Spawn and Spitfire
Page 16
“Hello?” Iceman answered.
“Iceman, do you have the number for Calderone or Leon?”
“Why do you want to know?”
“Cassie left in the night. We stopped at a motel and she slipped away. She left a note saying she was going to stay here and watch over Peaches. I need to know where she might go. I need to find her.”
Iceman sighed. “Damn…that girl is a bold one. Do you need some help looking for her?”
“No I just need a number to call, so I can talk to Peaches.”
Iceman gave him the number and when he called Leon answered. He explained that he needed to talk to Peaches and that it was urgent. When Peaches got on the phone, Deke told her what happened.
She began to cry. “You have to find her.”
“I will baby girl but I need your help,” Deke insisted. “Where would she go? She said she wanted to watch over you until she knew you were going to be okay.”
He could hear Peaches weeping on the phone. “Okay, I know of a couple of places she might go. One place is a cave down by the water. Under the old McFlint’s Fishery warehouse. We stayed there for a while. If she isn’t there, she might be on the ridge above the city. There’s a cave up there by a cell tower. Either place is isolated and she will be able to see you coming. Please let me know if you find her. I need to know she’s safe.”
“Peaches, I think you need to know something,” Deke spoke quietly. “I love her and I think she loves me too. She left because she doesn’t want anyone to get hurt on her behalf.”
“I thought that might be her reason.” Peaches sighed. “Sullivan and the Feds won’t drop this thing. But my grandfather told me this morning he would take care of the police. They won’t be coming after either of us, but Cassie doesn’t know that.”
“When I find her I’ll tell her that.”
“I hope you can love her enough to get past her scars,” Peaches told him. “Some of them you won’t be able to see and they run deep.”
“I can do that,” Deke whispered. “All I ask is that she gives me a chance.”
“When you find her, make her believe that. She needs someone who cares about her. She needs someone who will show her what love is all about. I think she needs you.”
“I need her too,” Deke admitted.
“Then you find her and never let her go,” Peaches whispered.
“That’s the plan, baby girl.”
“Good luck,” Peaches said before she hung up.
Deke ended the call and looked over at his second in command. “Take half the men and search the ridge above the city. There’s a cave by the cell tower.”
“Uh, Deke,” Gator paused. “Iceman and his boys are waiting outside. I think they want to look for her too.”
Deke got to his feet and went outside.
Iceman and twenty of his men were mounted on their bikes waiting for him.
“This is not your business man,” Deke stated.
“But it is my city,” Iceman reminded him.
“All I want to do is find her and take her home. We won’t be here longer than necessary.”
Iceman shrugged. “I understand that man. I just want to know she’s okay.”
Deke stared at the other man for a few minutes. His spitfire really drew people in. He knew this all too well. She was an amazing, courageous woman and he couldn’t really hold it against the Prez of The Sinners. Finally, he nodded. “I have half my men under Gator, searching one area and I’m taking the rest with me to search another area. “
“My men can split up and go with you.”
“Tell your men no one touches her,” Deke insisted. “She doesn’t like to be touched.”
Iceman chuckled. “I remember very well. They all are too smart to wanna beat down from her.” His cool eyes twinkled with amusement. He turned to his men and announced, “Half of you go with his second in command, Gator. The other half come with Deke and me. No one touches the girl. Just try to talk her into letting you bring her back here. If you guys find her, she can ride with Gator.”
Their engines roared to life and bike after bike tore out of the parking lot. There were a lot bikers in these two clubs who were willing to do whatever they could to bring the Spawn’s Spitfire back safely. They all knew her story and she had their solemn admiration
Deke and Iceman were the last to leave. They took the lead and circled around the city to the water’s edge. Parking their bikes in the warehouse parking lot, the men made their way to the water’s edge and began searching for the cave Peaches spoke about.
“She worth all of this to you?” Iceman asked.
“Yeah she is,” Deke told him. “She’s come to mean a lot to me. My life would be pretty empty without her.”
Iceman grinned. “I hope someday to meet someone like that.”
“Boss, I think I found the cave,” one of Iceman’s men called out.
They both turned and saw the man pointing to a darkened spot nearby. Deke and Iceman rushed to it and when they got there, they peered into what looked like a cavern. Deke looked around a bit and found a flashlight hidden beside the door. He leaned over, picked it up and was surprised to find that it worked. “Someone has been here.” He glanced at Iceman.
“Let’s hope it’s your girl.”
Deke shone the light and it did little to disperse the darkness of the cavern ahead of them. Making their way inside, they both saw fresh footprints in the dirt.
Coming around a corner, they saw a camping area. In the middle of the floor was the makings of a small fire. A log had been dragged inside to sit on. A backpack leaned against the opposite wall and there were several other flashlights sitting in the dirt.
“How did you find me?” Cassie’s voice asked from the darkness.
“Peaches told me about this place,” Deke admitted. “How could you leave like that?”
“I told you I didn’t want anyone to get hurt on my behalf.” She came out of the shadows.
Iceman paused then said, “I’ll meet you outside.”
After he was gone, Deke pulled her to him. “I’m never letting you go,” he whispered in her ear. “I love you girl, don’t you know that?”
Cassie sighed. “How can you love something like me?”
Deke leaned back and stared at her. “What do you mean something like you?”
Tears were rolling down her cheeks. “People in my past tried their damndest to break me. They beat me, scarred me and carved me up. They tore chucks of flesh from my body and ripped my soul apart.” Her voice was little more than a whisper. “How can anyone love that?”
“How can I not love you?” Deke asked. “You may be almost broken but you learned to mend yourself. You are the most honest person I’ve ever met. You are brave and kind hearted. Loyal to the bone. You cared for and about Peaches most of your life. You brought her home to her family when no one else would. You learned to take care of yourself and other kids like you when they would have been abused or worse. You stood up for them and took the beatings when it should have happened to someone else. Those kids didn’t see you as broken, they saw you as their hero.”
Cassie sniffed. “But I’m no hero.”
“I’m no hero either, baby. I’m just a man who loves you. I need you in my life. You complete me in a way no other woman could or ever will.”
Cassie turned and stared at him. “Really? You love me?”
Deke smiled. “I do love you.”
“But I don’t know love.”
“Then I’ll teach you,” Deke assured her. “We can learn about love together.”
Cassie trembled in his arms. “I want to learn. I want you to teach me but I’m scared.”
“Of what?”
“I’m scared that I’ll never be the person you want me to be.”
Deke chuckled. “I only want you to be yourself. I’m not looking to change you. I love you for who you are right now.”
“I’ve been alone for so long,” Cassie whispered.
“So hav
e I,” Deke admitted. “I know about being alone. I also know about finding something better. I found you and I don’t want to lose you. Baby, I can’t let you go. I can’t go back to being alone anymore. I need you.” His arms tightened around her.
“I think I need you too.” She paused then said, “I think I have to tell you something.”
“What?”
“When we make love I have a feeling you’re holding back. I’m not sure what it is, but I can feel it.”
Deke sighed and laid his head on hers. “I didn’t want to scare you. Sometimes, my loving can get a little wild.”
“Will you show me?” Cassie whispered. “I want so much to learn how to love you, but I can’t if you hold that part of you back.”
Deke kissed her temple. “Okay, I won’t hold it back anymore. Come on baby girl, let’s go home.” He turned and led the way into the sunshine. “We’ve got a lot to explore.” He squeezed her ass.
Cassie jumped a little and then she grinned at him.
Everyone was waiting for them in the parking lot.
Iceman smiled when he saw her and nodded at Deke. “Your men will meet you at the crossroads outside of town. Have a safe trip back.”
Deke held out his hand. “Thank you.”
Then Iceman shook his hand.
Cassie broke away from Deke and went over to Iceman. She leaned in close and gently kissed his cheek. “Thank you for helping my friend Peaches and me last night. I appreciate it greatly.”
Iceman smiled. “You bet little Spitfire, it was my pleasure.” Then he revved his engine and peeled out of the parking lot, followed by his men.
Cassie went over to Deke’s bike and even though she was small in stature, she managed to swing her leg over the tank. “Come on boys,” she called out. “Let’s go home.”
His men all halted and swung their startled gazes up to the petite spitfire of a woman, sitting on the Prez’s bike.
Deke shook his head and grinned as he joined her. He started his engine and rolled out of the parking lot.
LOOK FOR
BOOK TWO
REVENGE AND RETRIBUTION
“A Sexy, Suspenseful Series, Full of Surprises!”
Just when Cassie thinks her past is over…someone comes looking for her. Someone she and everyone else thought was dead a long time ago. She has a man in her life and her dreams are coming true, so when Robbie comes after her she has more to lose than she ever had before. Except this time—she isn’t alone. She has friends and family to help her fight against the darkness that threatens her.
Then she discovers yet another surprise—she has a sister…
K.J. Dahlen
I live in a small town (population495) in Wisconsin. From my deck, I can see the Mississippi River on one side and the bluffs, where eagles live and nest on the other side. I live with my husband Dave and dog Buddy. My two children are grown and I have two grandchildren. I love to watch people and that has helped me with my writing. I often use people I watch as characters in my books and I always try to give my characters some of my own values and habits.
I love to create characters and put them in a troubling situation then sit back and let them do all the work. My characters surprise even me at times. At some point in the book, they take on a life of their own and the twists and turns they create becomes the story. Of all the stories, I could write I found I like mystery/thrillers the best. I like to keep my readers guessing until the very end of the book.
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