by K. J. Dahlen
“Neither of you have any right to stick your nose into my business,” Melora told them.
“My father doesn’t think so,” Deke reminded her.
“Yeah, I know what the old man thinks, he made his opinion very clear this morning.” She scoffed. “Only problem is I don’t agree with him on that point.”
“Yeah, well he’s a stubborn sonofabitch sometimes.” Deke chuckled.
“Will the two of you kindly not talk about me as if I’m not standing right here?” Sam grumbled.
“Cranky too, isn’t he?” Melora shrugged.
“Cranky is about to paddle your ass again,” Sam threatened.
Deke stared at his father for a moment then turned to her. “Why don’t you tell me what you saw?”
Melora sighed heavily. “I don’t really want to bring you guys into this.”
“Tell him,” Sam ordered.
She glared at him for a moment then turned to Deke. “September 10th two years ago I was living and working in Raleigh. It was close to one in the morning and I was outside having a smoke break when the door to the bar opened and five men came out. One man was a civilian named Baily Walker and the other four were members of the local MC, the Ghosts of Dixie. Apparently, Baily was in some kind of trouble with one of the men named Whiskey. Whiskey is a badass and he likes to hurt people. The four of them surrounded Baily and began punching him.’ Melora paused with a sigh as she shook her head.
“Go on,” Deke urged.
Melora frowned at Sam as she continued, “Whiskey was high that night, I could hear it in his voice. Whiskey being high makes him not only dangerous but mean too. That night he was mean. Whiskey pulled his knife out. He’s known for that damn knife all over town. Everyone knows he loves to carve up people with it. He started carving on Baily. Baily screamed bloody hell but Whiskey didn’t stop. Finally, he shoved the knife in his chest and Baily dropped to the ground. The other men with him started yelling at Whiskey. Telling him that Raven wasn’t gonna like the fact that he’d killed Baily. In fact, Baily was supposed to be protected by Raven, so this wouldn’t sit well at all. Whiskey told them it didn’t matter because no one would ever find his body. They could take him out in the woods and let the wild hogs take care of him. No one would ever know what happened. They loaded his body up in a truck and drove away. Me? I got the hell out of town.”
“Why was Raven protecting Baily?” Deke wanted to know.
“Baily was Senator Walker’s nephew and Raven wanted a political connection, even if it was one under the table.”
Deke ran his fingers through his hair. “Fuck a duck.” He got to his feet and began to pace behind the desk. Then he looked at Melora. “Did anyone ever find Baily’s body?”
“I doubt it, wild hogs will eat anything and they don’t usually leave parts behind.”
“So you don’t have any evidence that this ever happened?”
Melora shrugged. “Well, I never said that.”
Both Sam and Deke snapped their heads around to stare at her.
She shrugged. “Well, no one ever asked me that before.”
“What evidence do you have?” Deke asked.
“I videoed the whole thing with my smart phone, once I figured out what was going on.”
“Why didn’t you send the video to Raven?” Deke asked.
“Cuz I ain’t stupid.” Melora snorted. “I may have seen those guys around town but I didn’t know them personally. My momma didn’t raise no fool.”
“Where have you been staying since you got to town?” Deke asked.
“She’s been staying in the warehouse back of the shop,” Sam answered.
“Okay, we’ll get your things and move you to the compound while I contact Raven.”
“Boy, you guys just don’t quit do you?” Melora got to her feet. “I told you already I’m not staying!” She began to pace. “I heard Whiskey’s bike in town the other day and I ain’t sticking around where he can find me.”
Deke got to his feet and glared at her from across his desk. “What you don’t understand is the fact you aren’t going anywhere until this is settled. I’m not going to turn you out into the streets and watch this Whiskey character kill you or allow you to bring a war to the streets of my town. That just ain’t happening, little girl.”
Melora growled. “I can take care of myself. I am not a little girl. What is it with you bikers? I’ve been taking care of myself since I was a kid. I don’t need you or the old man to pat me on the head and tell me to let you take care of things.”
“Then why are you still on the run after two years?” Deke asked. “Why haven’t you just killed this Whiskey guy and his friends?”
Before she could answer him, a knock came to the door.
Deke turned and waited until the door opened.
It was Wiley. “Boss we might have a situation.”
“What kind of situation?”
“Well, Iceman just called and said he saw three men wearing different colors riding into town. Said they were Ghosts of Dixie brothers. Then Gator called and said he just had a call from a man named Mountain asking for a parley with you.”
“Who the hell is Mountain?”
Wiley shook his head and replied, “He hails from a little town in Texas and he says he’s looking for someone. He and his party are Los Hijos de Diablo, the Sons of Satan. ” He paused then added, “I’ve heard of this club and it’s not one you want to mess with if you don’t have to.”
Deke turned to observe Melora for a moment then turned to Wiley. “I need you to go to the warehouse behind the shop and collect the things inside. Bring them out to the compound but try not to let anyone see you there. I’m calling everyone in for a meeting. I want a show of power when this Mountain gets there. Did Gator say how many were with this guy?”
Wiley nodded. “Yeah, Mountain said he had a party of ten with him. He also said to tell you, he didn’t want any trouble he just wanted our help.”
Deke wondered what the other man wanted but he needed to get the girl back first. He couldn’t take any chances on getting caught out in the open until he talked to Raven and cleared things up with him. “Start the calling tree and we’ll meet at the clubhouse. Collect her things first and bring them with you. I want no sign of her at the warehouse in case Whiskey or the other Ghosts can find where she’s been staying.”
Sam walked over to Melora and grasped her by the arm. “Come on darlin’ let’s get you under wraps till we can figure this out.” He turned to Deke. “I’ll take her to the compound and meet you back there.”
Deke nodded. “Let’s hope nothing happens until after we talk to Raven.”
~* * * *~
Twenty minutes later, Deke met them back at the compound. The compound was on lockdown until after the meeting with the man named Mountain. They didn’t know what or who he was after but Deke didn’t want trouble.
Everyone was still gathering but there were enough of them here to let them in, to parley.
Deke and Gator sat at the head table, their guns in front of them. Iceman and Sam were sitting at different tables but they were both watching. Deke made eye contact with his father and noted the woman Melora was sitting next to him.
She kept her head down and wasn’t looking at anyone. It seemed almost as if she didn’t want any attention.
This behavior made Deke curious about what else she might be hiding.
The entire room went silent as Wiley led the members of Los Hijos de Diablo inside.
The lead man was huge, at least six foot eight and close to four hundred pounds. He wasn’t a fat man, all his body weight was pure muscle. His hair was long and a startling white, caught back in a ponytail, it hung well past his shoulder blades. He wore sunglasses atop his head. He was dressed in jeans and a red t-shirt under his leather jacket, heavy boots and his club’s cut.
It was only when he got closer, Deke could see the unusual color of his eyes. They were almost violet, not blue or green or brown but violet
. He froze and glanced over the girl beside his father.
She still didn’t look up.
What the hell was going on here? Deke knew there was more here than met the eye, so to speak.
The patch on his cut said he was President of his club and he walked confidently to the table where Deke and Gator sat. His men took position behind him but they made no movement that could be taken as aggressive. They simple stood there waiting. He could see they were all armed but their hands hung down at their sides.
Deke got to his feet and held out his hand.
Mountain shook it then sat down.
Deke poured them a drink.
Mountain took the glass and tipped it down his throat.
Deke did the same and then asked, “So tell me, what brings you guys all the way to New York?” Deke asked. “I understand you hail from Texas.”
Mountain nodded. “Our chapter is from Sabine Pass, actually. It’s a small town on the Texas/ Louisiana border.” He tipped his glass on the table and circled it before he spoke again, “I’m actually looking for someone who may be in your area.”
“And who would that be?”
“My kid,” Mountain admitted. “Actually, I’m not real sure where she is, so I’m reaching out to the MC brotherhood to help me find her.”
“I don’t understand.”
Mountain sighed. “Up until four years ago, I didn’t know I even had a kid, then some lawyer from Chicago got in touch with me and told me I had a daughter. In a letter, my ex- girlfriend sent gave me proof the girl was mine. Her mother said that if I ever got the letter she was dead and she was hoping I would reach out and find my daughter. The lawyer said she went through the foster system but she took off eight years ago when she was sixteen. He also said no one had seen her since then. I was able to find her trail and track her as far as North Carolina but lost her two years ago. Haven’t had any word since then, so I’m going through the clubs in the area to see if they can help me find her.”
~ * * * *~
When Sam heard Mountain’s story, he turned and stared at Melora.
She wouldn’t look at him or anyone else in the room. Her face was frozen but it showed no emotion at all.
He turned back to the main table and watched as Deke and Mountain talked softly.
“Why did your old lady wait so long to tell you about your kid?” Deke asked.
“She didn’t know where I was,” he explained. “We were only together for a short time, something like a week. She didn’t know how to contact me and it took several years after she died for the lawyer to find me.”
“Do you know what your daughter looks like?” Deke finally asked after a long moment of silence.
Mountain reached inside his cut and pulled out a photo. “This is an old photo and she’s only a kid but she can’t have changed much.” He handed the photo over to Deke.
It showed a small kid with her dad’s white hair and violet eyes. She was small and thin. The picture was taken in a park somewhere but it was hard to say exactly where the park was. It didn’t show anything else and there was no one else in the small picture.
“This could be anyone,” Deke noted. “Does she have any scars or birth marks?”
“The attorney told me she got a tattoo when she was sixteen and still in foster care. She had to lie about her age but she got a small pink rose on her left shoulder.” He shrugged. “I was lead to believe she left the system shortly after that and was living on the streets since then. The attorney didn’t know where she was but someone from my club found her trail over the years. I was able to track her movement at least for a little while. Then I lost her again, two years ago, as I said earlier.”
“What’s her name?”
“Her birth certificate says it’s Merry Loran Shaw. I’m not sure what name she goes by now.”
“How long are you guys in town for in case we do see her?”
“We’ll be here for another three days.” Mountain shook his head. “I hope I can find her soon. I know she may not want to find me but I just need the chance to know her, even if it’s only for a short time. I just need to know she’s all right.”
“Where can we reach you if we find her?” Deke asked as he got to his feet.
Mountain stood and passed him a card. “You can reach me at that phone number any time. We have to go home pretty soon but I can come back if I need to. Like I said before, I’m not looking to start any kind of trouble I just want to find my kid. I would appreciate any help you could give me.”
His men turned and began to walk toward the door when one of them turned his head and caught Melora’s eyes. He gasped and cocked his head to study her. She was staring at Mountain and wasn’t paying attention to anyone else. It was by accident the other man saw her at all. He stopped and stared at her.
When Mountain turned, he saw his man staring at someone a few tables down. Turning his head, he caught the stare of the young woman sitting there. His eyes narrowed as he stared at her. Then Mountain changed his course and began walking toward her.
Melora lowered her face but Mountain kept coming toward her. He stopped in front of her and leaned closer. Reaching out, he lifted her face to his and stared at her. Violet eyes met violet eyes and Mountain searched her face for something familiar he might recognize in her.
Then he reached out and pushed her shirt off her shoulder. When he could see the small pink rose on her skin he whispered, “Merry?”
Melora closed her eyes and shook her head slightly. She refused to say anything.
Sam got to his feet and laid a hand on her shoulder.
Mountain turned to stare at the older man. Neither of them said a word and eventually, Mountain turned and began walking toward the front door. His men fell in line behind him.
It was only when they were gone that anyone moved. Sam grabbed her arm and hauled her to her feet.
Deke, Gator and Iceman led the way while Sam and Melora followed them back to Deke’s office.
Only when the door closed behind them did Deke speak, “So who exactly are you?”
Melora shrugged. “My name is Melora.”
“Let me rephrase that, what name did your mother give you when you were born?”
“I think you know,” she whispered still not looking at anyone in the room.
“You had white hair as a child.”
“Still do,” Melora admitted. Reaching up she took the wig off and her natural hair fell out. Her braid fell down her back and everyone was stunned to see how long it was. It fell almost to the floor. It looked light blonde silk.
The men in the room all stared at her for a long silent moment.
“Why didn’t you step forward when he was still here?” Sam asked as he also her stared at her hair.
Melora glared at him. “I don’t know that man from Adam and I’ve learned many hard lessons about keeping my identity to myself.” She grabbed the wig and began stuffing her long silky strands back up into it.
“I hardly think he’s looking to hurt you,” Iceman stated. “He just wants to find you.”
“You all heard what he said as clear as I did,” Melora argued. “He only knew my mother about a week, what makes you think he wants to know me at all? I’m nothing to him.”
“He says he’s been looking for you for four years,” Deke reminded her.
“Yeah, and it took a lawyer a hell of a lot longer to find him.” Melora scoffed. “My mother died when I was ten. Where the hell was he those missing ten years?”
“You could always ask him,” Sam suggested.
“I don’t really care one way or the other.” She shrugged. “It was his choice to leave my mother all those years ago, now he can just stay gone. I don’t need him or want him in my life. I’ve been alone for a while now and that suits me just fine.”
“He’s your father,” Deke stated quietly.
Melora hung her head and shook it. “No he’s just a man that screwed my mom at the right time for me to be born nine months late
r. He didn’t stick around then, and I don’t need him in my life now.” She turned and walked away closing the door behind her.
After a few minutes, Gator commented, “Well, that went well, don’t you think?”
Deke pushed his fingers through his hair. “I don’t think we’ve seen the last of him, do you?”
Sam snorted. “Not likely. He knows she’s here now and I don’t think he’s leaving just yet.”
“Would you?” Gator asked. “Could you really walk away from a kid you never knew existed if you finally found her after four long years of looking for her?”
“Not fuckin likely.” Iceman growled. Looking over at Deke he asked, “So what are you going to do about this?”
Deke barked a laugh. “You don’t know what else is going on here man. That girl is running from four members of the Ghosts of Dixie. One of whom is a murderer and is looking for her to kill her.”
“Are you fuckin serious?” Iceman asked.
CHAPTER FIVE
“Dead serious,” Deke admitted. “The only problem is Raven doesn’t know about it, or at least I don’t think he does.”
“This girl is nothing but trouble,” Iceman argued. “Do we really need this kind of headache right now?”
“No but we don’t have a choice,” Deke replied. “I can’t turn a kid like her out on the streets with the problems she has. Cassie would kill me.”
Iceman winced. “I hear that, Peaches would do the same to me.”
Gator shook his head with a smile. “Damn Bones…” He looked over at Sam. “…When trouble looks for you, it lands big, don’t it?”
Sam grunted and gave him a glare but he mostly ignored his old friend. Then he disappeared for a moment and when he came back, he brought Melora with him. “We all need to understand what’s going on here.” He held her hand, so she would have no choice but to stay.
“What is this evidence you told us about?” Deke asked her.
Melora glared at him then brought out her phone. She flipped through the buttons and found the video she was looking for. Then she handed it to Deke.