Dayanara Chapter 9
I refused to wallow in Predator’s room all day. Even if I felt like shit, I wasn’t doing that. Sure, what Jess said still hurt, and I wanted to cry about it, but I had one more crying session in Predator’s room, then I cleaned myself up and told my guys to get me out of there.
They ended up giving me the official tour of the compound.
I had to admit, in the light of day, there was a lot to see and absorb.
Across from the clubhouse stood the large garage that housed their motorcycles and other vehicles.
Behind the clubhouse was a large outdoor space for grilling and partying.
Beyond it, but within sight, was a kids’ playground that would be the envy of any park. It contained all the favorites.
Past those were the houses. They pointed out who lived in which ones.
While they were at it, my guys pointed out where there was room to build additional homes once members without houses gave the green light.
Predator boldly told me, as soon as I was officially theirs in the club and wore their names on my property cut, that we’d choose the house plan we all loved and have it built. I didn’t disagree with the idea.
The Warriors were in luck. They ran their own construction company, AW Construction. Tank managed it, but Iceman, Vex, and Stryder worked there. They built residential and commercial buildings, but their own homes took priority most of the time.
When we finished that part of the tour, I was given a treat.
They got out their bikes and took me to the very back of the compound.
I rode with Stalker there and then rode back with Predator.
It wasn’t a long ride, but I at least got on their bikes.
When spring and summer came, we’d be doing a whole lot more.
I found out why they took me back there when we arrived at the back wall.
There was a building there. They told me the owners of the property and the house before the club bought it were a family who ran a funeral home in town.
They did their own cremations. This building housed the crematory oven.
As luck would have it, the thing was still functional.
They let me guess why that might come in handy.
I immediately saw the convenience of it.
I wished Breezy were here for all of it, but she went out with the girls.
I was happy that she didn’t let what happened this morning discourage her.
Back at the clubhouse, we stopped in the common room to grab something cold to drink.
As we sat at the bar to drink them, Stryder came up to us. He looked tired.
“Hey, what’s wrong? You look beat,” I said.
“I am. I pounded my head on a wall until I had a headache,” he muttered.
“Let me guess. You tried to talk to Jess,” I said.
“Yep.”
“Where is he?” Stalker asked.
“That’s what I came to tell you. He decided to go home.
I told him I’d make sure you and Breezy got home safely.
Honestly, I think he needs to be alone to stew on what he learned and what he was made to realize today.
He was wrong to blame you for what happened to Breezy or anyone else, Daya.
And I told him that. I told him that when he was ready to admit he was wrong and to apologize, he needed to tell you.
You know how Jess is. He’ll think about it, and then when he figures out he did wrong, he’ll apologize like you’re tearing his vital organs out. ”
“So true. I swear, I never saw someone who detested admitting he’s sorry as badly as he does,” I agreed.
“Thanks for letting us know,” Predator told Stryder.
“No problem.” He paused, then he grimaced.
“Daya, I swear I had no idea that Marshall did anything to you. I’ve been thinking about that summer.
I wasn’t around much, but I remember asking Jess why they were staying at your parents’ house the whole time.
Marshall’s parents had a home, and it was just them, no siblings.
Your brother claimed that Marshall was fighting with his parents, so he didn’t want to stay there.
“I never questioned it after that. I hung out with him and Jess when I was younger, but as we all got older, I was into different things. That year, I just finished my senior year of high school. I understand why you didn’t say anything, but if you had, I would’ve believed you and found a way to get rid of him without endangering the others.
I can promise you, when we get our hands on him, he’ll suffer. ”
Stryder’s fury was evident, as well as the inner pain he had for not knowing what happened to me. I hugged him. As he held me, I whispered that he had nothing to apologize for. My men stood back and allowed us to have our space and moment. When we let go of each other, Stryder playfully pushed me.
“Stop that shit. I’m a badass biker. I can’t cry.”
I pushed him back. “Why change anything? I’ve been making you cry since we were kids. You might be three years older than me, but I have my ways,” I reminded him.
Stryder shuddered. “God, don’t remind me. You were pure evil when you wanted to pay someone back. Better watch out, guys. You have a wild one on your hands, and the Corps has only strengthened that,” he warned Predator and Stalker, who laughed and shrugged.
“Why the hell do you think there are two of us?” Predator piped up, grinning.
“We have to watch her twenty-four seven,” Stalker tacked on.
“Keep it up, and see what happens,” I replied menacingly.
“Dumbasses, you’ve really done it. I recognize that gleam in her eye. She’s plotting.” Stryder’s teasing made me feel even better.
From there, we moved on to the tour I had.
I asked him which houses he’d helped build.
He rattled them off. Then he made sure to mention that the construction company had openings on its schedule for new projects.
His bold hint went over none of our heads.
It got me thinking even more, though I didn’t tell them that. We spent a good hour just relaxing.
The rest of the day and evening flew by.
Breezy returned and showed me what she’d bought.
The joy on her face made me so happy. As it got later, my guys begged me not to go home yet.
They wanted me to stay again. I wanted the same thing, so it didn’t take much to sway me, but my final decision wasn’t made until I spoke to my sister.
Breezy exclaimed that she’d love to stay, and in fact, Meadow’s sisters had asked her to stay overnight again.
I double-checked with Meadow to see if it would be imposing, but she adamantly denied it.
Knowing this, I said I’d stay too. Sure, Breezy was an adult, but I knew my staying would make her feel better.
Later, after the family time was ending, I waited to see who would enter the clubhouse. The old ladies who stuck around last night were gone, and those who had taken kids home yesterday were here. I mentioned it to the guys.
“Well, we’re getting more kids. You saw the special room we have here for them.
When it comes time to party, the women like to take turns staying.
Sometimes the dads do, too. If they stay, their kids are watched by the moms who leave.
The next time, they switch. Sometimes, if it’s a formal celebration, the club brings in Lolly and Kamila, and sometimes others we trust to watch all the kids, so none have to leave early,” Stalker explained.
“I think that’s wonderful. Want to guess if Kanda is here again?” I winked.
“Don’t even say that, dolcezza. You’ll jinx us,” Predator protested.
“Fine, but I’m warning you. If Kanda steps out of line, she won’t like the lesson I give her. As for others doing it, if it’s their first offense and they weren’t here when Kanda was told, I’ll nicely give them a warning. But I only do it once,” I warned them.
“Damn, we need to get you, Jalisa, Harlow, and a few others together. Our friend Swerve, down in the Horsemen of Wrath MC in Florida, recently got himself an old lady. She was an FBI agent when they met. Now, she works for some mysterious government agency. I think it’s the same one Smoke and his old lady, Everly, over in Dublin Falls, works for.
We have some tough old ladies,” Stalker said.
“Wait. Government agency? Some of your friends work for the government, but they’re bikers?” I questioned, thinking I heard wrong.
“Oh yeah, and then we have a non-biker group of friends who run a security slash whatever agency. They’re in Virginia and called the Dark Patriots.
You’d like them. The four owners are former Navy SEALs, and most of their employees served.
Undertaker’s wife, Sloan, was a fellow Marine.
We’re full of surprises, Melyster,” Stalker purred.
They had my interest piqued. For the next ten minutes, I grilled them about the Dark Patriots and the ones who worked for the government. I was astonished at what they told me. Who would’ve ever guessed the amount of genius stored in their clubs?
Our discussion was interrupted by my phone buzzing. It made me jump. I took it out of my back jeans pocket. When I noted the phone number, I inhaled sharply. This move brought my guys’ attention to me.
“Who is it?” Predator asked.
I held up a finger to silence them, then answered.
“Hello,” I said calmly.
“Hi, Daya. I’m sorry it took me so long to get back to you. Things have been rather nuts around here. Anyway, forgive me for calling late, but I knew you would want to know this right away.”
“You know you don’t need to apologize for any of that, and you can call whenever you want, Klaus,” I assured him.
I watched the brows of my men furrow.