes to it, we’ll buy them out and manage it ourselves.”
“Do you have a design in mind?”
“No, I love a variety of styles, so I’m pretty easy.”
A shadow fell above us, and I saw a guy in a cut. Thunderbird.
“Ready?” he asked Dynamo, who finished her drink and nodded.
“Yeah. See you tomorrow,” she said and began walking away.
Thunderbird leant over. “Don’t fuck this up,” he warned softly before following her.
That told me.
Dynamo
I was outside at nine-forty-five. I didn’t want Mike coming inside because of the teasing I’d get.
Word had spread I’d hugged Thunderbird and Rook, and everybody was in a damn good mood.
The clubhouse was loud today; everyone, including the kids, was there for breakfast. Sneaking out had been so hard.
Mike’s SUV pulled up just as I was regretting not meeting him at the stables. I hurried over and opened the passenger door before he could react.
“Go!” I ordered, alarmed, as I saw the door open. Warden, Undertaker, and Blister came out, and I closed my eyes.
“Dynamo, I’m not sneaking around like a teenager,” Mike stated, amused as they headed towards us.
“Daddy,” Raven cried softly, a little scared.
“Everything’s fine,” Mike said calmly as he wound down a window.
Warden peered at the girls.
“When you’re done, come in; we’ve got some shit inside for the girls. Maci would love a playdate.”
Oh my God, Warden said ‘playdate’. That was as funny as hell. Undertaker sent him a stunned look as Warden’s face twisted.
“Shut up,” he muttered, rubbing a hand over his jaw.
“When you have kids, there’s a lot that comes out of your mouth you won’t believe. Jesus, there’s shit you’ll do that you’d kill to keep secret,” Mike said.
“Like when I painted your nails, Daddy? And you went to work?” Robin asked.
“Yeah,” Mike growled out.
Warden smirked. “I’m having a boy.”
I pointed at him. “You don’t know that, Prez. If you get a girl, it’s hair ties, glitter, and makeup all the way. Iona’s a girly-girl. You’ve no chance.”
Warden snarled, but his eyes lit up. I was teasing him. Something that hadn’t happened for months.
“Not a problem,” he said, leaning into the car. “Auntie Dynamo can fuckin’ babysit. Maybe girly you up some!”
That was a threat. I bristled, but Mike got there first. “If you think Dynamo needs gussying up, book an eyesight test.”
Warden smirked as if he’d got the answer he wanted and stepped back. “Enjoy yourselves, kids.” He slapped the side of the SUV, and Mike drove off.
“He’s alright,” Mike said.
“In small doses,” I retorted.
Mike chuckled, deep and rich, and we headed out.
Riding was fun. I’d be sore tomorrow as I’d not ridden for a while, but it wasn’t something you forgot. Mike had packed a picnic as we rode across a field on the other side of Camden in Lincolnville.
“What are we doing here?” I asked, surveying the land.
“ACI want to create a permanent base. We’ve been nomads too long,” Mike explained.
“We?”
“I’m still a part of them, but I rarely do missions anymore. My skills lie elsewhere.”
“So, this is for ACI?”
“Yeah. We need a home; can’t keep hopping from hotel to hotel.
Jude’s heard that some of our former teammates are searching for work.
ACI is snowed under; we’re refusing jobs and passing them to lesser-skilled merc teams than us.
If Jude hires them, we don’t have to pass on anything.
But gotta have a base first,” Mike drawled, his eyes gazing over the land.
“What is Jude looking for?”
“Something prebuilt for our guys to bunk in for the foreseeable future. There’s an inn for sale that accompanies this. That could be home base. But we’d want a command centre, gym, land for homes, an assault course, weapons range, other stuff,” Mike replied.
“How much is up for sale?”
“Forty-three acres with the option to purchase ten more,” Mike mused.
“And we’re checking it out… because?” I asked, confused.
“We need all-terrain land. Flat and hilly. The selling point is the water, hills, and cliffs surrounding this. The plot has everything and is perfect.”
“You’re buying this?”
“ACI is. The sale’s going through now.” Mike smiled.
“Guess you’re sticking around,” I murmured as the girls galloped past.
“Slow down, Raven!” Mike yelled as he turned in his saddle.
“Yes, I am, and for many reasons,” he replied, holding my eyes. The blush hit, and I cursed. What was wrong with me? I’m a freaking biker; we don’t get flustered.
Entering Cipher’s domain, I felt on edge.
Two days had passed since my riding date with Mike.
Last night we’d watched a horror movie at his house, which had me squealing.
He’d not touched me and was respectful of my boundaries but had offered cushions to hide behind.
I was unsure how to handle it, but finally Mike told me to go with the flow. So I did.
When I left, Mike asked if he could hold my hand.
I nodded, on guard, and Mike dropped a kiss on it before watching me walk to my Harley.
It was hard for me to understand he wasn’t pushing for more.
That simple action of a kiss had stirred feelings I wasn’t ready to face yet.
But I’d never lied to myself and recognised I was attracted to him.
I’d been riding the high until Cipher messaged me to come to his quarters. The fact Warden, Slasher, and Romeo were present warned me I was about to get an unpleasant surprise.
“What’s up?”
“We’ve found something,” Warden said. “Sit down.”
“I’d rather…”
“Dynamo, sit.” Damn Warden and his orders. Sulkily, I did as he demanded, folding my arms and glowering.
“Cipher discovered this on the dark web. Ain’t gonna beat about the bush. It’s rape videos of you,” Warden stated without preamble.
The blow landed, hit, dug deep, and settled. Somehow, I couldn’t summon any emotion, and I wasn’t truly shocked. I’d been expecting this, I realised.
“Dynamo.”
“You took them down?” I asked calmly. I wasn’t calm. Inside, I was screaming.
“Cipher did,” Warden replied.
“How many views?”
“You don’t…”
“Don’t tell me what I need. Answer me.”
“Over six hundred thousand.”
“Wow, I was popular,” I quipped. Shit, I was dying. So many assholes had seen my rapes. They’d jacked off to them. Christ.
“Dynamo, I’ve taken them down. Hacked the server and traced it back to an address. They make rape porn, and I think the victims are real,” Cipher said.
“Can we track that many?” Warden asked.
I laughed bitterly. “That would take a lifetime to expose them, Prez.”