Jalisa Chapter 6
Something was up, and I wanted to know what it was.
Earlier, Dylan and Keno had been with us.
Suddenly, we saw Forge and Fury. They wandered into the kitchen, where Betty and I baked and made dinner.
It wasn’t fancy, just a massive amount of homemade vegetable soup.
Our baking consisted of bread and pies to go with it.
I dug out cans of fruit filling from the pantry.
There was enough to make an apple, cherry, and peach pie.
Betty assured me they’d love and consume them like they had breakfast.
She and I kept up a steady stream of chatter as we worked.
I learned all about her life before she got together with Rage.
She told me how she ran her own restaurant and why she sold it.
Her situation with her son was heartbreaking.
Betty shared how her daughter supported her.
I got to hear about her ex-husband, who was an abusive bastard.
She said he was dead, and it was a good thing, or Rage would’ve gone hunting him.
I talked about growing up with my dad and his club, how I’d been raised, and my work, which I loved. I couldn’t wait to get back to work on a project I was in the middle of. Two days away were more than enough.
As time passed and Rage and Wrath didn’t return, Forge and Fury appeared, and when I asked to see Dylan, I was told he was doing a job for the president.
My suspicion that they were dealing with a mess increased.
Betty texted Rage, but all she got back was that they’d be back soon and that there was nothing to worry about. She didn’t believe him.
I tried frightening Forge and Fury, but threatening not to let them have anything for dinner didn’t get me anywhere, though they did look pained when I said it. I was a bitch, but I wouldn’t do that to them. I knew they were following orders.
When we heard the sound of more than one bike, Betty and I raced through the clubhouse and out the front door to the parking area.
Wrath, Rage, Dylan, and Keno pulled to a stop in various spots.
They were all solemn. That wasn’t a good sign.
I rushed over to Wrath. He had shut off his bike and was removing his helmet.
Without a thought, I latched onto his wrist.
“What happened? Are you alright? You’ve been gone forever. What did they do?”
His other hand came up to cover mine and gently squeezed it. “Calm down. We’re all fine. Let us get off our bikes and inside, and then I’ll explain.”
I eased away. I thought he seemed reluctant to let go of me.
I felt the same way. All four men swung off their rides and got in their saddlebags.
Taking out garbage bags, they carried them into the clubhouse and set them on a table.
We took seats around it. The prospects asked if anyone needed a drink. We said no.
“Wrath, you’re killing me. Tell me what took you so long and why you needed my cousin,” I pleaded.
“We didn’t run into trouble or any of the Outlaws. However, we did find that Dylan’s apartment had been ransacked. What’s in those bags is all that we could salvage. Everything else they broke or tore up. We have to get a crew together to clean and repair it so he can give up his lease.”
My stomach dropped. Oh my God, all this because I went on a few dates. God, this wasn’t fair. I looked over at my cousin. He was watching me warily.
“Dyl, I’m so damn sorry. I never thought they’d find me. I swear, I’ll replace everything they broke or stole. You know I will. I can’t say I’m sorry enough.”
He was standing. He came to me, put his arm around me, and hugged me.
“I know you didn’t. And I don’t blame you.
This is all on them, not you. As for what is broken or stolen, you don’t need to replace them.
Anything really important I have here. It’s more about being angry that they did it and the condition I found your bedroom in. ”
I caught Wrath shaking his head. He didn’t want me to know that. I hugged Dylan tighter. “What was wrong with my room? Did you find my laptop?”
“Pres, there’s no use hiding it. She needs to know. Show her,” Dylan said.
Wrath reached out and snagged one of the bags.
He opened it and brought out a piece of metal.
After a couple more joined the first one, I gasped.
I knew what it was. It was my laptop. Tears filled my eyes.
My precious baby. The one I’d gotten as soon as I graduated from college.
I’d done every single one of my professional projects on it.
I grasped one of the sections of the keyboard.
“Don’t cry, honey. I’m not sure, but Crusher might be able to retrieve your hard drive information from this. He works miracles sometimes,” Wrath told me.
“Yeah, hopefully, he can save your work for you,” Rage added.
“My work is saved to the cloud, so I’m not worried about that. I’m fucking pissed! They destroyed my beautiful Daisy. Those cocksuckers will pay,” I growled.
“Wait, your computer has a name?” Keno asked in disbelief.
“Does your bike have one?” I shot back.
“Uh, well, yeah, but it’s a bike,” he muttered.
“Well, my bike and my laptop have names. Daisy was my life. I have had everything on here since I graduated and started my business. This is my baby. Don’t judge me,” I snapped.
He held up his hands and stepped back. “I’m not judging you. I never knew anyone named their laptops. Sorry.”
“You have a bike?” Fury asked. He and Forge had joined the group.
“Of course I do. Do you honestly think Psycho’s daughter wouldn’t? Or is it that I’m his daughter and not a son that made you ask? Women can ride, too. I was raised to know how to do everything he’d teach a son and more,” I snipped.
I knew I was being unfair and taking my anger and frustration out on them. I fought to stop myself.
“Babe, you need to calm yourself. No one is implying anything. We’re just pleasantly surprised.
We know women can ride and do other things.
We know several who do,” Wrath told me softly.
His hand came to rest on my back, and he rubbed it.
Instantly, the tension in my body eased. I slumped forward and hung my head.
“I’m sorry. You’re right. I’m lashing out at you guys for no reason.
I apologize. I appreciate that you brought it so Crusher could see it, but don’t bother.
He can’t put her back together, and the work is stored.
I’ll just need to get a new laptop. The important thing is that no one got hurt, and to replace Dylan’s stuff.
You said there was something in my bedroom. Was it this?” I gestured to my Daisy.
Keno, Rage, my cousin, and Wrath exchanged glances, but it was Wrath who answered.
“They tore up the room, and the mattress was flipped off the bed. We smelled something, and I discovered the source when I turned it over. Someone had ejaculated all over the mattress and, in black marker, wrote Jalisa plus Killer equals forever.”
I gagged a little at the thought of some guy jacking off on my bed, but more than that, fury hit me. I slammed my fist on the table, startling them.
“I’ll give him forever. His ass will go to hell, and he’ll roast in the fires of hell while I laugh at him. Do you think it was Killer or one of his fucking sicko club brothers?”
“We don’t know,” Dylan answered.
“Well, we know they’re still hanging out somewhere nearby.
I doubt their spies would do that for them.
It sounds more like the Outlaws’ style. If I stay here, I’ll need some things from home.
I need to speak to my dad. Aren’t you guys supposed to have a call tonight to discuss the strategies you came up with?
I need to be there to tell him what happened and what I need. He’ll flip out, so be prepared.”
Dylan groaned.
Needing to think, I stood up. “I need to go check on stuff in the kitchen. We’ll be eating around six if that’s alright with everyone. I thought you’d all be home by then. And then we’ll call Dad. Betty, you should spend time with Rage. I can finish up.”
“No, I’ll stay with you. We started it together. I want to finish it,” she replied.
I gave her a grateful smile. I felt the men’s gazes boring into us as we walked off. They had to be puzzled by my abrupt departure, but it was either distract me or go crazy. They hadn’t seen me lose my shit. I was trying not to let them witness it.