I shouldn’t have been saying this to Dash. I didn’t know him at all. But I’d been getting really good vibes from him all day. Besides, if Oz trusted him, then I knew I could too.
“I understand. I’m sure it’s not easy for you to adjust to this, but if there is one thing I can tell you—it is that none of the women under the protection of the MC have gotten hurt. We make it our first priority to keep our own safe. Even over our own lives. But still, if this is not something you want, then you shouldn’t do it. I’m sure Oz is concerned about your happiness too.”
I gulped and stared at Dash nervously.
“It’s weird for me to say this to you, or anyone actually, but I’ve been happiest when I was with Oz. And despite everything that’s happened, breaking up with him is the hardest thing I’ve had to do,” I said.
Dash nodded his head.
“I’m sure you’ll figure it out,” he added. I smiled and got up from the seat.
“I’m going out to the back for my lunch hour. You don’t have to stick around here the whole time. Take a break,” I said. Dash shook his head.
“I’m not going anywhere,” he replied, and I waved at him quickly as I walked away. Once again, I acknowledged how relieved I was that Dash was here with me through the day. Maybe he was right…maybe I really had nothing to worry about…
Melody was waiting for me at the back of the diner with our sandwiches. Thankfully, she’d managed to shoo away Grace and some of the others, so it was only the two of us there.
“How are you feeling, hun?” she asked.
“I think I’m okay now, at least I’m not nauseous,” I told her. Melody was watching me closely. It seemed like she was more afraid for me than I was.
“That’s good…but what about the rest. Is it his?”
I looked up at her with a snap. How could she even ask me that? Of course it was his! Who else could it be? Melody saw the look on my face and her eyes softened.
“I didn’t mean to offend you, Kaya, I just wanted to be sure. I didn’t want to make assumptions.”
“I’m sorry. I’m not trying to be rude. It’s probably just these hormones that have made me so emotional…the slightest thing seems to set me off,” I told her and tried to smile.
“It gets easier…I’m not speaking through personal experience of course. But that is what everyone says. The first few weeks are probably going to be terrifying and nervous,” she said. I nodded.
“I am terrified and nervous. I didn’t realize it could even happen so quickly. I wasn’t thinking straight. We didn’t use protection in the heat of the moment…and I mustn’t have realized I was ovulating,” I told her. Melody nodded along.
“Well, it’s early days still. Probably a few weeks,” she said.
“But I want this!” I snapped, surprising myself. I wanted to keep this baby.
“That is not what I meant. I know you do,” she said defensively and I took in a deep breath to calm myself.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do, Mel. I feel a little all over the place. And with what’s going on with the rival MC…and the way things are between Oz and me.”
Melody moved over closer to me.
“You are going to tell him, right?” she asked. I looked at her blankly and blinked.
“I’m not sure what I’m going to do,” I said.
“But hun, he has the right to know he’s going to be a dad,” Melody insisted. I nodded my head because I agreed. Of course, Oz had the right to know. Especially since he wasn’t the one who wanted it to end—I was the one who had put an end to our relationship. Whatever kind of relationship it was.
“I just don’t know if he wants to know,” I said.
“What are you talking about?”
“I just don’t think Oz is the kind of guy who wants to have kids, now or in the future. I’m not even sure if he wants me in his life permanently. I have no idea how he’ll react if I tell him I’m pregnant.”
“But that is up to you to find out. You have to do the right thing and at least give him a choice.”
I looked away from my friend. Everything Melody was saying, was right. I knew that, but I was just too afraid of rejection. Especially of my baby being rejected.
While I spoke to her, my hand lifted up instinctively to my belly and I stroked it. I knew the baby was smaller than the size of a seed right now, but I could still feel it inside me. Melody saw the gesture and a soft smile spread on her face.
“You love this thing already, don’t you?” she asked. I could have burst into tears again. I felt so emotional.
“I do. I know it sounds silly, and I only found out a few hours ago, but I’m going to be a mom. Nothing in the world can replace that feeling. And right now, I can’t think about anything other than the safety and welfare of the child growing inside me.”
Melody and I hugged. She was emotional too.
“You don’t ever have to do this alone, hun. I’m going to be here. Even if this kid doesn’t have a dad, it’s going to have me,” she said and we laughed and hugged again.
“I wish things could be different with Oz, but they’re not and I don’t know what to do. I miss him. I wish I could tell him about the baby…but this is not the time and I don’t know when it will ever be.”
We ate our sandwiches together and talked some more. It was too soon to start making plans, but despite myself, I could start feeling myself getting excited.
Until today, I hadn’t realized I even wanted to be a mother. But now I realized how happy the thought made me. I wouldn’t have to be alone. I would have someone to look after and love. If only I could share it with Oz…but I had no idea what he wanted.
After lunch, I saw Dash still sitting at the booth, watching me closely as I worked. I went over to him with his fourth coffee of the day.
“You should eat something, Dash,” I told him, in a mock scolding voice.
“I’m not exactly hungry right now. Besides, food will make me sluggish,” he claimed.
“So, you’re saying you’re some kind of superhuman who can go the whole day just on coffee and pancakes?” I asked with a laugh and he shrugged his shoulders.
“Watch me,” he joked and we smiled together. The more I was getting to know Dash, the more I could see why Oz trusted him. I totally trusted him, too, right now.
“Well, you know where to find me when you’re hungry. I really do appreciate you doing this,” I said.
“No need to thank me. Oz is concerned for you, which means I’m concerned for your safety as well,” he reminded me. I was about to walk away, but Dash had seen something over my shoulder. Before I could turn around, he made a grab for my wrist and pulled me down.
I fell with a thud on the booth seat beside him.
“What’s going on?” I asked. Dash bent low, pulling me down with him.
“It’s the guys from the Dark Legion,” he hissed. Panic gripped my heart. My first instinct was to clutch my belly. Keeping low, I turned and saw the men. The four guys from the Dark Legion were there at the door, looking around, but they weren’t alone. There were a few other men with them, but I didn’t recognize them or the leather cuts they were wearing.
My voice was shaky as I turned to Dash. He was slipping his gun out.
“Who are the other guys?” I asked, while he cocked his gun.
“They’re from another MC. Another rival gang, The Hell’s Drifters. They must be working with the Dark Legion on this.”
Dash had his eyes on them. He was biding time. Trying to come up with a plan for what to do. Ultimately, as brave and strong as he was—Dash was the only one against a handful of them.
I was breathing hard with fear.
“What’s going to happen?” I murmured. He looked at me and saw how scared I was.
“I’m going to handle it till my backup shows up. We weren’t expecting them to make an appearance so soon. We were hoping they would lie low for a few more days,” Dash hissed.
I stared at him. My
heart was racing in my chest. What was I going to do? I looked around for Melody, but she was nowhere in sight.
Instinctually I knew I would do anything to protect the baby growing inside me.
“Dash, I have to tell you something. Oz doesn’t know,” I said. He looked at me again with crossed brows.
“I’m pregnant. I found out today when I was feeling sick. The baby is his, of course,” I said. Dash’s expression went from confusion to sudden realization. He clenched his jaw and I could sense he knew his responsibility had doubled right now.
“You shouldn’t worry, Kaya, I’m going to get you out of this. Nothing will happen to you or Oz’s baby,” he said.
I wanted to believe him. I wanted to trust him. Just minutes ago, I trusted him…but now with imminent danger, the only person I could trust was Oz. And he was not here.
I needed him.
Our baby needed him.
29
Oz
Church was over when I heard the sound of the bikes roaring past T-Bone. The rest of the MC had gone back to work, and only a few of us still remained at the bar.
The others were deep in conversation and busy cursing the Dark Legion, but my ears pricked up. I stood up from the bar stool and went over to the window to look outside.
Of course, those bikes could have belonged to anyone, but this was the perfect excuse for me to look out at the diner. Hoping to catch a glimpse of Kaya.
But instead of Kaya, I saw the bikes parked outside the diner and I knew.
“They’re here!” I shouted, pulling out my gun. The others looked over at me while I ran out. Girth, Rodeo and Abe were following me out. Some cars whizzed by before I could cross the street. My brothers followed me as I kicked open the door of the diner and burst in.
My gut was right. Those bikes belonged to the Dark Legion, but not them alone. The Hell’s Drifters were there, too. Six in total, and three of them were holding guns pointed at three people.
Kaya, Dash and Kaya’s friend, Melody.
“Guns down!” one of the guys from the Hell’s Drifters growled when we came in. Girth, Abe and Rodeo were behind me and stepped up. I couldn’t drag my stare away from Kaya.
One of the Dark Legions had her wrist in his hand. She was pulling her arm, trying to yank herself free, but then she saw me and stopped moving.
How the fuck had this happened?
How did we not have any intel on this?
Dash was in the middle, standing with his hands up in the air. There was a deep gash on his forehead. Clearly, he’d put up a fight. There was blood gushing down the side of his face. His gun was kicked out away from him.
In just a matter of a few minutes, since I heard the bikes, so much had happened.
If only I were here instead of Dash, then maybe I could have done something.
If only Kaya would have let me stay close to her.
She was crying. Her eyes were bloodshot and her beautiful curls were matted to her face.
The others at the diner were all sitting stock-still on their seats. A waitress and the rest of the kitchen staff were huddled behind the counter. Nobody had dared to call the cops or raise the alarm. Everyone in this neighborhood was aware of the consequences of pulling a stunt like that.
“Let the women go,” I growled as I lowered my gun.
Under any other circumstances, I wouldn’t have bothered to listen to their command. But now that Kaya was involved, I was willing to do anything to keep her safe, even if that included lowering my weapon.
“What makes you think we’re going to listen to a word you have to say, pretty boy?” It was one of the Dark Legion members who had spoken up now. I didn’t know him. He’d spent too much time in hiding.
I took a step towards them, and Melody started whimpering.
“You got us in here, so now we can talk. Leave the women out of this,” I tried again and the guy narrowed his eyes. He was standing to the side of Kaya, and took his gun out of his belt.
“Every step you take towards me, I take a step towards her. And don’t make me tell you what happens when I get to her,” he hissed, and I stopped in my tracks. “And who says we got what we wanted? The Cubans belong with us, not with you fuckers. Along with the rest of the territory you gained.”
“And you think we’re just going to hand our business over to you?” Rodeo growled behind me.
“No. You’re going to hand it to us in exchange for this precious little thing,” he replied, snarling at Kaya. It made my blood boil, to see her in shock, so scared. She was doing a good job of not breaking down. I stared at her and she stared right back at me.
“We can talk shop once you let them go,” I tried again and this time the guy laughed.
“You really think we’re idiots?”
“Well, you have been living under a rock for a year now,” I retorted, which made Girth, Dash and Abe smirk. But it pissed the Dark Legion off. They didn’t like being made fun of. Especially not now when they felt like they had control of the situation.
“Quit your jokes and give us what we want, pretty boy!” the guy continued and I took in a deep breath.
“Okay, we give you what you want, but you need to let go of the women first,” I tried again.
“We can stand here and chitter chatter for hours all you like, boy, but that ain’t gonna happen. I can see you’re more concerned about this one here than your business. So, if you want her back and alive, you’re going to give us what we want or she stays with us.”
He’d stepped up closer to Kaya now, and she continued to stare at me.
“That is not going to happen.”
Rodeo was standing his ground. Lewis was not going to be a fan if we just handed over territory and contacts to them. But right now, I didn’t care about any of that because Kaya was involved.
“If we did that, it would take time. And we’re not going to start the process unless we know you’re sticking to your end of the bargain,” I said.
“Oz!” Rodeo growled, but before he could add anything to that, a gun went off. The Dark Legion asshole had shot his gun in the air.
We all had our weapons out and pointed at them. All six of them were pointing their weapons at us too. The only way we could outnumber them right now was if Lewis got the rest of our MC back here in time.
“Enough with the pleasantries. Turn around, walk out, and get us what we want. If not, we start shooting these kids one by one. Starting with your girlfriend.” He was looking straight at me and I clutched the gun harder in my hand.
What was I capable of doing if he harmed Kaya? If he even touched her?
I didn’t have an answer to that question.
“Get the fuck out of this place and get us what we want!” he growled again.
I wasn’t thinking. All I saw, was red. All I saw was his hand reaching out towards Kaya’s shoulder. Her lips were trembling. He was touching her now and I squeezed. The trigger pulled and a bullet shot out of my gun. It struck a knee. The knee of the guy who was holding onto Kaya.
Chaos broke loose and there was gunfire everywhere. I ducked, trying to run towards Kaya, but a bullet caught my leg and slowed me down. I had no idea who was shooting at whom anymore. All I could see was Kaya, and the Dark Legion motherfucker who was holding her now.
She was screaming. She was struggling to get free from him.
Then, I saw Melody. She had broken free from her captor and she dived towards Kaya, but the man shot her. Her scream was deafening. Or was it Kaya who screamed?
I tried to run towards them, but it was Girth holding me back.
“You step anywhere close to her, and he’s going to shoot her next!” he whispered hoarsely in my ear.
Melody fell in a slump on the ground. The guy released his grip on Kaya and she fell down on the floor, covering her friend’s body with herself.
“You monster!” she screamed. Abe, Girth, Rodeo and I had no choice but to hold back. The five of them were standing guard over Melody and Kaya.
>
One of them stepped forward and tried to pull Kaya away and she screamed and kicked at him.
“Let her do what she wants to do,” the Dark Legion guy said.
Melody was shot in the shoulder and was lying on the ground staring up at the ceiling. If she got medical attention in time, she would make it. But I didn’t know if they were going to let her out.
Kaya was screaming and crying. I wanted to get to her, but Girth was right. They wouldn’t let me get anywhere close to her.
“Apply pressure on her wound!” I shouted. Kaya looked at me over her shoulder.
“Oz, we have to help her!” she sobbed, placing her hands on Melody’s shoulder.
The others were just standing there in silence, watching the scene that was unfolding.
“You’ve fucking hurt an innocent woman!” Rodeo raged. The Dark Legion leader turned to us now.
“None of this would have happened if pretty boy hadn’t pulled the trigger,” he spat.
“She needs to go to the hospital,” I said, trying to keep my voice calm.
“And we need our power back,” he retorted.
“We’ll do it,” I said.
“Oz!” Rodeo snarled behind me.
“Let them go. Let the two of them go, right now!” I was speaking directly to the asshole, while he stared back at me.
“And why should I believe a word you’re saying?” he asked and I gritted my teeth in anger.
“Because you are right. I will do anything to keep her safe,” I said.
There was a silence in the diner now. I could sense Rodeo raging behind me. He was not happy with the deal I was striking with them now. The difference between us and them, was that if we struck a deal—any of us—the Marked Skulls was going to be bound by it. We never went back on a promise, and everyone knew it.
“Good. So we keep her alive, and you get us what we want,” he continued.
“Wrong. You let them both go and then I get you what you want.”
Marked Skulls MC Series: Books 1-5 Page 55