Chapter Ten.
Myka
The women headed towards me, and I reared backwards in alarm.
“Back off, at least let Myka get inside,” Falcon called, and several stopped and pouted.
“They are terrifying,” I murmured.
“Yeah. But they have kind hearts, and nobody wishes you harm,” Calamity stated.
How did I tell him I doubted his words because he was a stranger? That would be very rude. Instead, I stayed quiet but offered a nod, which could mean anything.
Falcon pushed me into the clubhouse, and I took a good look.
The first thing that caught my attention was the atrium, allowing loads of light inside.
A wooden walkway ran around the edge, and I could see doors that probably led to what I suspected were bedrooms. That was the upper floor.
Anyone walking around could peer straight down into this large room.
I guessed it was some sort of common room they shared.
There was a bar on one side and two pool tables, a foosball and an air hockey table.
Several dartboards were fitted to the wall, and on the opposite wall, I spotted a huge TV screen.
I was surprised they made them that big.
I was also astonished to see a long food-serving counter, and behind that was a spotless industrial kitchen with two women bustling about.
Before that was clearly a dining area. In the corner, tucked away neatly, was a drinks station that made me smile. I hadn’t expected that.
“If we don’t get coffee in the morning, over half of us become slightly murderous. Especially the old ladies,” Falcon murmured.
I nodded and carried on checking my surroundings.
The floor was wood, and the walls were painted cream.
One wall had the start of what looked like photos stuck to it.
Next to the bar was a door, which I guessed led to more rooms. By the kitchen stood another door. Maybe there were offices behind it.
“Hey,” Rosie said, popping up as Falcon pushed me towards an overstuffed armchair. I noticed plenty of those about and large, comfortable couches. Bar stools stood at the bar. Beyond its cosy feel, the cleanliness truly stood out. It wasn’t like what I’d expected.
“It’s a shock, isn’t it? No half-naked women, no beer bottles dumped on the floor, no underwear thrown about, or a stripper pole.”
“Yeah, you’re letting the side down,” I quipped and hesitated. Would Rosie think I’m saying they’re not a real club?
Rosie grinned. “Rage MC likes to buck the trend. We live here; nobody wants to live in a shithole. Well, a couple are untidy fuckers, but after Calam burned their shit a few times, people learned to pick up after themselves.”
I gaped at that before laughing. “That’s effective.”
“We also have cleaners come in three times a week for the communal areas. Each brother is responsible for their own bunk, but again, they need to respect it.”
“Sounds fair.” I held onto Falcon’s arm as I shifted from the wheelchair into the armchair. Falcon let me get settled and ignored my wince.
“Want a drink?” he asked.
Bemused, I gaped. Nobody ever offered me a drink. Unsure if this was a test, I bit my lip. Would Falcon slap me if I said yes?
“Do you like Coke? Falcon, can we have two, please?” Rosie replied at my nod. I stared as Falcon turned and walked away.
“Falcon’s getting drinks?” I whispered, shocked.
“Yeah.” Rosie looked puzzled.
“The guy’s a unicorn.” I shook my head.
“What? For fetching a drink? If Falcon didn’t, his mama would beat the shit out of him.”
I laughed, believing Rosie was joking, but she had a serious look on her face. “Really? But he’s a martial arts gold medallist!”
“Who do you reckon taught him? Artemis would annihilate his ass if he mistreated or was rude to a decent woman. She isn’t worth pissing off.
Hey Penny,” Rosie looked up at the older lady who joined us.
She was one of those women you knew was in her forties or fifties, but her age was hard to discern.
“Hi. Myka’s room is set up; it’s next to Jayes’. The others are still unpacking everything, so I left them to it. Oakley was throwing down and using pregnancy hormones to argue with Mina. Hi, I’m Penny.”
“And Mina’s bitching because her hormones are all over the place as she’s breastfeeding?” Rosie guessed, and Penny grinned.
“Christ, pregnant bitches,” Rosie complained. Falcon paused as he approached, and his eyes went wide.
“Hell no!” he announced, pointing at Rosie, who burst into laughter and shook her head. “Prez was more hormonal than you with each of yours,” Falcon declared, and both women laughed loudly.
“That is so true. Poor Calam got the cravings and everything,” Rosie told me. “I’m fine, Falcon, no more kids here. But Calam needs to stop trying to add to the fur babies.”
“Good luck. Why do you think you both have the biggest yard?” Falcon placed three glasses down, and I realised that he’d brought Penny a drink without her even asking. Dawson would never have been so considerate. I couldn’t remember him ever fetching me anything, not even when pregnant.
“You have a lot of pets?” I asked.
“They own a freaking zoo,” Penny teased.
“I’d like to get Jayes a puppy.”
“You weren’t allowed one?”
Bitterly, I laughed. “Dawson hated feeding us, let alone a dog. He’d have turned it nasty, and no pup deserves that. No.” I shook my head. “When we finally get settled wherever we go, it’s on my list of things to buy.”
“Staying here isn’t an option?” Rosie pried.
“God no. Dawson’s entire family is local. If I stay, they’ll never let me leave Dawson or move on. They’ll take Jayes from me and force me to abide by their rules.”
“They’re that bad?” Penny asked.
“Worse.”
“Can I ask, how did you end up with him? Myka, you seem pretty level-headed,” Penny stated.
I laughed. “Dawson’s five years older than me.
My family life wasn’t great. My dad was an alcoholic and my mom’s long gone.
I’ve no idea where she is. I was nineteen and at college when I met Dawson.
Everyone was aware of his family’s reputation, but Dawson held down a full-time job, and his name was rarely mentioned associated with trouble.
Dawson showed me the good. One night I went to a party and got drunk, but things seemed blurred, out of control, and I called Dawson to pick me up.
“The next day I woke up naked in his bed and with blood between my legs. I didn’t remember anything. Dawson was mortified; he said I’d come on to him and insisted we have sex. I’d been a virgin, so losing memory of my first time really sucked.”
Penny looked uncomfortable. “Were you drugged?”
“Yeah. Dawson admitted it about four years ago. But back then, he was still putting on a front. Dad threw me out, and Dawson married me. That’s when everything changed.
He beat me on our wedding night and told me I was his property and that I had to obey him.
It took months before he broke me. Dawson hit me so hard he caused early labour.
Jayes was born eight weeks early. It was touch and go, but Jayes pulled through,” I replied.
“Christ,” Penny muttered, looking appalled.
“I tried to escape several times, but Dawson always dragged me back. Then one day he beat me so badly that I ended up in hospital. Scared out of my mind, I gave the sheriff a statement before being released. A few days later I was readmitted due to constant beatings, and I’d learned a lesson.
Nobody would help me. The sheriff had backed Dawson and his scumbag family.
Six months ago, I heard of a group that helped women like me disappear.
I made contact, and we began making plans to get me out.
“Dawson always had impeccable timing. I had a week left before they collected me and took me to a safe house. Bloody typical of Dawson to mess everything up. And now Elianna says I’ve gotta trust her.
But how can I? The Sheriff’s office has let me down once already.
The only person I can rely on is myself,” I stated.
“Falcon won’t fail you,” Penny replied.
“That doesn’t make sense. Why would Falcon be bothered with someone like me?”
“Our men, they see a woman and know she’s their old lady. It’s almost instinctive. They’ll go all out to claim her,” Rosie explained.
“What’s that got to do with me?” I demanded. I didn’t want to consider whatever crazy idea they were thinking. For now, my plate was overloaded. My top priorities were healing and Jayes. Everything else could wait; it wasn’t important.
“Nothing!” Penny said quickly. She seemed to realise I was overwhelmed.
“Hey, they’re dishing up lunch. Are you hungry?” Rosie asked, standing.
“Yes, but what about the children?”
“Did you see the gong near the front? That’s how we call them. It’s a thing with the club: kids eat first, no matter what. After that, it’s those who are sick or injured,” Penny explained.
“Then old ladies and finally the brothers. Trying to do it any differently insults the hell out of the brothers, and it’s not worth them sulking!” Rosie finished.
I nodded, thinking how strange all this was.
Men who put women first. The concept was hard to grasp.
Even before Dawson, Dad had been a selfish son of a bitch.
Were these ladies snooping on me for some reason?
I couldn’t figure it out. Nor did I understand why I’d been so open.
If it got back to Dawson, that was dangerous.
He’d kill me if he learned I’d opened my mouth, but I was so tired of him.
“My dad shunned me. Dad’s opinion is that I’m an embarrassment because I didn’t make Dawson a good wife. Whenever Dad saw me, he told Dawson he needed to beat the wife into me.”
I didn’t hear their gasps. The fear remained, but Dawson wasn’t close by, and something told me these people wouldn’t let him near me. I heard the tone of the gong being bashed and smiled. That was such a cool idea.
Moments later, kids stampeded into the building, all making a racket.