Brage & Dinah

by Debra Kayn

"I think—"

  "No. Absolutely not." She looked to Brage for support. "Tony said one of the Moroad members killed my father and took me from my mother. They ruined my whole life. They're murderers, and I want nothing to do with them."

  Nothing would change her opinion. She pressed her hand to her chest. The ache spread up into her throat, choking her.

  The small room closed in on her. There was no way she was going back to Idaho now. She wanted to stay far away from Moroad Motorcycle Club.

  Chapter 32

  Dinah pulled her hand away from Brage. He scooted closer on his chair and cupped the back of her neck, trying to comfort her. How was she going to handle Roar's news when bringing up Moroad caused her pain?

  "I'm not going to let anything happen to you." He forced her to look at him. "Trust me."

  "I don't want to see him." She ducked her chin. "Please, don't make me."

  "I think you should listen. Brage is going to tell you what the phone call was about." Roar cleared his throat and nodded at him.

  He pulled Dinah's hand to his chest and pressed her palm flat. She needed to understand he was here and he was confident that nothing would happen to her.

  "Aldridge has information about your parents, babe. He's asked us to grant him permission to tell you what he knows, and he wants to do it in person." He caressed her face, willing her to open her mind and think about what was being offered to her.

  "He's going to tell me about my mom and dad?" she whispered, her voice cracking.

  "Ja," he whispered back.

  "Why does he need to give it to me? Why can't he tell you or even Roar? Have you asked him that?" She frowned. "I don't trust him. I never have."

  There were parts of the deal he couldn't and wouldn't divulge. Jeremy Aldridge had contacted Roar earlier in the evening with a proposal. The president of Moroad Motorcycle Club would hand over all the information about Dinah's parents in exchange for the extortion contract with two of the three groups Slag Motorcycle Club had stolen from them. When Roar rejected the proposal on the spot, Jeremy offered the information on Dinah's parents for one extortion contract, and a one-time delivery for two hundred disassembled semi-automatic rifles.

  Slag, the Norway Chapter, needed the weaponry.

  "It has to be done this way, babe. He'll only give the details to you." He ignored the pressure from Roar being in the room, knowing how important the deal was for Slag.

  Not often would they cut deals, unless it benefitted them. Holding on to the extortion money coming in from Blue and Red put Slag members in a good position, even with losing the third contract for Los Li. He was aware the deal was unusual for Moroad.

  Desperate times often made men weak. Moroad was suffering.

  "Tony isn't going to be with him?" she asked.

  "No. Only Aldridge and another member named Jacko." He let that sink in and added, "I'll be with you, and so will Roar and Elling."

  "I don't want to do this." She rubbed the top of her thighs.

  The meeting was already a done deal. Roar agreed to the terms. He only needed to get Dinah on board.

  "Because of the way you were taken from your parents, Aldridge is the only one who can give you the answers you need. If you don't meet with him, you're not going to get another chance. Do you want to go the rest of your life not knowing?"

  She stood, checking her pockets. Almost frantic in her movements, her breathing grew rapid.

  Figuring out what she needed, he pulled out a stick of gum from his vest pocket and handed it to her. She sat back down and unwrapped the offer, popping it in her mouth before she barely had the wrapper off.

  She visibly inhaled a deep breath as if the chewing action brought her relief. If it weren't for the fact that she used gum to keep from smoking, he'd light a cigarette himself. The discussion was more significant and intense than he'd anticipated.

  The last thing he'd want to do was cause her more pain and have her relive the details he suspected caused her to have nightmares.

  "Where does he want to meet?" She hugged herself. "Moroad members aren't supposed to leave the state of Idaho, but as you know, they do."

  He hadn't even asked about the location when Roar brought up the deal. It wasn't his decision. He only knew he'd be there to protect Dinah in case the meeting took a turn for the worse.

  Roar said, "He called the meeting point in Moses Lake."

  She stopped chewing. "Where's that?"

  "In eastern Washington, almost five hours away."

  "So, close enough to my apartment in Coeur d'Alene..." She looked at Brage. "I would want to go there after the meeting. I still want to move everything down here with you."

  "I'll make that happen." He placed his hand on the back of her neck and rubbed the tight muscles.

  She slowly closed her eyes, shook her head, and looked at him again. "Do we go tomorrow?"

  "No, next weekend." Roar stood. "I'll let you two be alone. Lizzy is waiting in the alley for me. I'll be at the house for the rest of the night if you need anything."

  Brage concentrated on Dinah. He'd never seen her unsure of herself. She usually had a confidence that surprised him knowing her background. Even when hit by news that would crumble a person, there was always some inner strength within her that held her up.

  Dinah stared at her clasped hands. He shifted, picked her up, and held her on his lap. He couldn't protect her from the possible hurt if the knowledge of her parents brought out vulnerabilities that she had no idea she had. All he could do was be there for her.

  "What if I find out I come from awful people?" she whispered. "What if everything I learn is worse than knowing that Brad and Tony stole me from my parents?"

  He put his hand on the middle of her chest. Her heart raced against his palm.

  Kissing the top of her head, he said, "Don't let other people's actions define who you are, babe."

  Chapter 33

  Elling tossed the wrench out from underneath the truck that appeared to belong to Slag MC as a whole. Dinah, leaning against the building, tilted her face toward the sky. The gentle heat of the early morning sun warmed her.

  The few hours of sleep she'd received were interrupted by dreams of losing Brage. Whether it was the shock of having him involved in her nightmares or the reality of the emotions she'd experienced, she'd left the bedroom, afraid of dreaming again if she went back to sleep.

  He'd given her no reason to worry about breaking up with her. She blamed her troubled thoughts on the fact they planned to leave tomorrow morning for Moses Lake.

  The week of waiting went by fast and slow. She was anxious to get it over with and bring her belongings to Portland, and she dreaded meeting with Jeremy.

  A cloud moved in front of the sun. She pulled the sleeves of her sweatshirt down over her hands at the loss of heat. If anything went wrong at the meeting, she was afraid Brage and Roar would blame her. Moroad couldn't be trusted. She knew that personally.

  Moroad's crime had changed the outcome of her life years ago. Tomorrow could set her in a different direction, and her worry wasn't so much that she would change, but Brage would view her differently once the truth came out about who she was.

  She thumped her head against the side of the building. If she could only remember something, anything, before the age of six years old, she could prepare herself for what was to come.

  "Oil filter's changed. The truck is all ready for the trip." Elling pushed off the ground and wiped his hands off on his jeans.

  She looked up and down the alley, unsure who he was talking to. They were the only two outside during the early hour.

  "Um, thanks," she muttered. "I wasn't watching you. I mean, I'm out here, but I'm not worried if the filter is changed. I couldn't sleep."

  God, her mouth kept going. Her and Elling had only said a few words to each other. It wasn't like he was asking about her. He was discussing the truck.

  Elling leaned against the fender. "You have a good reason."

  She look
ed at him and his gaze softened. While she found Slag MC a tight group of people who relied on each other, they all seemed to know everyone's business.

  "You know what's happening tomorrow, don't you?" she said.

  "Ja." Elling inhaled loudly. "I'll be along."

  That's right. She'd forgotten that he was riding with Roar while Brage was driving the truck with her riding shotgun.

  "Moroad killed my father," she blurted.

  The accusation tumbled from her mouth before she could take the words back and once free, she realized it wasn't Elling she wanted to tell. She only needed to say the truth out loud.

  "I grew up in Slag. My father was a member back home in Norway." Elling took a knife out of his pocket and cleaned under his fingernails. "He was killed by another motorcycle club when I was twelve. When I was fourteen, my mom crashed the car after dropping me off at school. She died instantly."

  Caught up in Elling's traumatic past, Dinah could only gawk at him. He'd listed the events as if they belonged to someone else and not himself.

  "The thing is, I..." He closed the folding knife, picked up the toolbox, and walked off leaving her alone in the alley.

  She stared down the building where he'd last been and wondered if she imagined the whole conversation. He'd stopped in mid-sentence and left without any thought.

  Everyone had a story. Some as bad as hers. Maybe Elling, like her, only needed to hear himself talk to remind him of how far he'd come.

  Elling seemed happy. At least content. She hoped someday; she'd have moments when her past wasn't a major part of her life.

  Having the alley to herself, except for a prospect at each gate, she wandered over to her Jeep. She would've been more comfortable driving her vehicle to Idaho, but there wasn't enough space to bring back her belongings.

  She opened the door and sat in the driver's seat. Turning the key, she started the engine and let it run. The Jeep had been her biggest purchase as an adult. Paid for with money she'd earned herself.

  The pressure in her chest eased. Brage loved her. She loved him. It was like the devil taunted her through her dreams. She would never leave Brage, and she'd fight and do everything possible to stay with him.

  Maybe the dreams about her crying out for the woman she suspected was her mother was also the devil making her life hell. Maybe it wasn't her mom. Maybe dreams had nothing to do with the truth.

  She sighed and let her head fall back on the seat. How quickly things have changed.

  The passenger door opened and Brage slid into the seat. She rolled her head on the cushion and looked at him.

  "We need to stop meeting like this," she said.

  "You said you were going down to eat. You weren't in the kitchen."

  "I felt like coming outside. It's calm out here. Quiet."

  "Mhm." He palmed his thighs and pulled at his jeans, getting more comfortable. "Elling keyed me in on where you were."

  "Speaking of Elling..." She half turned in the seat so that she could look at Brage without turning her head. "Have you ever noticed how he starts to say something and then stops halfway through?"

  Brage chuckled silently. "He's been like that ever since I've known him."

  "I wonder what that's about?"

  He shrugged. "Norwegian men don't make small talk just to hear themselves speak. He usually sticks to what's important."

  Not knowing Elling as well as some of the other Slag members, she chose to keep the conversation about his past to herself and not share or question Brage about him.

  "I'm scared," she whispered.

  "I know you are, babe."

  "I have no memory of my parents. I always thought that was strange since Brad and Tony told me our parents died when I was seven. I doubt they even have parents or any contact with them. There was never any pictures or proof that they existed."

  "I want to ask you something, and I need you to be honest with me." Brage waited for her to nod. "Did the Reed brothers abuse you?"

  "Wh—?" She frowned. "Why would you ask that?"

  "Because I'm trying to figure out their motive behind taking a child, a young girl, and raising her to believe she was their sister. They alienated you from having a normal childhood." He looked out the windshield, but the only thing outside was the brick wall of the back of the bar. "Then, I'm going to kill them."

  She opened the door, stormed around the vehicle, and stood at the passenger side beside Brage. Fury wrapped around her brittle heart. "Get this straight. I don't give a damn about Brad and Tony. For all I care, I hope I never see them again in my life. But, if you kill them, I will never forgive you. I will be gone, and you'll never see me again."

  Brage's eyes narrowed. "You still care about them."

  "No, you idiot." She fisted his vest and shook him. "I care about you. I love you."

  His gaze intensified as his mouth softened. The fight in her waned. She threw her arms around him and held him tight. If she had to glue herself to his side, she would. She wouldn't allow him to do anything that would take him away from her.

  After having a dream about him leaving her, the conversation shook her to the core.

  "I can promise you a lot. But, I won't make promises that have to do with protecting and honoring you." He palmed her head. "You're going to have to accept that. That's what love is built on."

  She closed her eyes, expecting nothing less from him. She knew him well enough to know he stood behind what he said.

  "Are we going to survive the next couple of days?" She straightened. "What if—?"

  "We'll make it." He brushed her hair away from her face. "I'll make sure we do."

  Her chest squeezed and tomorrow's meeting rushed to the forefront. There was a lot depending on the outcome.

  She hoped they were strong enough to survive.

  Chapter 34

  The blanket covering Dinah slipped down into her lap. Brage reached over and caught the cover before it hit the floorboard of the truck. She needed all the sleep she could get, but he needed to wake her in a few minutes when they stopped at the rest area.

  They'd left early for Moses Lake which only gave her a couple hours to try and rest after working at the bar. Instead of sleeping, those hours were spent having sex because Dinah was keyed up and restless.

  Roar and Elling pulled off the interstate. He followed, rolling into the rest area. In an hour, they'd arrive at their meeting spot with Jeremy Aldridge. A lot rode on the outcome.

  In the back of his mind, he hoped the president of Moroad wasn't fucking them over. They could arrive and find every Moroad member there waiting to take them out.

  Not a trusting person when it came to the safety of Slag, Roar believed the club would benefit from the exchange. It was one reason why Roar decided only the three of them would approach Aldridge with Dinah.

  If something happened, they all had a job. Elling would protect Roar. Brage would protect Dinah.

  He slowed to a stop, looking at the parked cars, in between the line of truck and trailers on the other side of the grassy area. As much as he wanted today to go off without a hitch, he expected trouble.

  "Babe?" He rubbed Dinah's arm. "You need to wake up."

  She startled, jerking her head upright and opening her eyes. Her gaze darted around, finding him in her panic.

  "I'm right here." He stroked her face. "Another bad dream?"

  "I don't know," she mumbled on a shiver. "Are we there?"

  "Not yet. We're an hour out." He opened his door. "I'll take you over to the restroom, and you can stretch your legs. It'll be the last stop before we arrive in Moses Lake."

  She waited for him. He let her out and walked her over to the small concrete building housing two separate rooms. Stopping her outside the door, he told her to stay. He went inside the women's bathroom and checked under the two stalls. The place was empty.

  Returning to her, he said, "You can go in."

  "You're not supposed to go in the women's restroom." She stepped inside.

>   He remained outside, giving her privacy and making sure nobody else went into the restroom while she was busy doing her thing. On the other side of the building a door slammed. He looked out at Roar and Elling.

  Both of them pointed a finger downward at their side telling him one man exited the men's restroom.

  The toilet flushed inside, echoing through the door. Several minutes later, Dinah walked out. The tendrils of hair framing her face, loose from her ponytail, were damp and her eyes were more alert. She must've washed her face. She would need to be fully awake when they reached Moses Lake.

  "I'm ready." She slipped her hand into his.

  She trembled through her bravery. He led her to the others and lit a cigarette while Roar talked over the directions and wanting to circle the vacant lot where they would meet with Aldridge.

  "There's a police station three blocks from the address we received. We'll want to avoid riding past. We don't need law enforcement getting curious and following." Brage, in charge of the route, needed no map or GPS.

  Over the last couple of days, he'd memorized the roads, looked for construction listings, and prepared everything down to the mile. There could be no mistakes.

  "I'll flash my lights when we're five minutes out. That'll give you time to prepare." He put his hand on Dinah's back and rubbed the slight slope above her ass.

  The other men understood his instructions. They each carried two pistols on them, plus Roar had his knife at his hip. Every weapon needed to be available and ready.

  "I don't have to approach Jeremy by myself, do I?" asked Dinah.

  "No, I'll be at your side. Roar and Elling will stand behind you and off to the right." He faced her. "I'm not saying it's going to happen, but if anything goes down, I want you to drop to the ground and make yourself as flat as you can. Don't run, don't turn, don't grab me, and don't raise your head. I'll cover you."

  She blew out her cheeks. "That's not helping me calm down."

  "It's necessary, babe."

  "You're expecting Moroad to shoot you? Shoot me?" She stared at him.