by K Harris
“You good bro?” Torrent asked. We were now in the back of one of the vans making a mad dash out of town.
Thanks to our eye in the sky, any distress signals sent out were intercepted so no police would be dispatched to that area until we were far enough away. The knock off reported back that no innocent people were injured in our middle of the night attack. Once she got the kids in a waiting rental driven by Dame, she was to hide and appear with every other onlooker that lived nearby. According to her, the other tenants were shaken up and scared but unharmed. Since the bastard thought himself to be a kingpin or boss, he dedicated the entire third floor to him and his goons. The second floor was set up as the lab and the bottom was the selling point. In retrospect, we cured the area of some bad seeds, not just this abused wife and mother.
“I’m good.” I hissed as I removed my shirt.
“You sure? I don’t want to hear my sisters’ mouth if something is seriously wrong with you.”
“Is that your way of letting me know that Destiny cares about my wellbeing?”
“You know that girl cares, kill that shit.”
“Yeah, but does she care enough to forgive me for being an idiot?”
“With this new war wound, I say maybe you need to use it to your advantage. Sympathy or pity affection, you better take what you can get.” He chuckled.
“Nah, that shit is temporary – I want a lifetime.”
“So, what are you trying to say?”
“I think you know exactly what I’m saying.”
“Get that wound tended to, we will talk. I gotta check in with my woman or I will be stuck in the doghouse for making her worry.”
“Handle your business.” Maybe one day soon, I will have someone I need to check in with after a life-threatening mission. At this point, one can only hope that is what a future for me and my Destiny will hold.
Chapter 20
Cage
Either our last interaction spooked Dez or she could have possibly moved on for real. It’s been over two weeks since I returned from the dangerous mission. Where I anticipated seeing her face, she had other plans as she avoided me like the plague again. When others were around, she was front and center. If the room got a little thin, she would make up any excuse to disappear. It got to a point where I stopped trying to engage her altogether. Considering that maybe she just needed some time to adjust to being back or get acquainted with her new responsibilities – I removed myself from the equation.
In order to alleviate her stress, I did my best to steer clear and make myself scarce when it was clear that she didn’t want me around. We remained cordial when around everyone but there was no longer any one-on-one interaction between us. The paperwork for the house was handled electronically before she returned but if she needed anything else, Wood was the go-to person. To keep myself occupied, I tended to the club business, the businesses that belonged to me and sparingly worked at the construction site. This day our paths collided but only because I was called, and I could see the tension radiating all around her.
“You good?” I thought that she heard me approach but apparently, she hadn’t from the way she reacted.
“Damn, light walker much.” She snapped. “What was that?”
“I asked were you good, but I can see that you aren’t. What’s wrong?”
“Eve was dumb as a sack of rocks, that is what’s wrong,” she scowled and cringed. “I have too much work to do to be disabled right now.”
“Disabled? Eve? You are on one for sure,” I lightly chuckled.
“You think this shit is funny.” She cut her eyes at me and if looks could kill. “Why don’t you try to focus while fighting the urge to ball up in a corner and cry. How about bleeding like a pig that was stuck by a sharp ass machete. Or feeling like your insides are being ripped out by Jason Vorhees, Friday the 13th my ass, try a bitch’s monthly cycle.” Dez ranted so hard I wanted to pluck my ears out. Hell, I didn’t know whether to laugh at the shit she said or run for the hills.
“Cage get the fuck away from me. I can see you fighting the urge to laugh.”
“Man, if you heard the shit you just spewed you would be fighting the urge to laugh too.”
“Ain’t shit to laugh at, I’m so damn worn out – I can’t even see straight. Let alone think about what just left my mouth, I probably couldn’t even repeat half of it.”
“Destiny, why don’t you go home and lay down?”
“I have too much work to do. I don’t have time…”
“Pause, you don’t have a time clock that you have to punch and you damn sure don’t have anyone to answer to. Carry your ass on somewhere. This shit will still be here when you get back, trust.”
“I can’t,” she whined.
“Why?” I mocked.
“Don’t mock me Cage,” she frowned. “I have shit to do.”
“How much are you really going to get done with this huge chip on your shoulder or wedge between your legs, whichever. You are forcing and stressing yourself out. That can only lead to hurting yourself in the long run, wouldn’t you say.”
“Listen, go home take some pain meds and lay it down for a few. You never know, you may feel better. Working with a clear head will probably be more beneficial in the long run.”
“Maybe you’re right,” she sighed.
“You need a ride home, or can you manage without running some innocent male bystander off the road because he can’t relate.”
“Don’t push me Cage or you will be that bystander.” I held my hands up and backed away at that threat. “See you later,” she grabbed her things and left.
“She finally going home to get some rest?” Black poked his head out from the back.
“Yeah,” I answered.
“Thanks for coming. She was acting like a fire breathing dragon.”
“Her little bitty ass had y’all asses hiding in the back and shit.”
“Man, she has been complaining since she walked in and stressing over the smallest shit. One time, I thought I saw her swipe at her eyes and sniffle. That shit is not my forte and she ain’t my woman.”
“She ain’t mine either, what’s your point?”
“Whatever you say, Prez? Thanks again, now we can get some work done.”
“You need me?”
“Nah, you good. We got it from here.”
“Cool, I will see you later. Hit me if you need me to kill a spider next, punks.” I chuckled as the other men in the spot laughed.
“I’ll be that,” Black shouted to my back. Dez must have done a number on these big burly ass men if they had to call me to get her out of there. She certainly gave me an ear full.
~
“Cage?” Dez answered the door in an oversized t-shirt and shorts. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to check on you. See if you were feeling better,” I shrugged. “You still want to kill every man in sight.”
“Depends, did you come over here just to make fun of me?”
“No, actually I came bearing gifts.”
“Gifts? Unless you have…ooh, food.” Her stomach growled lowly as she blushed from embarrassment.
“Can I assume that I am right on time?’
“I recognize that smell, do I smell wings?”
“Depends, can I come in or do I have to give the password first?”
“What kind of wings and did you bring anything to drink?”
“Lemon pepper wings, wet and I grabbed some beer.”
“Password accepted, access granted and all that good shit.”
“Lemon wings and lime beer, yummy.”
“I take it you are pleased. For now, that is,” I chuckled at the delight she is getting from this meal.
“Yes, thank you, Cage.” She sincerely stated.
“No problem.”
“Not just for the food, for everything. I know I was probably a huge bitch today to anyone who crossed my path. And you still saw fit to feed me.” We laughed at that. “I didn’t feel
like doing shit besides taking a long hot shower and laying it down with some strong ass pain killers.”
“It’s all good.”
“And the house?” She questioned which shocked me speechless. “My dad let it slip that this was your parents’ house. He didn’t know that I was unaware.”
“I wasn’t trying to be underhanded or anything.”
“I know and I’m not accusing you of anything like that. I just wanted to make you aware that I knew who the owners were. Why don’t you or Wood live here?”
“Right now, I have no need for a family home. My apartment at the clubhouse suits me just fine.”
“Understandable, you do have fires to put out and that requires you to be on the premises.”
“Have you gotten settled in?”
“I’m getting there.” She smiled more to herself than me. “There are only a few things that I still have to get.”
“Anything that I can help you find?”
“No, I think all will fall into place when it’s meant to.”
“That’s not cryptic at all,” I chuckled and got comfortable on the couch. We were seated in the living room in front of the TV. Some show was playing but we weren’t paying any attention as we pretty much watched each other.
“Cage, what happened to your arm?” She suddenly asked.
“It’s nothing,” I deflected and tried to change the subject by asking about the show she turned on.
“No sir, you will not distract me or change the subject. A white bandage on your arm can’t be described as nothing without explanation. If it were a tattoo you simply would have said so, plus you were already covered there.”
“It’s nothing to worry about, is that better?”
“Hell no.” She scowled and gingerly touched the area where I was recently grazed. It was healing good, actually, it was pretty close to being completely healed. Aside from a little reddening and scabbing, I kept it covered, for the most part, to keep anything from getting in there and causing an infection. “Does it have anything to do with the last emergency mission you and Torrent had to go on? Cage just tell me the truth.”
“Yes Dez, a bullet grazed my arm. Happy?”
“No, I’m not happy, really?”
“I didn’t mean it to say that you were happy I was shot,” I gripped her hand in mine. Fooling with Destiny, I often stepped out of my normal.
“I know but why didn’t you say anything?”
“There was nothing to say Dez, this isn’t something that I want to broadcast to the world. Plus, last I checked you don’t particularly like being around me for long periods of time anymore. I’m surprised you haven’t kicked me out.”
“It’s not that I don’t want to be around you Cage, it’s the exact opposite actually. I just can’t lose myself in you and that’s what I tend to do whenever you are near. I’m working on myself and building myself up – you are a distraction if I’m being honest.” Damn that hurt to hear her say. “Though you are a good friend, we kind of overstepped that threshold one time too many. Now, I’m trying to figure out how to separate the two.” Before I could respond to that statement or she could say more, her phone rang. The name I peeped on the screen caused that jealousy bug to surface once again. It would appear that this dude had a tracking device on her. Whenever we were together, he would call.
“Hey you, what’s up?” She answered. “Nothing just hanging, what do you have going on?” At her question of his whereabouts and the omission of me being there stung.
“Wait, hold on. Cage, you don’t have to leave?” She said.
“Nah you good,” I said and proceeded to put my jacket back on.
“Yes Ethan, Cage is here. He stopped by to check on me. That’s another story altogether, hold on.”
“See you around Dez,” I said before leaving. You win some, you lose some – shit I don’t know if I ever had another shot, to be honest.
Chapter 21
Dez
Ever since Cage left out of my house, there was something nagging at me that he had something on his mind. Every time we have come in contact with one another, the tension between us has been thick. Sadly, I couldn’t decipher whether it was coming from extreme horniness or if it were something deeper. For me, it was something deeper, but I wasn’t sure where Cage stood. From what he has been showing me lately, there is something else on his mind than just ass. Then again, I could be conjuring up what I want to see and not what truly exists.
Either way, I couldn’t keep harping over what has or has not been said where we are concerned. Tonight is the grand reopening of the brand-new sports bar officially known as The Wolf’s Den Sports Bar & Grille. The remodel was completed, and the place was very inviting. From the flat screens around the room, a billiards area, down to the lounge section for those that just wanted to hang – it was a nice place. Even though everyone would frequent the bar with its rustic feel before the remodel, it still resembled a dive bar of sorts. With the new décor, it was inviting to both men and women whether they were together or not.
Since the Lady Knight Rydas have become official, we grew from a group of five to an easy twenty ladies. Many that joined were old ladies of the Knights and that was appreciated on my behalf. They were welcoming and seemed excited to jump-start an organization again. There was no prospecting process in our club. All we wanted were women down with some sisterhood and unity amongst us. The hate and extra foolery could stay on the block, we didn’t have time for that. When it came time to discuss roles and positions in the club, they didn’t waste a moment in voicing their thoughts of me being the president.
Still, I didn’t understand why they promoted me to that position, but I accepted. Behind me there was Syd as the VP, Tanisha agreed to be the Road Captain for all intents and purposes of being a legit organization. Plus, she stated her need to have my immediate back alongside Syd while making sure that we ride in style at all times – whatever that consisted of would soon be determined. And the other ladies agreed. Debra and Deloris wanted to share the role of secretary while another old lady by the name of Heaven offered to be the treasurer. It didn’t hurt that she was the actual bank manager at the Lincoln Folks Credit Union.
Because this was a community event, many of the hang-arounds were sniffing around trying to figure out what we had going on. The order for our vests was in the works but we wore matching t-shirts with our new logo on the back as a show of solidarity for Syd. Though we didn’t snub our noses at anyone, our little group formed thus far from word of mouth. Women were whispering to other women who they hung with while the Knights’ that supported us wanted their women to have a place to hang freely. If they expected some kind of special invitation, they were up shit creek because that shit wasn’t happening. Though we weren’t funny acting, we weren’t begging for members either. You must come into the fold with a humble spirit or you could keep stepping.
Little did they know, we weren’t a threat to them whatsoever. Fucking the brothers was the furthest thing on our minds besides the women that were already attached to a member. The funky looks that we have gotten here and there was unwarranted, but it was whatever. None of us paid much attention to it but we let it be known that it would be wise of them to keep it pushing without making a scene. If they wanted smoke, we could damn sure stoke the fire.
“Miss Prez,” Tingles shot down my spine hearing his voice. Will my reaction ever change where he is concerned?
“Mr. Prez,” I returned his greeting.
“Congratulations,” he sincerely stated and went in for a hug. As soon as my front hit his, I melted into him as if I were a hot marshmallow over a roasted fire.
“Thank you.” I cooed from both his congratulations and the warm but firm hug. When we pulled apart, we just stared at each other. It was clear that we both had something to say but where did we start, was there ever going to be a good time.
“You look like you have something on your mind.” He released his bottom lip from his teeth and swip
ed it with his thumb. Damn it, why did he have to be so fine?
“The same could be said for you.”
“There is a lot on my mind.”
“Same,” I bit my lip just thinking about how his felt.
“Don’t do that.” The serious look on his face caused me to arch my brow in question.
“Do what?”
“Bite down on your lip.”
“Why? I can always apply more lip gloss.” I smirked.
“I could give a fuck about your chocolate mint lip gloss that you always wear.”
“Your memory is something else.”
“Only to what’s important.”
“My lips, important?”
“Most definitely.”
“What about the owner of the lips?”
“You already know the answer to that.”
“Do I really?”
“If not, then maybe I haven’t achieved my goal yet.”
“And what goal is that?”
“You will see soon.”
“Cryptic much,” I smirked.
“I’ll catch you later.”
“Later,” I watched him interact with everyone else in the room. My feet wouldn’t move until I was nudged.
“Lovesick slutty kitty – why are you standing here like a statue?” Nix poked me in the side.
“Why I gotta be a slutty kitty?”
“Cause I know that you are a hidden freak for that big silverback gorilla walking around here. Keep unleashing that jungle cat on his big ass and I bet my best night tips that he will be fighting to tame and claim that ass. He is already sprung on your Laffy taffy toting ass.”
“I’m not playing with your ass tonight.” I laughed and walked towards the group.
“Look at all that jungle booty in that skirt, we are gonna look up and see thunder cat stamped across his back.”