CHANCE To Load

by K. J. Dahlen

  Chance smiled and picked up the bag. Slowly, he walked over to where Destiny was sitting. Kneeling down to her level, he carefully reached inside the bag and brought out a rag doll. Holding it out to her he asked, “Destiny, when I was walking here tonight, I saw this doll in the window of a store. I thought with you being so far from home tonight, you might need a little something you could hold onto, so you don’t get scared. I didn’t know you already had a nice rabbit to hold. I think her name is Mabel but I could be wrong about that. Would you like to have her? Maybe she could be a new friend for you and your rabbit to hang with.”

  Destiny stared at the little rag doll then she looked up at Chance. Looking back to the doll, she nodded slowly. Reaching out, he put the doll in her hands and

  She grasped the doll to her chest with her finger worrying the rabbit’s ear. The poor ears were worn right down to the satin under the fur.

  Chance took a deep breath and got to his feet walking back to Quinn. Without saying a word, he grabbed her and gave her a hug. Then he kissed her temple and whispered, “I got to go.”

  Quinn nodded. “I know how you feel.”

  “You keep that sweet little girl safe tonight all right?” he said in a quiet tone.

  “I will,” Quinn whispered back.

  “I’ll let Amos know I’m leaving but I won’t be going far. I’m pretty sure he and the other guys are on watch tonight in case there’s trouble.”

  “Ok.” Quinn walked him to the door and when he was in the hall, she spoke again, “I love you and thank you for the doll.”

  Chance nodded and walked down the hall toward Amos’ room.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Amos had his door open, so when Chance stopped by, he got up from his bed and ambled over to the doorway. He took one look at Chance’s face and knew. “That poor child hasn’t had an easy life has she?”

  “No she hasn’t,” Chance admitted.

  “Cassie couldn’t tell me much but she did share some of what her mama said this morning. Her mama tried to tell Cassie there was something wrong with her, like she was slow or something. She said the poor mite doesn’t talk much, if at all.”

  Chance shook his head. “She isn’t slow, she’s been abused. She doesn’t talk because somebody probably smacked her when she did. But her eyes watch what’s going on around her. I think she’s just seen too much and her tiny mind can’t handle the pain of her life.”

  “The world she lives in is the only world she knows.” Amos pointed out. “If all she’s ever know is pain, she won’t recognize the good when it comes her way.”

  “Then we’ll just have to show her a new world won’t we?” Chance stated clearly glaring his intent.

  Amos scoffed. “Yeah, good luck with that. Until her parents go and fuck up again, she has to stay with them. From what I saw of her mom today, that time may not be far away but that doesn’t mean much right now.”

  Chance wanted to walk away but he couldn’t. This thing with the little girl and Quinn just bothered the hell out of him. “What do you know of her parents?”

  Amos rubbed his hand along his jaw while he thought for a moment. “Not much but I’ve heard some bad rumors about the man. I’ve heard Lester Pearlman is a miserable excuse for a man. He’d rather drink than work up a sweat doing an honest day’s work. Mona is so beaten down by his fist over the time she’s been with him, she’s afraid to say anything and from what I saw of Destiny today, well I’m afraid she might just be collateral damage.”

  “Yeah, she might be at that,” Chance agreed with him. “If two adults want to live like that that’s their business but when you have a kid at some point, you have to straighten up your shit. Apparently, no one ever told Lester that.”

  “What’s ya going to do about Lester and Mona?”

  “I’ve got someone watching them tonight. If there’s any trouble, they’ll call me. But I would appreciate if you and the guys could make sure the girls are safe tonight. I know this place doesn’t lock up at night and I need to know Lester or Mona can’t get to them.”

  Amos nodded. “Of course, we’ll watch over them. Don’t you worry about that. The girls will be safe.”

  Chance nodded. “If anything happens give me a call. You got my number right?”

  Amos nodded. “Yeah, Quinn gave it to me earlier.”

  “Okay. I’m gonna hang outside for a while just so I know they’re safe.”

  Amos gave him another nod.

  Chance turned to leave. When he got out to the parking lot, he saw a bike sitting in the shadows. Looking around, he found the owner sitting on a bench in the dark. He ambled over and sat down next to Sam.

  Neither man spoke for a moment then Sam asked, “How’s my girl doing?”

  “Quinn is fine.”

  “She’d better stay that way too,” Sam grumbled under his breath.

  Chance lifted his hands. “I had nothing to do with this at all.”

  “I’m aware of that.” Sam growled. “But you better watch over her, so she doesn’t get hurt.”

  Chance nodded. “I’ve got men watching over them tonight and as long as they need it.”

  “This kid? Is she worth it?” Sam asked.

  Chance felt angry at this question. “Of course, she’s worth it, Sam. She’s a four year old kid who’s never had any kid of affection shown to her. She’s dirty, bruised and just plain scared. Whatever her life has been up until now hasn’t been her fault. She’s only a baby.”

  “Is there something wrong with her? I talked to Cassie earlier today and she says the mother claims her daughter is slow but she hasn’t had her tested for anything yet.”

  “No I don’t think that’s it. I think she’s just seen too much misery and nothing good has ever happened to her. She might be quiet because she’s got nothing to say. I also think when she did try to speak, she was slapped silly. She’s a sweet little girl who needs someone in her corner. Quinn has chosen to be that someone and you know Quinn, she isn’t about to give up on nothing.”

  Sam snorted. “Yeah, I know my girl. Don’t know where she got her stubbornness from but it wasn’t her mama. Junie was a real sweetheart.”

  Chance broke into laughter. “You don’t know where she gets her stubbornness from? Really? I think she takes right after her daddy with that.”

  Sam smiled at his comment. “Well shit, yeah you might be right about that. But that doesn’t help us at the moment does it?” Sam turned his head and stared at Chance for a moment. “You know I don’t want her with you right?”

  “I know but she can make up her own mind who she wants and doesn’t want in her life.”

  Sam sighed and rubbed his hands down his face. “I know that too, but it doesn’t make it any easier for me to accept. I had to watch her grow up from a distance and that about killed me. Then she came here and fell under your spell. I feel as if I never got the chance to know her.”

  “I understand all that,” Chance admitted. “But I won’t walk away from her. I can’t, I’m in love with your daughter. I can see my future with her.”

  Sam nodded as he looked away and staring at the main door to the House he said, “If you hurt her I will come after you. I just wanted you to know that.”

  “You’ve made me well aware of that fact.” Chance raised his eyebrow at the other man. “If it will make you feel any better…”

  Sam ached a brow at him.

  “…I’m not like you.” Chance looked him in the eyes.

  Sam’s brows furrowed. “What the hell does that mean?”

  Chance chuckled. “We are dating… you know, courting? The old fashioned way.”

  Sam’s brows shot up. “The fuck you say?”

  “I do say. Six months now, and no premarital at all.”

  Sam’s mouth hung open.

  “Yes, I honor your daughter like no other man probably would, so you can stop with the threats, old man.”

  Sam looked stunned. “I hope it’s true, but how the hell can it be?” />
  Chance chuckled. “I decided it when I first knew I wanted her. I would show her that she means more to me than just sex.”

  Sam still stared at him like he had two heads. “Well, I’ve never had the chance to be her father before and for the first time I have all my kids under one roof so to speak. Or close enough. Right now that feels damn good.”

  “Yup, I know how that feels. My brothers and I are finally together again too. When Talon left home so long ago, it felt like one part of us was missing. It never got better, so the rest of us came here to be with him.”

  Sam nodded. “Yeah but then you had to go and break the most scared rule. You brought in hot rods to an MC town.” He shook his head. “That’s just sad son, sad.”

  Chance laughed at his serious disappointment. “We told you this town could handle both hot rods and bikes.”

  Sam shrugged. “Yeah, you did even though I think you’re wrong about that.” He got to his feet. “Are you staying to watch over the girls?”

  Chance shook his head. “I’ll be here for a while but Amos and the guys are watching over them tonight. They won’t let anything happen. They’re protecting not only the girls but Cassie’s house, their house too.”

  Sam shook his head. “When we first learned she’d hired those men from the streets we weren’t sure about her reasons but the more we got to know them the more we liked them. They’re good honest guys who were betrayed by those who should have taken care of them. That Cassie…” He chuckled. “She can be a tool sometimes but she’s got a great heart.”

  Chance smiled at his comment. “Just don’t let Deke hear you call his woman a tool. He might not appreciate it.”

  Sam shrugged as he got to his feet. “I can handle Deke and I didn’t mean that in a bad way. Everyone has their little quirks and she’s got more than her fair share but damn, she’s a good woman under all that. She’s found her true purpose in life and not many of us do that.”

  Chance had to agree with that fact. Cassie had shown them all just how determined she was to get this place built and running. He knew all about the story of Redemption House. It had been her dream, well hers, and Peaches.’ When Deke’s MC found out about it, they pitched in to help and somehow her dream became a lot of other people’s ambition. Redemption House and places like it were so much in need they couldn’t keep up with the demand. Other cities across the nation were looking into her plan too, and that just spread the word about what she was doing and why.

  Deke and the MC were proud of her and that meant more to Cassie than all the gold in Fort Knox. Everyone who worked here did it because the cause was one they could believe in and that made their hearts feel good.

  “If you need backup give me a call,” Sam told him as he began walking over to his bike. He then turned back and stared at Chance. “You just cannot be for real man with that courting shit. Whoever heard of a celibate biker?” He shook his head and strode over to his cycle. The quiet was shattered by the roar of his engine.

  Chance laughed. Of course, a man like Sam wouldn’t believe it. In his life, you grabbed a different woman every night and damn the consequences. Chance had always been different. He didn’t care what Sam believed really. He then settled down and began the long wait. He was sitting on the bench but the bench was sitting in the shadows of the main building. As the darkness settled around him, he knew he couldn’t be seen by someone coming to Redemption House.

  Chance wasn’t expecting trouble but he wouldn’t walk away if it came calling tonight.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Chance groaned as the sun woke him up the next morning. He’d only been sleeping for what seemed like a few hours. Glancing at the clock on the table beside his bed, he noted the time. Seven a.m. Groaning again, he flopped back on the bed. He hadn’t gotten home until three this morning.

  He’d only left his watch when Wes called him to alert him that Lester was finally home and things had settled down at the Pearlman house. He let Amos know he was going home as things had settled down. Amos assured him they would continue to watch over things at the House.

  Now however, Chance was wide awake and he wanted nothing more than to check in with Quinn and find out how their night had gone. He knew it was too early to call but he could text. That way, when the girls woke up, his message would be read.

  After he texted Quinn, he hit the shower. After drying off, he got dressed. He checked his phone and smiled. Quinn was up and reporting that their night had gone well. He messaged her back saying if she needed him, she should call him at the garage, otherwise he’d see her later in the day.

  Half an hour later, he walked into the garage with a cup of strong coffee and a bag of breakfast takeout. Wes was already waiting for him along with his three brothers, Byron, Bowie and Dante.

  His brothers put down their tools to join Wes and Chance over beside Chance’s car.

  Chance passed out the food and while they ate, he looked over at Wes. “You got something to say?” He’d noticed Wes seemed more antsy than usual and he was wondering why.

  Wes finished his sandwich and nodded. “Yeah, I do. I found out some things last night and it isn’t good.”

  Chance waited for the other man to speak then noted his brothers’ interest. “Go ahead, they might need to know this shit anyway.”

  Wes nodded, then took a sip of his coffee. “Well, you know I had Wyatt watching the Pearlman house right?”

  Chance nodded.

  “While he was doing that I was asking questions around town about where Lester usually hung out and who he hung out with. That damn fool… he hangs out around the track mostly. He likes the ponies a bit too much, if you know what I mean.”

  Bowie snorted. “Does he at least break even?”

  Wes shook his head. “No, he doesn’t and the damn fool keeps going back hoping for that last race to make up the difference.”

  Byron cursed. “Fuck, how much is he for and to whom?”

  “He’s in for at least 35k to a man who likes to break legs when payment is late.” Wes nodded.

  Chance looked at his brothers then back to Wes. “Please tell me it isn’t Jonah Rossi.”

  Wes placed his finger on the side of his nose indicating he was right on target.

  Everyone in town knew about Jonah Rossi. Some called him the devil incarnate. And no one ever got one over on the man without paying the price for their foolishness.

  Wes shrugged. “Of course, that number could be wrong but I have a feeling it’s not. He’s into Jonah for some real coin.” He paused and it seemed like he wanted to say something but couldn’t say the words out loud.

  “What is it man?” Bowie finally had to ask.

  Wes rubbed his jaw. “Well, I don’t rightly know. Last night I heard more than just about Lester’s debt. I don’t rightly know if this is true or just a rumor and if it is just a rumor, I hate spreading gossip.”

  “Spit it out.” Byron glared at him. “What else did you hear?”

  “Rossi has a thing for little girls. The sort of thing that whispered in the backrooms, if you know what I mean.”

  Chance felt his heart stop beating briefly in his chest. He looked over at his brothers and noted their paleness as well.

  “How old is Lester’s daughter?” Bowie asked.

  “She’s only four.” Chance shook his head in disgust.

  “That’s not all I hear,” Wes spoke up again.

  “What the fuck else is there?” Dante growled.

  “He likes to get them real young and train them to please him when they reach a certain age.” Wes crushed his take out cup, spilling hot coffee all over his hand and the floor. He didn’t even flinch at the burning sensation he had to feel.

  “That’s one sick fucker,” Bowie seethed.

  All his brothers turned to Chance.

  “What can we do to help?” Byron asked. “We really can’t let that fuck get his hands on that little girl.”

  “He isn’t gonna get to her,” Chance vowed. �
��He’ll have to get through me first and I’m not going down easy.”

  “You won’t be the only one standing in his way,” Dante stated. “He’ll have to go through all of us.”

  “I got some friends too. They’ll stand beside you.” Wes nodded.

  “And we will too,” Sam’s voice called out from the doorway.

  Chance turned and saw several of the MC standing there. “We don’t want or need that crazy bastard in our town. And this town belongs to us.”

  “Ok first things first, we have to get Quinn and Destiny out of Redemption House, so we don’t take the fight there.” Sam warned them.

  “And if her mother comes back for her?” Chance argued, not wanting to play devil’s advocate, but they needed to consider this occurrence. “We don’t have any evidence of his true intention. We don’t really have a reason to hide her from her parents.”

  Sam marched up to him and glared at him. “You and I know what’s going on here.”

  Chance nodded. “Yeah, we all know what’s going on here but all the cops need to hear is a weeping woman is claiming we bikers stole her kid. That’s all they will hear and with us sitting in jail for kidnapping and who’s gonna be there to protect Destiny then?” He ran his fingers through his hair and glared at Sam. “Rossi might even decide to come after Quinn for retaliation, do you really want to lose your daughter because we moved too quickly?” He stared at Sam a moment then said, “I don’t want that. Rossi could whisk her away and we’d never find her again. He’d put her out into the streets and you fucking know it. And that wouldn’t happen until he hooked her on his fuckin dope.”

  Sam growled and stomped away from him. Then he shouted, “Fuck. Fuck. Fuck!” Then he turned and looked over at the men. “So what do you suggest we do Einstein?”

  “We watch over the girls but we also watch Rossi and Lester. We watch so we know exactly where they are going and what they’re doing. We find out as much as we can on what those two are really up to. We may need to shut them down but we protect our own at the same time.”