Finding Me: Dominant Devils Book Three

by H. M. Stewart

  From the information that was pulled together two things were at the top of the list to hash out. The house in Myrtle Beach would need to be checked out while Happy would needed to dig deeper into the financials. He already was trying to cross-check what he had dug up with what his boy put together. After everything that transpired the night before with the fire as the latest strike against the club, thankfully a few of the brothers from the Rowensville charter decided to hang around. The club voted to put them to use by sending them up to check into the house in Myrtle Beach and the few bars Charlie’s credit card statement showed she liked to visit. Maybe even see the bitch in action. Throttle was planning on throwing together a bundle of cameras to hide around the house to keep tabs on the traffic in and out of there as well. Happy would be setting up alerts with Charlie’s and Derek’s cards to track them while planting some computer virus in the server at Seacrest. However, the fuck that works.

  “Now that we’re all on the same page it’s time to get our visiting brothers on the move. Blaze, I need you to get over to the clubhouse and get them up to speed while Throttle gets the care package ready for them. Hawk, I need eyes on the bar. Want you to take one of the guys from Rowensville with you and head in for the last few hours. Throttle, I want you to head on inside and see if Marly’s here before you take off to get the cameras and shit ready. If she is, get her to take the kids upstairs to watch a movie, if not get Prospect Aaron on it. The rest of you hang back for a few,” Axle says before slapping the gavel.

  The rest of us hang back and wait knowing Axle’s got something on his mind. He waits until the door closes before starting again. “Look, I need to say something before we head inside. Let me make myself clear because I’m in no fucking mood to deal with the shit between Tank and Wall, right now. We’re all going in to break some pretty heavy shit to three females that belong to this club. Keep your heads together. I will not have the same shit go down as it did a few months ago when Carrin and Zeus got together. I will not stand for another fucking woman getting caught in the crossfire. There’ll be enough fucking drama with those crazy ass females to go around. Zeus, you better take care of your woman or you won’t have to worry about Wall kicking your ass. You oldheads, make sure Momma Bear, Tabby, and Vivie are close to Queenie. They’ll be the only ones that will be able to keep her ass calm and you better be ready to answer questions if it comes to it. Happy, make sure you’ve got that folder with you. Not sure how much shit will get aired out tonight but the club voted on full disclosure. We might have to have another sit down with Bree depending on how she takes the news. Tank, just make sure your ass is there and take whatever shit Bree is going to throw at you. Wall, I’m here for you, brother. I know this will be hardest for you with both your sisters and your mother needing support. I’ll make sure Trevor and the rest of the girls are there for Bree and Carrin as well. Keep your comments to yourself cuz I don’t wanna hear the shit right now. Time to man up and face the music. Let’s get it done boys!”

  The rest of us stay silent. There’s nothing else to really say until we get in the house. Nervously I follow the rest of the guys out of the garage but do not follow them into the house right away. I need a minute to get my head right. Standing out on the deck catching a smoke before facing my new sister I think about how this shit will play out. With three fucking females, I’m at a loss for a positive outcome. All I know is that I have another woman to look after til I take my last breath. I just hope that Bree doesn’t disappear on me. She seems to have already found her place with us and we need to keep it that way. I can’t have my mother unleashing one of her crazy fits and scaring the girl off. I’ve got to prepare myself for the worst and get a plan together to keep it from happening.

  “You really left a mess this time, dad. I’ll watch over her just like mom and Carrin, don’t you worry bout that shit. You got any pull up there though, now would be a good time to call in a few favors. Gonna need all the help I can get keeping this shit straight and everyone safe, Oldman,” I say looking up to the sky having a one-sided conversation with a dead man before throwing my cigarette out. It was time to deal with shit head on.

  When I walk in the back door to the house I see everyone has gathered in the kitchen. My eyes find Bree first. She’s sitting between Madison and Trevor laughing at something one of them has said. Looking at her I can see my dad just as plain as day. Why the hell didn’t I see it before is beyond me?

  Chapter 16

  Bree

  Everyone had gone about their separate ways after we all pulled together to get dinner cleaned up earlier. Carrin and Avery had taken the kids to get baths and settle in for the evening. Romy, Izzy, Athena, and Hyde went to the den to curl up and watch a movie or two with the older women of the club. Everyone was still trying to keep the sisters entertained after the fire of their shops and home the night before.

  Apparently, Queenie, Tabby, Vivie and Momma bear are all avid readers. I come to learn a rule they implemented over the years that requires you to read the book prior to watching the movie it was based on. Their little rule has seemed to convince the rest of the girls to follow in their footsteps. Me personally, I love the rule, however, Madison wasn’t finding the rule very appealing this evening. Momma Bear had flat out for bid her to join them for the movie because she still wasn’t finished with the book that had been passed around the house for the last few months. So, Trevor and I had decided to keep her company. It’s how we came to sit at the island in the expansive kitchen over a bottle of wine and a few glasses.

  “So, spill the beans woman, how’d your ride go with your man,” Madison asked.

  “From the way things looked at dinner I would say they went pretty well,” Trevor added with a raise of his eyebrows and a sly grin.

  I couldn’t help but laugh at these two. Tank left me to join the rest of the guys over an hour ago and I’ve just been sitting back waiting to get bombarded with questions. Surprisingly enough they’ve waited this long to dive in. I wasn’t sure what I was supposed to be confessing really. The whole point of us taking a ride was so that we could talk without everyone’s spying eyes. I’m not sure how to explain something that I’m not exactly sure happened myself. I keep pinching myself making sure I’m not dreaming again. Tank really is mine! I never thought the day would come.

  “I’m not exactly sure what I should tell ya. I’m not going to go over every detail but if you must know were officially together. Tank belongs to me as I belong to him. His words, not mine,” I confessed to two of my closest friends.

  “Awe, Bree, that’s fucking awesome! I’m so happy for you, woman. We’ve all seen this coming, even though we had hoped it would’ve happened before now for you both,” Madison told me excitedly.

  “We all are, girl. I knew this day would come for so long. I think Tank has owned you since that first night we all met that ended having dinner at the diner. I’ve been telling you for years it was fate that brought you through Great Falls, babe. You belong here, it was meant to be! At least know we won’t have to worry about you getting bored around here and packing up to leave on us. I’ve always worried that you would decide to make Nashville your home, so you could hang out with Olivia more often. Especially when you make the trip to see her. Tank will never admit this but he’s a moody son-of-a-bitch when you make those trips. Thank God it’s only once or twice a year,” Carrin walked into the kitchen to add to our conversation. Her theory on my trips to Nashville wasn’t far from the truth. I always battle with myself thinking I don’t belong here but here lately not so much. After the little conversation, Queenie and I had a few days ago I was starting to realize that this group of misfit family truly did want me around. I think I’ll always feel like a bit of an outsider, but I have finally found my place to belong. Being with Tank will only make it better.

  “Trevor, why don’t you be a dear and grab a few more glasses and a couple more bottles of wine. I know Avery is on her way down and it sounded like the movie was almost over
in the den. You know the rest of them will be in here before it’s over with,” Carrin said as she took one of the stools beside Madison.

  “You got it, sweetheart. Are we sticking with the white or should I grab a bottle of red too? You know, just in case Tabby and Vivie feel like hanging out with us too,” Trevor asked as he was pulling more wine glasses out of the cupboard.

  “You know you spoil our moms more than we do. I’m not sure whether to be jealous or grateful. It’s like I’ve been replaced. I’m hurt buddy,” Avery told Trevor as she walked in to flop down on the stool next to me. When I looked up I could see that not only Avery was joining us, but it seemed the rest of the women were too. Carrin called it right. The movie must now be over, and it was time for all the girls to gather and gossip until the men came in for the night.

  Tabby walked right up to Trevor and wrapped him in a bear hug. She has taken the motherly role with him; claiming him as her adoptive son. Even going as far as referring to Hyde and Avery as his sisters. The girls didn’t seem to mind it and even Doc was getting used to the idea. Looks like I wasn’t the only one who came here as a stranger and was accepted as family. Tabby was in the middle of aggravating Avery by telling Trevor how his sisters were just jealous because he was such a momma’s boy that we all didn’t pay attention at first when Throttle walked in the door.

  “I was sent in to gather the troops, but it looks like I don’t have much of a job to do. You're all here! Are the kids down for the night or do I need to send the prospect to hang out with them,” Throttle announced startling us all.

  Leave it to Momma Bear to give him hell for scaring us all. “Boy, I ought to take you over my damn knee! You scared the living shit out of me. You trying to turn ninja on me or something.”

  “No, ma’am. Axle sent me in to round you all up. Asked me to get Marley or a prospect to sit with the kids. In a few minutes, the rest of the fellas will be over to have a family meeting of sorts. If I didn’t know any better I would think you all had already gotten the memo,” Throttle answered the matriarch of the family.

  “Nope, no memo here, son, just a love of wine and gossip,” Vivie answered her son. “Now run along and let them know we’ll be here waiting on them. I don’t plan on heading up to bed until I split that bottle of red with my girl Tabby tonight.

  Throttle just threw his mother a quick nod before headed back out the way he came. The rest of us remained quiet as Trevor took to topping everyone’s glasses off with either the peach Moscato or Merlot. It was Madison who spoke up as everyone’s glasses were now full.

  “I need to say a few words. Call it a toast, words of wisdom or me just being a mushy bitch for a freak second. Either way, I need you guys to listen up! As I look around this room I see some of the most beautiful, brave, independent women I know. We have been through some rough shit over the last year and a half together. From births to accidents, to kidnapping, to fights, to attacks and now even fucking arson we have been through it all, ladies. We might have been through the shit, but it hasn’t broken us, and it won’t. Anytime any of us feel like it’s getting to be too much all you need to do is look at the person standing next to you and know whatever the fuck it is that’s trying to shake us we won’t have to face it alone. Keep that in mind for the next blow these fuckers are about to come in and deliver. They’re wanting us all together to break some-kind-of news and I’m sure it’s not because they want to tell us we’re pretty and have nice tits. So, let’s drink to the girls before the men come in and ruin this shit,” Madison finished as she raised her glass to signal for the rest of us to do the same.

  Across the room, there were plenty of “here here's” and “well put” spoke in agreement with Madison little speech. I myself couldn’t do anything but giggle which in return had Trevor and eventually Madison laughing right with me. Our laughter quickly died when the back door was flung open and the men walked in with sour faces. What really set me on edge was the wild eyes Axle’s face was trying to mask. I’ve come to learn that not much shook the President of the club’s invisible armor and to look at him now something obviously has set him in a fit. Avery was quick to move to her man to comfort him given the state he was in, leaving the stool next to me empty. My eyes scanned the room for Tank and couldn’t find him or Wall in the sea of faces. My eye caught movement coming from the door again as Wall, followed by Tank, entered the room moving straight towards Madison. I instinctively took her hand in mine to show support as I notice Carrin do the same with her other hand as well. Both Carrin and I were looking to Madison as she followed Wall’s movements until he stopped right in front of her.

  “From the look on your face I’m not going to like what you’re about to tell me, am I? Go on, let’s get it over with,” Mads spoke before Wall had a chance to explain anything.

  “This time C.B. I think it’s going to affect Carrin and Bree more than you, sweetheart,” Wall responded causing me to chance a look at Tank. Tank said nothing just gave me a sympathetic nod before moving to take the stool next to me and drape his arm around my shoulders to pull me close. I watched as Zeus did the same with Carrin, while Wall softly took Madison’s face in his hands to pull her towards him to place a soft kiss on her forehead. It didn’t shock me when Wall moved to do the same to his sister Carrin whispering something to her only she could hear. What set me in the state of panic is when he moved to stand in front of me. I tensed up as Wall gently took my face into his strong hands to pull me closer. When he placed a soft kiss on my forehead and whispered some bold words my anxiety jumped to a whole other level. “Please don’t run, Breezy. Don’t run away from us now.”

  “I w-won’t,” I mumbled not knowing what to say. I didn’t realize I had said anything until I saw the small smile that appeared on the scary man’s face standing in front of me. Wall nodded and let go of my face and moved across the room to do the same to Queenie, his mother. He pulled his mother in for a long hug and remained by her side with Vivie, Tabby and Momma Bear pulling them both in for a group hug.

  I tore my stare from Wall to look at Carrin. She must have known I needed to see her face right then because we turned looking into each other’s eyes having a silent conversation between the two of us. Without words, she was trying to let me know she would take the lead and try to figure out exactly what would be affecting us both and have the men on edge. The sound of something slapping the countertop had both of us turning to look at the man causing the noise. Happy stood next to Axle, Ghost, and Doc on his left with Boomer and Viking standing to his right. Blaze was standing with his sisters as Hawk moved to stand next to Athena.

  “Ok, you can cut the fucking tension with a knife right now. Can you please explain to me what the hell is going to affect Breezy and myself? I get that we were both attacked but it was on two different occasions. If anything, I would think it would affect Athena too or even Avery and Madison. All five of us were attacked at one point or another,” Carrin asked trying to get answers.

  It surprised me when Happy was the one who spoke up in place of Axle. “I’m not saying that the news we have to drop doesn’t have something to do with those fuckers stalking and trying to hurt the females of this club but it’s not the reason why our Enforcer told you in his own way that it would pertain to you, Breezy and even Queenie. You see there are a few skeletons the Oldheads of this club had buried in the closet that have come to light. They had their suspicions for a while now but didn’t want to rock the fucking boat with everything going on around the club. It wasn’t until Bree’s attack the Oldheads decided to move on the hunch they’ve had since Bree walked thru those doors over four years ago. With new information, it seems that everything is connected in some way.”

  “We’re going to need everyone to sit back and relax and keep their mouths shut so we can get through explaining this shit. It’s gonna get heavy and you all are gonna want to put your two cents in but I’m telling you now to keep it to yourselves. You’ll have you time to comment just wait til the Oldhead
s and Happy explain EV-ERY-THING!!” Axle was stressing we needed to keep quiet. I doubted I would have an issue with that, however, I could feel Madison tensing next to me. If I was a betting person I’d have money on her speaking out of turn within the first five minutes of our little pow-wow. I wasn’t about to vocalize my thoughts though. I’m not afraid to admit that I was doing everything I could right now not to fall apart even before I was enlightened with the news it seemed the guys had for me.

  Tank said nothing as he gave me a reassuring half-hug with the arm he had around my shoulders and placed a kiss on the top of my head. For someone who claims he doesn’t do the “mushy shit”, his words not mine, he seems to know when to pull out the stops to make me feel wanted and cared for.

  “Okay, ladies. It’s time to take a walk down memory lane. For a few of you, just her name will make your skin crawl, but it needs to be said. Many years ago, close to twenty-six years now, there was a club whore around these parts that went by the name of Charlie,” Boomer said getting the ball moving only to have Vivie and Tabby hiss loud enough to draw the attention to them. Momma Bear had a face sporting ultimate shock while Queenie’s mouth turned up with a devilish grin like she already knew where this story was going.

  “What in the hell does that vile bitch have to do with anything? She did nothing but caused drama and issues that shook this club to its core while she danced around spreading her fucking legs for anything that had a dick swinging,” Vivie yelled.

  Looking like she was going to add her two cents, Doc cut Tabby off before she could speak her piece. “Axle told you all to keep shit to your selves! I don’t think he’s changed the rules in the last sixty seconds asking for your all’s fucking opinions. I’m not normally the bad guy in these situations but you all have left me no damn choice. Tabby if you or either one of your friends opens their damn mouths before we get through this bull shit I will have no problem taping your damn mouths shut and tying your asses to a chair. Don’t try me on this woman, my fucking patience is straddling a thin fucking line right now.”