by K. J. Dahlen
“Not fucking likely.” Deke growled.
Iceman held up his hands. “No offence man.” He grinned as he shifted his feet and leaned against the wall. “On another note, thanks for including me in this rescue. I made another contact tonight and it never hurts to have that family behind you. I can still cut you in for a percentage.”
Deke shook his head. “I don’t want it. I told you that earlier. All I wanted was to get my girl back. You keep all the glory.” He hesitated then asked, “I will ask for something you could give me.”
“And what would that be?”
“Safe passage through your city when Cassie comes back to see Peaches.”
“That’s a no brainer man.” Iceman grinned. “If anything happens to her, I think old man Vincinti would crucify the person responsible.”
“He just might,” Deke agreed. “I haven’t heard the whole story yet, but the girls have more secrets they need to tell.”
Iceman shook his head. “Man, when you started telling their tale, I got sick to my stomach. I know some people are cruel but what those two girls went through, man.”
“I’m worried about the badges and the Feds and what they’ll do when they realize the girls are missing.”
Iceman shrugged. “They can look all they want but if old man Vincinti doesn’t want them to find Peaches, they won’t find her.
“What about old lady Pierce?”
“I don’t think you need to worry about that bitch either,” Iceman hinted with a gleam in his cold blue eyes. “She took his baby girl and mistreated her. That won’t go unnoticed in his world. In fact, I’d hate to be in her shoes right now. With the cops, she may have gotten a deal but with him?” He shrugged. “I don’t think so. She’ll be lucky to save her own skin.”
“We’ll be going back to New York tomorrow,” Deke informed the other man.
Iceman held out his hand.
Deke grasped it.
“Safe travels man. Keep the home fires burning and watch over that woman of yours, she’s something special.”
Deke nodded. “I will. Take care friend and if you need our help don’t hesitate to call.” He watched as Iceman walked down the hall. Slipping back into his room he noticed Cassie was still sleeping. Taking off his pants, he slipped back into bed.
“Did Iceman get the bitch?” Cassie whispered.
Deke felt his heart jerk. “I thought you were sleeping. Yeah, he got her and he took her to the Vincinti’s.”
“Let’s hope he does the right thing.” Cassie closed her eyes and drifted back to sleep.
~* * * *~
A few hours later, a knock rattled on the door. Deke jumped up and looked around. At first, he didn’t know where he was. The knock sounded again. He pulled his pants on and answered the door.
It was Gator and he looked pissed.
“What the hell?” Deke growled.
“She’s gone boss.”
“Who? Who is gone?” Deke ran his fingers through his hair and glanced toward the bed. It was empty. His Cassie was gone. She’d left him during the night. He looked back at Gator. “How did you know?”
Gator pushed a letter into his hands. “She left this under my door.”
Deke wandered back to the bed and sat down. He sighed as he gazed at the letter in his hand.
Gator, I’m sorry but I can’t stay. I can’t and won’t put anyone’s life in danger. Life is too precious to throw it away for someone else. I know Deke won’t understand my decision, so please tell him I love him. And to give him up is killing me but I have to do this. I’ll stay here for a while until I know Peaches is taken care of and maybe someday, I’ll come back to him. Someday, when I know no one is looking for me. When no one remembers the name Josette Rearden. I hope he can forgive me.
Cassie
Deke crumbled the letter in his hand. He felt a burning in his eyes and a hole in his soul.
“What are you going to do?” Gator finally asked.
“I’m gonna find her,” Deke vowed.
Gator sucked in a deep breath. When he exhaled, he asked, “Are you sure you want to do that?”
Deke looked up at his second in command. “I can’t do anything less. I need her.”
Gator grinned. “I was hoping you would say that.” He rubbed his hands together. “Let’s find your spitfire woman and get the hell out of Dodge. I miss my Reva.”
Deke threw on his shirt and checked his phone for messages. He didn’t find any, so he called Iceman.
“Hello?” Iceman answered.
“Iceman, do you have the number for Calderone or Leon?”
“Why do you want to know?”
“Cassie left in the night. We stopped at a motel and she slipped away. She left a note saying she was going to stay here and watch over Peaches. I need to know where she might go. I need to find her.”
Iceman sighed. “Damn…that girl is a bold one. Do you need some help looking for her?”
“No I just need a number to call, so I can talk to Peaches.”
Iceman gave him the number and when he called Leon answered. He explained that he needed to talk to Peaches and that it was urgent. When Peaches got on the phone, Deke told her what happened.
She began to cry. “You have to find her.”
“I will baby girl but I need your help,” Deke insisted. “Where would she go? She said she wanted to watch over you until she knew you were going to be okay.”
He could hear Peaches weeping on the phone. “Okay, I know of a couple of places she might go. One place is a cave down by the water. Under the old McFlint’s Fishery warehouse. We stayed there for a while. If she isn’t there, she might be on the ridge above the city. There’s a cave up there by a cell tower. Either place is isolated and she will be able to see you coming. Please let me know if you find her. I need to know she’s safe.”
“Peaches, I think you need to know something,” Deke spoke quietly. “I love her and I think she loves me too. She left because she doesn’t want anyone to get hurt on her behalf.”
“I thought that might be her reason.” Peaches sighed. “Sullivan and the Feds won’t drop this thing. But my grandfather told me this morning he would take care of the police. They won’t be coming after either of us, but Cassie doesn’t know that.”
“When I find her I’ll tell her that.”
“I hope you can love her enough to get past her scars,” Peaches told him. “Some of them you won’t be able to see and they run deep.”
“I can do that,” Deke whispered. “All I ask is that she gives me a chance.”
“When you find her, make her believe that. She needs someone who cares about her. She needs someone who will show her what love is all about. I think she needs you.”
“I need her too,” Deke admitted.
“Then you find her and never let her go,” Peaches whispered.
“That’s the plan, baby girl.”
“Good luck,” Peaches said before she hung up.
Deke ended the call and looked over at his second in command. “Take half the men and search the ridge above the city. There’s a cave by the cell tower.”
“Uh, Deke,” Gator paused. “Iceman and his boys are waiting outside. I think they want to look for her too.”
Deke got to his feet and went outside.
Iceman and twenty of his men were mounted on their bikes waiting for him.
“This is not your business man,” Deke stated.
“But it is my city,” Iceman reminded him.
“All I want to do is find her and take her home. We won’t be here longer than necessary.”
Iceman shrugged. “I understand that man. I just want to know she’s okay.”
Deke stared at the other man for a few minutes. His spitfire really drew people in. He knew this all too well. She was an amazing, courageous woman and he couldn’t really hold it against the Prez of The Sinners. Finally, he nodded. “I have half my men under Gator, searching one area and I’m taking the rest with me to
search another area. “
“My men can split up and go with you.”
“Tell your men no one touches her,” Deke insisted. “She doesn’t like to be touched.”
Iceman chuckled. “I remember very well. They all are too smart to wanna beat down from her.” His cool eyes twinkled with amusement. He turned to his men and announced, “Half of you go with his second in command, Gator. The other half come with Deke and me. No one touches the girl. Just try to talk her into letting you bring her back here. If you guys find her, she can ride with Gator.”
Their engines roared to life and bike after bike tore out of the parking lot. There were a lot bikers in these two clubs who were willing to do whatever they could to bring the Spawn’s Spitfire back safely. They all knew her story and she had their solemn admiration
Deke and Iceman were the last to leave. They took the lead and circled around the city to the water’s edge. Parking their bikes in the warehouse parking lot, the men made their way to the water’s edge and began searching for the cave Peaches spoke about.
“She worth all of this to you?” Iceman asked.
“Yeah she is,” Deke told him. “She’s come to mean a lot to me. My life would be pretty empty without her.”
Iceman grinned. “I hope someday to meet someone like that.”
“Boss, I think I found the cave,” one of Iceman’s men called out.
They both turned and saw the man pointing to a darkened spot nearby. Deke and Iceman rushed to it and when they got there, they peered into what looked like a cavern. Deke looked around a bit and found a flashlight hidden beside the door. He leaned over, picked it up and was surprised to find that it worked. “Someone has been here.” He glanced at Iceman.
“Let’s hope it’s your girl.”
Deke shone the light and it did little to disperse the darkness of the cavern ahead of them. Making their way inside, they both saw fresh footprints in the dirt.
Coming around a corner, they saw a camping area. In the middle of the floor was the makings of a small fire. A log had been dragged inside to sit on. A backpack leaned against the opposite wall and there were several other flashlights sitting in the dirt.
“How did you find me?” Cassie’s voice asked from the darkness.
“Peaches told me about this place,” Deke admitted. “How could you leave like that?”
“I told you I didn’t want anyone to get hurt on my behalf.” She came out of the shadows.
Iceman paused then said, “I’ll meet you outside.”
After he was gone, Deke pulled her to him. “I’m never letting you go,” he whispered in her ear. “I love you girl, don’t you know that?”
Cassie sighed. “How can you love something like me?”
Deke leaned back and stared at her. “What do you mean something like you?”
Tears were rolling down her cheeks. “People in my past tried their damndest to break me. They beat me, scarred me and carved me up. They tore chucks of flesh from my body and ripped my soul apart.” Her voice was little more than a whisper. “How can anyone love that?”
“How can I not love you?” Deke asked. “You may be almost broken but you learned to mend yourself. You are the most honest person I’ve ever met. You are brave and kind hearted. Loyal to the bone. You cared for and about Peaches most of your life. You brought her home to her family when no one else would. You learned to take care of yourself and other kids like you when they would have been abused or worse. You stood up for them and took the beatings when it should have happened to someone else. Those kids didn’t see you as broken, they saw you as their hero.”
Cassie sniffed. “But I’m no hero.”
“I’m no hero either, baby. I’m just a man who loves you. I need you in my life. You complete me in a way no other woman could or ever will.”
Cassie turned and stared at him. “Really? You love me?”
Deke smiled. “I do love you.”
“But I don’t know love.”
“Then I’ll teach you,” Deke assured her. “We can learn about love together.”
Cassie trembled in his arms. “I want to learn. I want you to teach me but I’m scared.”
“Of what?”
“I’m scared that I’ll never be the person you want me to be.”
Deke chuckled. “I only want you to be yourself. I’m not looking to change you. I love you for who you are right now.”
“I’ve been alone for so long,” Cassie whispered.
“So have I,” Deke admitted. “I know about being alone. I also know about finding something better. I found you and I don’t want to lose you. Baby, I can’t let you go. I can’t go back to being alone anymore. I need you.” His arms tightened around her.
“I think I need you too.” She paused then said, “I think I have to tell you something.”
“What?”
“When we make love I have a feeling you’re holding back. I’m not sure what it is, but I can feel it.”
Deke sighed and laid his head on hers. “I didn’t want to scare you. Sometimes, my loving can get a little wild.”
“Will you show me?” Cassie whispered. “I want so much to learn how to love you, but I can’t if you hold that part of you back.”
Deke kissed her temple. “Okay, I won’t hold it back anymore. Come on baby girl, let’s go home.” He turned and led the way into the sunshine. “We’ve got a lot to explore.” He squeezed her ass.
Cassie jumped a little and then she grinned at him.
Everyone was waiting for them in the parking lot.
Iceman smiled when he saw her and nodded at Deke. “Your men will meet you at the crossroads outside of town. Have a safe trip back.”
Deke held out his hand. “Thank you.”
Then Iceman shook his hand.
Cassie broke away from Deke and went over to Iceman. She leaned in close and gently kissed his cheek. “Thank you for helping my friend Peaches and me last night. I appreciate it greatly.”
Iceman smiled. “You bet little Spitfire, it was my pleasure.” Then he revved his engine and peeled out of the parking lot, followed by his men.
Cassie went over to Deke’s bike and even though she was small in stature, she managed to swing her leg over the tank. “Come on boys,” she called out. “Let’s go home.”
His men all halted and swung their startled gazes up to the petite spitfire of a woman, sitting on the Prez’s bike.
Deke shook his head and grinned as he joined her. He started his engine and rolled out of the parking lot.
REVENGE AND RETRIBUTION
“A Sexy, Suspenseful Series, Full of Surprises!”
Just when Cassie thinks her past is over…someone comes looking for her. Someone she and everyone else thought was dead a long time ago. She has a man in her life and her dreams are coming true, so when Robbie comes after her she has more to lose than she ever had before. Except this time—she isn’t alone. She has friends and family to help her fight against the darkness that threatens her.
Then she discovers yet another surprise—she has a sister…
REVENGE AND RETRIBUTION
#2
Satan’s Spawn MC Series
K.J. Dahlen
DEDICATION
I would like to dedicate this book to my friend, Ron and his darling bride, Judy- also to my cousin Hope, as her name indicates—she has given me hope, that little nudge I needed to expand my world to include new stories.
CHAPTER ONE
When Deke came out of his room the morning after he and Cassie returned from Boston, he saw one of his guys sitting in the main room. One that had been away on club business for the last three weeks. On the table in front of him was an open bottle of Jack Daniels.
One of his club’s brothers, Deacon seemed to be staring at the painting Cassie had drawn of Rufus.
Deke walked into the kitchen and found Reva and Gator drinking coffee. When Reva grabbed another cup and handed it to Deke, he looked over at Gator and aske
d, “What’s wrong?”
“Did you see Deacon out there?” Gator asked.
Deke nodded. “Yeah, I did. He seems a little preoccupied. What’s his problem? Doesn’t he like the new art?”
“Oh, I think it goes deeper than that.” Gator looked over at him. “He got back around one this morning. Reva and I were still here when he came in.”
“My lord Deke, when he saw that painting, he lost all the color in his face and for the longest time, he just stood there staring at it,” Reva explained. “About an hour later, he picked up the bottle and started drinking. He’s been sitting there, in that same spot, sipping his whiskey and staring at that damn painting.”
Deke frowned and turned to stare at them both. He moved to the doorway and watched Deacon for a moment, then turned to Gator and shrugged. “Maybe he objects to it, I don’t know.”
Gator shook his head. “No man, I don’t think he objects to it but there’s something wrong with him. Something is bothering him about the painting.”
Deke sipped his coffee. Reaching for the pot, he filled his cup again and wandered back into the main room and over to the table where Deacon was sitting. When he sat down, he searched Deacon’s face.
The man was still staring at the painting.
“So,” Deke spoke softly, startling the other man out of his daze. “When did you get back?”
Deacon lifted the shot glass to his lips. After sipping the liquor he said, “Got back around one this morning. I was happy to be back after three weeks on the road.”
Deke nodded. Then he turned his gaze to the painting Deacon couldn’t seem to take his eyes off of. “His name is…”
“Rufus,” Deacon finished his sentence, “I know. My sister Jemmia made it up a long time ago.”
“Your sister?’ Deke sat up straighter in his chair.
Deacon turned his head to Deke with a frown. “Yeah, she drew him when she was a kid. I haven’t seen him in a very long time. I’ve never seen him in full living color before.” Turning back to the painting he asked, “Who painted him here?”