Dania's Destiny (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour)

by Dace Everan

  Tank nodded. “I know.”

  Dania hugged Tank around the middle and clasped Link’s hand at the back of Tank’s neck. This was her safe place here between these two men who had taken her in, no questions asked, and assured her she could do anything with her life. These two men who had given her life and the motivation to do anything. She sniffled. “Tired… wanna sleep,” she mumbled.

  Link grabbed the blanket and Tank held her easily in his arms and carried her upstairs. The men Tank had called had taped off her room and had everything cleaned and locked up. Tank tucked Dania in and glanced at Link. “Just going to check in with the boys outside and make sure everything is okay,” he whispered, brushing stray strands of hair from Dania’s face. Her eyes were open and staring straight ahead. He didn’t like this part at all. The dead look that would enter the target’s eyes. The sheer terror that freezes them while they try to figure out what the hell just happened. Try to comprehend what happened. He furrowed his brow. He’d have to call the shrink and get her in.

  Link nodded, crawling in and hugging Dania close.

  She eagerly snuggled against him, tucking her head under his chin. “Hurry please, Tank,” she whispered, closing her eyes, squeezing them, and tensing in Link’s embrace.

  Tank nodded, kissing her on the temple.

  Morning came and three tired friends trudged downstairs. Link poured the coffee. Dania grabbed the cereal and Tank retrieved the bowls. She had woken numerous times through the night, screams jolting both Tank and Link out of their semi-asleep state. Every time she had shifted and whimpered they had caressed and whispered soft words to her.

  They sat in silence as they ate, drank, and slowly woke to the world.

  Dania glanced at Tank from the couch. He was on the phone as soon as they had put their dishes in the dishwasher. She glanced at Link. “Can you come with me, Link?” she whispered. She needed to get dressed and the thought of going into her room alone scared her.

  Link shook his head. “You can wear one of my T-shirts. We’ll wait till Tank gets off the phone to see if you can go back in.”

  Dania nodded.

  * * * *

  The day dragged on and more police officers and friends of Tank’s showed up throughout the day. Link had cancelled all meetings at work and sat with her as Tank sunk into the zone he was born into.

  Dania sighed, watching Tank pace back and forth seething with anger. Dan had gotten ahold of her and offered her a position at his shop. At least one thing was going right because everything else seemed to be falling to shit. Tank had gotten angrier as the day continued. By supper time he was full-on pissed and red in the face. Now he was just angry and seething in it.

  “I cannot fucking believe they removed me! What the hell?” he bellowed to no one in particular.

  Dania flinched at the big voice.

  Link just offered him a blasé look. “You knew it would go this way, Tank. You’re associated with the victim.” He shot Dania a look. “Don’t you dare take offense to that statement,” he ordered.

  Dania shook her head. She knew what he meant. He was right, of course. Tank should have known they would remove him from the situation. Shit, the fact that they were still in the house was amazing.

  “I can find somewhere to go if you guys want.”

  “No!” they answered in unison.

  Dania slumped. “You know if I wasn’t here this wouldn’t have happened. You two would be in the back having a steak, drinking beers, and going over your day,” she murmured.

  Link narrowed his eyes. “Don’t even say things like that, Dania,” he ordered.

  Tank glared at her from across the room. “If I ever hear you say things like that again I’ll spank your ass!” he uttered. He couldn’t believe she would even hint that she shouldn’t be here. “You are a part of our family, Dania, whether you like it or not!”

  He crossed over to her and stood over her, arms crossed over his massive chest.

  “I know I’m yelling and I’m angry, but in no way is that directed at you. I’m pissed that some fuckhead dropped a dead fucking cat in your bed, wrote some fucking nasty message on your wall, and terrified you!” He washed a large hand over his face and took a calming breath.

  “They snuck into your room, Dania! What if you hadn’t of woken up!”

  He was pacing now.

  “What if you were still lying there when the fucker came in? Would it be your blood everywhere? Would they have left you alive?”

  Link raised a hand. “Tank, don’t you dare go and put nasty thoughts in her head. No, they would not have hurt her! That message was clear as fucking day. That was directed at her and you know exactly what it concerns.” He looked at Dania. “Your parents know you’re alive. The man they were supposed to give you to knows you’re alive.”

  He could feel Tank’s glare from across the room. He didn’t care at this point. He refused to keep this hidden from Dania any longer. She needed to be aware of the situation and know that she had to play it safe till Tank’s people had this fixed and gone.

  Dania sunk into the couch. It wasn’t what she wanted to hear. Not now. Life was good with Tank and Link. She wouldn’t go back to her parents. She would never go to that man. She shook her head and both men closed in.

  Chapter Nine

  Dania looked over her new surroundings. A faint smile tugged at her lips. Dan had bought her all new gear, new colors, everything she needed. She ran a hand over the padded seat of her new bench. She twirled on her chair, fingers trailing along the smooth surface of her work station. She touched the new ink machine, her heart pulsing.

  “You like?” Dan’s soft voice spoke from behind her.

  Dania glanced over her shoulder and up. Why did every man have to be bigger than her? She smiled and wanted to friggen cry. The last week at home had been rough. The unpredictable bouts of tears followed by terror then more tears and finally Tank or Link holding her till she was calm.

  She nodded her head. How could she not be happy here? She loved Dan’s shop. It wasn’t as open as Keela’s but it felt homey. Dan had artistic partitions up. Hers was blank compared to the rest. He had told her she would be painting it in her free time to show her skill to those who came in.

  “Your first customer is tomorrow morning,” he hummed, pride that he had another talented artist working for him.

  Dania’s smile grew as work took over her brain. She would be working here. She would have her clientele. Shit, half of them had heard through the grapevine that she was moving to Dan’s. “I can’t wait,” she murmured, wishing she could sound as excited as she should be at the opportunity to work with Dan.

  Dan pressed a firm hand to her shoulder. “You gonna be okay, Dania?” He’d seen others fall under the stresses of being a victim. He really hoped she didn’t fall into that category. She couldn’t. She was too strong a soul to fall under and he knew it.

  Dania nodded, glancing at him. “Yeah, feels good to get the hell out of the house and back to something real.”

  Dan smiled, nodding. “Hey if you want to take the walk-ins let me know.”

  Dania grinned. “You know I’m up for walk-ins. Let me get acquainted with my surroundings and the feel of the equipment and I’m on, baby.”

  Dan grinned. “That’s the girl I want to see.”

  Dania gave a nod and turned to her station. Dan wasn’t much older, maybe mid-twenties, but the man reeked fatherly stature for her. Okay not fatherly, mentor.

  * * * *

  Link touched her short hair, eyes wide and full of disbelief. “Dania… holy shit, you chopped it off,” he mumbled in awe. Fuck, waist-length metallic strands gone, replaced by a root of black, the tips a blood red. “Tank’s gonna flip,” he uttered.

  Dania giggled. “What, I needed a change… I think we all do right now.” She mumbled the last part.

  Link grinned and waved his hand above her head. Her short do tickled his palm. “So dramatic,” he hummed.

  Dania giggl
ed, running her hands through her hair. She loved it. It felt light and free. She stuck her tongue out, showing off the piercing there.

  Link bellowed out in laughter. “Shit, you can’t just do one thing. You have to do a whole lot. What else?” he asked, eyes scanning her face, down her body wondering if there were some hidden piercing anywhere else?

  The weeks had seemed to pass rather quickly since the incident. Tank insisted on a new security system on the house and he drove by Dania’s work every day to make sure all was well in her world.

  Three weeks since the cat mess had happened and everything seemed quiet. Tank and he knew it was just the beginning though. The assholes would wait till Dania was back to being out of fear before leaving her another present refilling her with fear. Tank suspected after the next present it would come closer and closer until she was too scared to go anywhere. Shit, the next one could happen when she was at work.

  “Tongue out again, I wanna see.”

  Dania giggled, sticking her tongue out and showing him her new piercing.

  Link chuckled and hugged her close. “Shit, I love you Dania,” he declared lifting her in a tight hug. “Come on, Tiny, surprise for Tank tonight,” he hummed, setting her down and dragging her to the kitchen.

  “What’s the special occasion?” she asked.

  Link grinned. “He was awarded at work today. Thinks I don’t know about it. Hill called and gave me a heads up. Thought we could make up his favorite,” he called, handing her the cookbook, page opened to Tank’s favorite cake. “Think you can handle that?”

  Dania giggled, saluting him. “On it, what are you making?” she asked, looking over the bags of groceries. Obviously he had just gotten home before her.

  “Ribs and wings,” he offered.

  Dania grinned. She loved Link’s ribs and wings. “You’re an amazing cook,” she decided, tackling her project.

  * * * *

  Tank stared at the dimly lit dining area, a slow grin coming to his lips. Link and Dania stood to the side. “Shit, I could get use to this,” he decided, crossing to Link and kissing him on the lips.

  Link hugged him close. “Congrats, babes,” he hummed.

  Tank snorted. “You know I don’t like celebrating awards,” he grumbled, pushing him to arm’s length.

  Link shrugged, a mischievous look in his blue eyes. “So… we needed to celebrate and birthdays are too far, no holidays, and I decided, so suck it if you don’t appreciate what we have done,” he shared, swiping Tank’s hat off his head.

  Dania giggled. “Oh, you didn’t say we were allowed to undress him!” she teased, starting on his belt.

  Tank stared at her. “What in the hell did you do to your hair!” He waved his hand over the short do.

  Dania giggled. “You like? I like. Link says it tickles. Wanna see what else I did?” she asked, eyes twinkling with mischief.

  Tank grinned. He loved that familiar twinkle in her eyes, a twinkle he had not seen in a long time. This was going to be good. “Does it require getting naked?” he asked, hoping to god it did.

  Dania giggled. Link chuckled. “Sure.”

  Tank walloped out in laughter. “Bullshit!” he uttered.

  Dania hugged him. “You’re right… no getting naked.” She stuck out her tongue and Tank stared, jaw dropping.

  Link burst out in laughter. “He has a secret fetish for piercings,” he warned.

  Dania looked back at him. “You couldn’t have told me that before!” she uttered. This was not good. She had seen Tank and his fetishes, well his likes and how he obsessed.

  Supper was filled with laughter and reminiscing of the day. Link had beaten that latest case he had. Dania had tattooed four people and was near done painting her partition. Tank had been at ceremonies all morning followed by social hour among the force. Not his favorite thing to do at work.

  “Hey tell us what’s happening with Keenan? You haven’t mentioned the dude in a while,” Tank asked, lounging back in a lounger on the deck. The three of them settled in to watch the sun set.

  Dania glanced at him. She wasn’t comfortable talking about Keenan with them. They seemed to get upset with her when she discussed him. “Ah, you know, go out, have some lunch. I fixed the mess on his arm.”

  Link smiled. “You can invite him here, Dania.”

  Dania shook her head. “Nah, he doesn’t feel right here, says he feels like he’s intruding on our friendship,” she mumbled.

  Tank raised a brow. “Not like we’re partners or anything. You should invite him over on the weekend. We have a right to know him, don’t we?”

  Dania furrowed her brow at the thought. She would love to hang with Tank and Link and Keenan. Though Keenan had said he was intimidated by Tank. She shrugged her shoulders. “I’ll invite him, can’t promise anything,” she murmured.

  Link glanced at Tank, wondering what he was up to.

  Chapter Ten

  Keenan stood at the front door, glancing around the perimeter of the area. He held a bottle of wine in one hand and roses in the other. Shit, he felt like a douche. Dania opened the door, her smile brightening his unusually foul mood.

  “You made it.” She beamed.

  Keenan nodded, handing her the red roses. “Thought you would like them,” he murmured.

  Dania took them, inhaling deeply. “Ah nice,” she praised, taking him by the arm and dragging him through the door. “Come on in, Tank and Link are just getting ready to put the steaks on.” She took the bottle of wine from his outstretched hand. “Oh, Link’s favorite,” she chimed, waiting for him to remove his shoes.

  Keenan gave a slight nod at Tank as he entered the kitchen, the hulk of a man spearing steaks with a fork. “Tank,” he greeted.

  Tank nodded. “Keenan, good to see you, beer?” he asked.

  Link appeared behind him, already ahead of him with four bottles interlocked in his fingers.

  Keenan nodded. “Sure.”

  Link held out his hand, Keenan and Dania taking one each. Link set one before Tank and leaned up against the side of the counter.

  Tank took the bottle of wine, looking it over. “I’ll let it breath and we can have it with supper,” he decided.

  Link motioned Dania over, leaning close and smelling her roses. “Pretty, you know she likes the pink ones with the white tips,” he offered, pushing away from the counter and passing the two.

  Keenan cleared his throat. “I’ll remember for next time,” he murmured.

  Tank laughed. “Of course you will. Hey, when she takes a potty break we’ll fill you in on her other likes,” he offered.

  Dania snorted. “If he says anything gross, don’t believe him,” she threw over her shoulder, rinsing the stems of her flowers, trimming them, and arranging them in a vase.

  “Anything I can help with?” Keenan asked, watching the two men work around each other in the kitchen.

  Tank shook his head. “Good on the meat,” he declared.

  Link smirked. “Got the sides, Dania already got dessert done… guess that leaves you to fill in the conversation.” He looked at him waiting.

  Keenan furrowed his brows. “Well… weather’s nice,” he offered.

  Tank guffawed. “Fucking hot, what do you do for a living, Keenan?” There was no way he was sitting down to eat with this man just to talk about the fucking weather which they all knew was fucking hot!

  Keenan smiled. “Therapist, no, I can’t share stories confidentiality and all,” he replied, taking a seat at the island.

  Dania sidled in next to him. “Oh come on now, Keenan, you can share stories, just not names,” she urged.

  Keenan shook his head. “Told you already, Dania, can’t share stories… wouldn’t want to. Not with you.” After all that had occurred with her in the last little bit and the stuff she had shared with him, he didn’t need her to know the atrocities that struck the young people in their world.

  Tank leaned against the counter, pausing in his stabbing of the steaks. “Hey, tell me some
thing,” he started, waving the spicy, blood-tipped fork at him. “When a dude strangles a woman, then dresses her in his mother’s clothes, what the hell does that mean?”

  Keenan paled and nearly choked on his beer. “Ah… I… don’t deal with those kinds of matter. I deal with subjects like marriage counselling, child abuse, sexual assault.”

  Link furrowed his brows. This could be a good thing for Dania. She could talk to him and he could help her.

  Dania raised an eyebrow at Link. She caught the all-knowing look on his face numerous times before when he thought something would be good for her. “I don’t have issues,” she grumbled. As far as she was concerned she was perfectly normal. So what if some asshole had just killed a cat, and left its remains strewn across her bed in a bloody mess? She had who she needed to get her through her rough times. Tank and Link, two men who loved and cared for her.

  Keenan took hold of her hand and gave it a light squeeze. “Dania… we all have issues. Whether we want to admit it or not,” he replied.

  Dania shot him a sharp look. “Yes, well I think I’m good,” she uttered.

  Keenan nodded. “Yeah, me too,” he replied.

  Tank held back the smile tugging at his lips. That was a total jab, had to be! No therapist would agree with her thought. Not after what she had just been through.

  Link smacked his arm. “Any more bright questions, oh holy one?” he uttered sarcastically.

  Tank grinned. “Tons,” he offered.

  Dania snorted. “Oh I’m sure.” She pushed away from the island. “Want to come out back, Keenan, maybe leave the two lovebirds to devise a plan in secret?”