by K. J. Dahlen
“I’m here looking for a dancer named Peaches. All I want to know is if she’s okay. I’m not looking for trouble of any kind I just want to find her.” She paused and stared at the big man behind the desk. “Why is that so difficult for you jackasses to figure out?”
Deke felt a streak of rage go through him. “This jackass protects his dancers and when someone he doesn’t know starts asking questions, he wants to know why.”
She dropped her arms and took a few steps toward his desk. Placing her fingers on the wooden surface, she leaned toward him. “Do you know Peaches?’ she asked him softly. She gazed unto his eyes.
“Yes, I know Peaches,” Deke finally told her.
“Is she okay?”
He frowned at her question. “Yes, she’s okay. Why would you ask me that?”
She stood away from the desk. “I just wanted to find her and talk to her. I didn’t mean any trouble. Will you have her call me? I need to speak to her.”
“What the hell did you do to my men?” Deke asked softly.
His men shifted nervously. They knew when he spoke in that tone of voice he was in a fine rage. They knew to steer clear of him at that point. They almost felt sorry for her, almost. And Wiley thought she would soon see his temper, he grinned.
“I warned them that I don’t like to be touched. They didn’t listen.” She shrugged. “Maybe now they will.”
~* * * *~
Deke stood to his impressive height and she could finally see just how big a guy he really was. Dark hair, wide shoulders and muscles to spare. He could snap her back like she was a toothpick and Cassie felt a second of fear but nothing showed on her face.
Walking around the side of his desk, he came close to where she stood. “So you don’t like to be touched huh?” His steel colored eyes brined at her.
Cassie narrowed her eyes and took a step back. When he took a step forward, she could feel the power building up inside her. She matched his temper but she knew she couldn’t match his brawn. Her mind zipped through defensive moves she’d used in the past. “No I don’t,” she whispered. “I don’t want to hurt you but I will if you force this.”
Deke barked a laugh. “I don’t think you could touch me but I could definitely hurt you.”
“No man will ever hurt me again.” She sneered. “I don’t care how big, brawny or fucking stupid they happen to be.”
Wiley gasped and paled. He watched with fear on his face waiting to see what Deke would do. No one, certainly not a woman had ever called this man stupid and lived.
But Deke surprised everyone by throwing his head back and laughing. When he stopped laughing, he looked her in the eye and said, “Lady you have balls, I’ll give you that. Just don’t ever call me stupid again, or I will hurt you.”
“You could try,” she vowed under her breath. “Then don’t act it and we’ll get along fine,” she said louder than before.
“I still need a name.” Deke seemed calm and cool as he went back to his chair and sat down. Opening his desk drawer, he brought out a bottle of Black Velvet whiskey. Grabbing a couple of glasses, he poured out two shots and put one in front of her.
Cassie shook her head. “I don’t drink, sorry.”
Deke nodded. “What’s your name?” he asked her for the third time.
“Cassie.”
“Just Cassie?” he asked.
“Just Cassie. Kinda like just Cher or Madonna.”
Deke glanced over at Wiley. “Why don’t you find Peaches and bring her here.”
Wiley nodded and left the room.
Deke motioned for Cassie to sit while she waited for her friend. “Is there something other than whiskey you would like to drink?”
“Black coffee works for me.” Cassie sat down. “If you don’t have that, water is good.”
Deke looked over at Jack and nodded.
Jack got up and left the room.
“So, tell me about you and Peaches?” he asked as he poured another shot.
“We grew up together in the same hell hole until I got big enough to take care of the both of us. We’ve been together since we were five years old.”
“How did you lose track of her then?” Deke looked curious.
“Some jackass snatched her off the street when she was coming home from work about three months ago.” She glared at him. “I’ve been looking for her ever since.”
Deke frowned. “She came here looking for work. I had nothing to do with how she got here. That ain’t how we roll.”
“I didn’t say you were the jackass but somebody is and when I find them I intend to kill them,” Cassie vowed.
~* * * *~
Wiley entered the boarding house and went to Peaches’ room.
When he knocked on the door, she called out with a sleepy, “Come in.”
Wiley opened the door and found her in bed.
She raised her gaze to him and looked confused. “What are you doing here?”
“You got a visitor.”
“A what?” Peaches asked as she got out of bed.
“Some dame is looking for you.”
Peaches’ nervous gaze focused on the bruise on his jaw. “Cassie is here, isn’t she?”
“How did you know?”
Peaches smiled as she studied the bruises on his face. “She warned you not to touch her didn’t she?” She laughed. “That girl.”
Wiley grabbed her by the arm and squeezed. “That girl is in a whole mess of trouble. She’s going head to head with Deke at the moment. If you mean as much to her as she thinks, you won’t waste any more time. Let’s get going.”
Peaches looked upset as she rushed to get her clothes on and followed Wiley out the door.
When they entered the club, Hal nodded and Wiley grabbed her by the arm again, dragging her toward the back to Deke’s office. Throwing open the door, he pushed Peaches inside.
Peaches stumbled and almost fell as she called out, “Cassie!”
Cassie turned and jumped to her feet. Rushing over to her friend, she hugged her. “I thought I’d never seen you again.” Tears rolled down her face as she stared at the best friend she had in the world. The two of them had been through so much together. Taking a step back, she noted the faint bruising on Peaches’ arms. Looking into her friend’s eyes she asked, “Did he hurt you baby girl?”
Peaches glanced at Wiley and shook her head. “No not really. These guys play rough but no, he didn’t hurt me.”
Cassie turned her head and glared at Deke. She sneered at him but didn’t say anything. Then she turned her glare to Wiley. “If you touch her again, I will kill you.”
Peaches gasped, turning to Wiley. “She didn’t mean anything by that.”
“The hell I didn’t. You’re not their plaything, to use and abuse. You are a dancer.”
“Enough!” Deke shouted. “Who the fuck do you think you are, coming in here threatening my men? What gives you the right?”
“Who do I think I am?” Cassie shouted back as she stomped over to his desk. “I’m somebody who’s sick to death of being threatened by big apes like you who thinks he can bully his way through life. I’ve had to scratch and claw my way every day and I don’t take shit from nobody. Do you hear that? I won’t take shit from you or your men.” She raised her hand and slapped him.
The sound echoed in the office. Wiley gasped loudly as he took a step back.
Deke got to his feet again. Everyone could see the rage on his face as well as the red mark from her slap.
Peaches rushed forward and grabbed Cassie, pulling her back away from the desk. “She didn’t mean it Deke. Please don’t hurt her,” she begged.
Deke nodded to Wiley.
“Oh, no! Don’t do it, Wiley!” Peaches yelled.
Pushing Peaches out of the way, he grabbed Cassie by the arms and crushed her to his chest.
Dropping forward, she lifted her left foot and slammed it into his balls. When she felt his grip loosen, she jabbed her elbow into his gut and rammed her head ba
ck into his face.
Wiley dropped to the floor like a stone.
She stood there for a moment, her breathing deep, her chest heaving. The rage inside her was leaving. She glared at him. “I told you not to fucking touch me.”
Deke watched stunned at the swiftness of her attack. Wiley was a man twice her size and a hell of a lot stronger than she was. But she had taken him on and defeated him as sure as she claimed she would.
Peaches reached out to her and grabbing her hands she whispered, “You’d better run before they kill you.”
Cassie lifted her hand to Peaches’ cheek. “I don’t run, remember?” She turned to Deke and squared her shoulders. “I didn’t come here to make trouble, not for you, not for anyone. I told that bastard not to touch me but he didn’t listen. All I wanted to do was find my friend and make sure she was all right. That’s all I wanted.”
“You realize the kind of trouble you’re in now, don’t you?” Deke asked her. “We can’t let it be known that a woman took out our Sergeant at Arms. That just wouldn’t look good.”
Cassie sighed. “So what are my options here? If you promise not to hurt Peaches, I’ll do what you say. I didn’t start this thing but as I have no choice, I will honor whatever you decide my punishment should be for as long as I chose.”
Deke thought for a moment then suggested, “You become property of the club.”
Cassie frowned. “I will not become a whore.”
“You will become whatever I tell you, you are,” Deke reminded her.
Cassie stared at him for a moment before she declared, “You sir, are a fucking bastard. A rotten, fucking, cock sucking bastard.”
Deke moved to stand in front of her. Raising his hand, he struck her across the face.
Cassie swayed but didn’t move. Tears formed but she wouldn’t allow them to escape.
Deke glared at her for a minute then turned to Peaches. “Don’t you have work to do?”
Peaches nodded and left the room in a hurry.
Deke motioned for his men to leave.
Jack and Jared helped Wiley to his feet and they lumbered out.
Deke then walked over to the door, closing it behind them.
Cassie heard the snap as he locked the door.
CHAPTER TWO
Deke leaned against the door and watched her. “What do you have against people touching you?” he finally asked.
“I don’t like it.”
“Why?”
Cassie shrugged. “I just don’t that’s all. If you grew up like I did, you wouldn’t like it either.”
“Is this where I hear about your rotten childhood?” he asked with a roll of his eyes. “If so, please skip it. I’ve lived it, I know it by heart.”
“Then you know how it is. There are some things you just don’t put up with from other people.”
“I should probably warn you, when we get to the clubhouse you’re going to have one very pissed off old lady after you when she sees what you’ve done to Wiley.”
Cassie shrugged. “She’ll get over it.”
“Aren’t you afraid of anything?”
Cassie raised her eyes to his. “If you let the fear take you, it wins and you lose. I try not to lose.”
He studied her for a long moment. “Let’s go get your stuff and get you settled,” Deke finally said. “I’ve got business to deal with.” He opened the door and ushered her through it. As they made their way through the dance hall, he told her to wait for him. He then walked over to his vice president Gator and said, “You need to talk to Peaches. Get any and all information from her that you can about Cassie. Don’t hurt her, just ask her about her friend. Then bring her to the clubhouse later.”
Gator nodded then had to ask, “Did she really take Wiley down?”
Deke nodded. “Yep she did and faster than anyone I’ve ever seen. She’s got this thing about being touched.”
“Yeah, I heard from the other boys about that.” Gator chuckled. “I’ll see what I can find out from Peaches and let you know.”
“You do that.” Deke didn’t look amused as he answered and walked away.
They walked out into the sunlight and Cassie brought her hand up to shade her eyes. Going to where she parked her jeep, she got in and waited while Deke went to his bike. When she heard his engine start up, she drove back to the motel.
When they arrived, she went to her room. She didn’t seem to care if he followed her or not and he stayed right behind her as she opened her door. Without another word, she began packing up her things. When she was done, she carried her suitcase out to her jeep and waited. “I have to follow you to wherever it is you’re taking me.”
Deke stared at her for a moment and had to wonder if this was the smart thing to do. She owed him for her actions but he knew the club could be hard for an outsider. She wasn’t used to being in a biker’s club and it wasn’t for everyone. There was also the backlash that would come from the old ladies about the beatings today. He shrugged. “Follow me and try not to get lost. I will chase your ass down.”
Cassie glared at him. “You could try.” Reaching over, she turned the key and started her engine.
~* * * *~
When Deke pulled out of the parking lot, she followed him all the way to the outskirts of town and turning left, they traveled another couple of miles to a compound. There were several buildings behind a chain link and razor topped fence. Someone opened the front gate and she followed him inside. Turning the jeep off, she watched as a young man closed the gate behind them.
Then she felt Deke beside her. He grabbed her suitcase and led her inside the main building.
The inside was clean as she walked in. The floors were scrubbed and the walls were painted an off white color. To the left of the main doors was a huge kitchen and she could see several women standing there staring back at her.
To the right of the doors were tables, sofas and chairs. Several rather large men sat around and they too were staring at her. In front of the doors on the opposite wall was a long bar with row after row of bottles of alcohol and a couple of beer kegs.
Deke didn’t say a word as he walked down the hall to the back of the main floor. He opened a door and she walked in.
It was a good sized room with a big bed and dresser. The walls had shelves filled with motorcycle parts and books. Off to the left was another door and when she opened it she could see a bathroom. There was a closet filled with men’s clothes.
She turned to study Deke. “Whose room is this?”
“It’s my room and you’ll be sleeping here.” He leaned against the door and waited for her to say something. He didn’t wait very long.
“I will not be a whore. Not for you or anyone else.”
“I remember something along those lines but I also remember telling you that you would become whatever I said you would be.” Deke crossed his arms over his wide chest. “You told me you would honor the option the club made for you. Or is your word no good here?”
Cassie gritted her teeth. She’d always kept her promises. Her honor was all she had. “You’re nothing more than a bully and a bastard.”
Deke nodded. “Yes I am, but I’m also so much more than that.” He held out his large hand. “I’ll let you get settled in. I’ll take the keys to your jeep now.”
Cassie handed her keys over and moved over to the window. She didn’t want him to see the fear in her eyes as she suddenly realized what her life had become. She heard the door close behind him and the snap of the lock as the tumblers turned. She took the blanket off the bed and went to the far corner of the room. Putting the blanket around her shoulders, she sat down on the floor and brought her knees to her chest. Remembering the past, she felt the heat leave her body and soon, she was shivering from the coldness that came from her memories.
~* * * *~
Deke made his way out to the main room and walked over to the bar. He nodded to the man behind it and accepted the glass of whiskey he was given. He was joined shortly b
y one of the women from the kitchen.
It was Wiley’s old lady, Connie. “They brought Wiley home in the van. Someone beat the shit out of him and I want to know who did it.”
Deke turned and stared at her. “What did Wiley tell you?”
“Wiley has busted balls, a broken nose and a bruise on his jaw.” She seethed. “He told me some bitch tore him up but I don’t believe that for a minute. No woman could do all that to someone his size.”
Deke raised his glass to his lips. Taking a good swig, he let the liquor burn his throat and then he answered, “I didn’t think so either but it happened. I was there when she did it.”
Connie stared at him in shock. “Are you fucking kidding me?”
Deke shook his head. The clubhouse was filling up and everyone was taking note of their conversation. Deke looked around at everyone and said, “I strongly suggest you all keep your distance from the woman that just came in here. Cassie will protect herself and she won’t care if you’re female or male. She will take you down. She hates to be touched as Wiley, Jack and Jared found out earlier. I suggest for at least the time being, you all give her plenty of space.”
“I’ll give her the back of my hand.” Connie growled.
“Connie, don’t do it. I’d hate to see your pretty face all bruised up,” Deke told her.
“She really took down three of us?” Killian asked in a hushed voice from behind the bar.
He nodded. “For now, don’t push her and for god’s sake, don’t touch her. It sets her off.”
The main doors opened and Deke watched as Gator came inside. He then followed his VP down the hall and into his office. Closing the door behind them, Deke poured them both another drink. Looking at his second in charge he asked, “Well, what did you find out?”
Gator slammed the drink down and reached for the bottle. “Peaches told me very little. She said her name was Cassie and that they had gone through the foster system together. She said they both were ten years old when some bastard tried to rape her. Peaches that is, not Cassie. Cassie killed the man and they ran away together. They survived because of Cassie. They grew up on the streets and it wasn’t easy. Cassie always promised to keep Peaches safe and until three months ago, she had.”
