Roman

by K. J. Dahlen

  “Where would she go?” Gator asked.

  “Do you think she would go back to Boston to be near Peaches?” Deke asked

  “Hell, I have no clue,” Deacon grumbled.

  “Do you guys have any brains among you?” Reva muttered.

  Deke turned stormy eyes to her and asked, “What did you say?”

  Reva slammed her cup down on the table and glared at all three of them. “I asked, if you all had a brain among you?” She glared at him.

  “Woman…” Gator shook his head.

  “Can’t you see what’s right in front of you?” Reva continued. “Maybe you actually can’t, maybe the broken x chromosome that makes you men, takes something away from your brains. Open your eyes man, can’t you see what she’s doing?”

  “Apparently not.” Deke glared as he crossed his arms over his chest. “Why don’t you just fucking tell us what we’re missing here and be done with it? We have better things to do that jabber with you.”

  Reva straightened her back and glared at him. “Have any of you men tried talking to her? Have you asked her what she wants out of life or have you just assumed she doesn’t have a clue?”

  “What are you saying?” Deacon asked.

  “I’ve been talking to her since she came here. Getting to know her a little bit better and I’ll tell you boys something, that girl has a good head on her shoulders. She’d have to have one or life would have chewed her up and spit her out a long time ago. Did you know she made sure her and Peaches graduated high school? They had to go to the public library every day and take the courses online but Cassie made sure they did it. They took their GED test at sixteen. She even took college courses when she had the money. Granted, they were online classes but she proudly told me she was working toward a legal assistant degree. She worked for a legal firm as a paralegal in Albany before Peaches disappeared. They were the kind of law firm that helped the lower class.”

  “What does all this have to do with where she went?” Deke asked.

  “Gator told me you found her at an old school today.” Reva nodded. “I would check there before running all the way to Boston. If she has something started here, she would want to see it done first.”

  Deke studied Reva for a moment. Then nodded. “We can do that.” He turned to grab his jacket then turned back to her to ask, “Do you know what she’s doing at the school?”

  Reva shook her head. “No but then I didn’t ask her. I was going to wait until she wanted to talk about it. It’s not my business is it? Ain’t that one of the rules around here? Minding your own fucking business?”

  Deke’s lips tightened and his fingers fisted the soft leather of his jacket. Without saying a word, he stomped outside.

  A few minutes later, Gator and Deacon joined him and together, they roared off toward Troy.

  ~* * * *~

  The streets were quiet as dawn approached. Cassie was sitting on the roof of the old school house on the west side of town. Her tears were long ago dried and the hollow in her heart was beginning to ease.

  She’d been thinking about what happened at the clubhouse tonight and wishing things had happened differently. She hadn’t known how Deke had found out about this place but she wished he would have just asked her, rather than get the wrong idea in his head.

  This place had been a dream of hers since she was a girl. So often, she had dreamed of a place like this, a safe house, people in need could come to. A warm place to sleep, with hot food available. And most importantly, a place they could turn to for help.

  She heard footsteps coming across the roof toward her and she smiled. “Morning Amos.”

  As the older man settled down beside her, he groaned. His feet joined hers over the side of the building. “Damn, it hurts to sit on the ground like this. You’re here awful early, ain’t ya?” He studied her for a moment then asked, “Something wrong baby girl?”

  Cassie nodded without looking at him. “Had a fight with my old man last night. He jumped to the wrong conclusions about me and he didn’t give me a chance to explain about this place.”

  Amos stretched his hand out carefully, then after a moment, he grabbed her hand and raised it to his lips. Kissing it slightly he asked, “Is that the reason you’re all bruised up? You’re old man?”

  Cassie shook her head. “He didn’t attack me on purpose. I kinda got a thing about people touching me. He grabbed me and I kind of lost it for a moment.”

  Amos nodded. “Fear can do that to a person, can’t it?”

  Cassie nodded and watched as the sun began to peek over the horizon.

  “Baby girl, I need to know something.”

  Cassie turned her head and watched him. “What’s that?”

  Amos cleared his throat. “This place, it has come to mean something to the guys that stay here. Are you gonna finish it? Or did your old man say different?”

  Cassie smiled. “It doesn’t matter what he says. He never even asked me about it. This place is my dream, not his. I’ll stay and finish what we started. This place is gonna mean something. It’s not just my dream anymore. It’s our dream, yours, mine, Frankie’s, Jack’s, all of ours. You guys are doing all the work.”

  “Hell, baby girl, you’re the one who took a chance on us when nobody else would,” Amos muttered.

  Suddenly, the quiet of the night was disturbed by the sound of motorcycles approaching. Cassie and Amos watched as three bikes pulled into the playground area. She saw Deke raise his head to stare at her on the roof.

  “That him?’ Amos asked. “Is that your old man?”

  “That’s him,” Cassie admitted. “He’s with a friend and my uncle.” Cassie got up slowly, backing away from the edge of the roof before standing.

  Amos shook his head and muttered, “That is a big man on a mean bike, all right.” He then joined her and together, they went to the main doors.

  As they walked the halls, the other men fell in behind them. Cassie didn’t notice them until she opened the doors and stepped outside. The men behind her all gathered at her back protectively.

  “Is this your welcoming committee?’ Deke asked.

  Cassie turned and saw all the guys behind her. All of them looked a little rough but willing to stand with her. She couldn’t help but smile. She turned back to Deke. “What do you guys want?”

  Deke looked around and could see signs of improvement. Frowning, he began to notice more changes being made to the outside of the building. “What is this place?’ he finally asked.

  Amos took a step up and wrapped his arm around Cassie’s shoulder. “This is Redemption House.” He knew the man asking meant the world to Cassie and as much as he hated it, he didn’t want any trouble for her.

  “Redemption House?’ Deacon repeated. “What the hell is Redemption House?”

  “Why don’t you all come inside and have a look.” Frankie held the door open.

  Deke, Gator and Deacon stepped forward.

  Amos dropped his arm and stepped back leaving Cassie to lead the way inside.

  When they stepped into the building, they could see building materials spread out all over the place. The lobby had tables all over filled with saws and other building equipment on them. The floor had sawdust all over and there were brooms and buckets all over the place.

  As they walked down the hallways, the doors to the classrooms stood open. Deke peeked into one room and saw a living area, complete with a bed and a sofa. The colors on the walls were not those of a schoolroom instead, they were softly muted colors.

  When they reached the end of the hall Gator asked, “What is going on here?”

  “Redemption House is going to be a place where people can start over,” Cassie answered. “A safe house if you like, where people who need another chance can come and get set up. These guys are making the classrooms over into living quarters to hold a person or persons until they can get back on their feet. Eventually, we’ll be able to offer them jobs too, or at least I hope we can.”

  “Wh
ere did this idea come from?” Deacon asked.

  “From me, it was my idea,” Cassie replied.

  “Why?” Deke asked.

  “Because sometimes, people need a little help when they are down and out. Sometimes, they just need someone to believe in them enough to give them a second chance. Here they can be safe…they can start over if they need to.”

  “When did you come up with this idea?” Deke asked as he crossed his arms over his chest.

  “When you’re cold and hungry, living off the streets and eating somebody else’s garbage for your supper because it’s the only meal you’ve had that day, you tend to dream a lot,” Cassie whispered. “When me and Peaches were living on the streets of Boston we both had dreams, she wanted a family and I just wanted someplace warm and safe to live. I took care of myself okay but it would have been better if it were safe. There are too many evil people out there. People who would slit your throat for just being in their way.”

  “So, how are you funding this? Where is the money coming from?” Gator asked.

  “I had this place declared a nonprofit, so some money comes from the city and Peaches’ grandfather donated some and I had some savings.” Cassie motioned toward the guys standing around her. “These guys are doing all the work to refit the rooms and we’re reusing a lot of what came with the school.”

  “Why don’t you boys have a look around and see for yourselves what we’re doing here?” Frankie offered.

  As everyone moved away, she found herself alone with Deke.

  “Why didn’t you tell me about this place?” he asked.

  “Because this was my dream, not yours.” Cassie stared at him “I didn’t need or desire your permission to do this.”

  “Maybe not, but it would have been nice to know about this before tonight.” Deke growled.

  “Why? You could have cared less about what I did, unless it interfered with your plans. You have your business to take care of. You made that very clear to me. In the past few weeks, you’ve barely spoken to me. I’m not allowed to ask you about your business, so why should I have to tell you about mine?”

  “Damn it, because you’re my woman, that’s why.” Deke roared.

  “And just what does that mean to you exactly?” Cassie asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

  Deke just stared at her for a moment. “What do you mean…what does that mean?”

  “Am I you’re partner? Or just your lover? Hell Deke, I don’t even know if you like me or not. You never talk about how you feel, so how am I supposed to know?” Cassie pushed her hair back away from her face. “We sleep together but we don’t talk. I asked you a couple weeks ago about getting a job and you told me I didn’t have to work, you would take care of me.” She began to pace. “Well, I’ve been taking care of me most of my life. I don’t know any other way. Change is very hard for me. I don’t like it. Ever since I met you, I’m just supposed to let you handle things. But Deke, that’s not who I am.”

  “What do you want me to do?” he finally asked. “I can’t let you go. You belong to me.”

  “Are you saying that you love me?”

  “No,” he retorted. “I don’t do the love thing.”

  Cassie felt her heart breaking. She could hardly breathe. “Then I’m nothing more than your whore,” she whispered.

  “You’re my woman,” Deke corrected her. “You should be happy with that.”

  Cassie shook her head. “I won’t be a whore to anyone. My life means more to me than that.” Taking a step back, she stared at him for a moment, then she turned away and began walking down the hall.

  ~* * * *~

  Deke just stood there and frowned. He apparently, didn’t make himself clear. He wasn’t leaving this place until she would come home with her. He followed her down the hall and when he got close to the room she went into, he heard her crying. He paused and was about to enter the room when someone stepped behind him. He looked back at the two men standing there, neither one of them had a kind expression on his face.

  “I think it’s time for you and your friends to leave here,” Amos told him. “I don’t think you’re welcome here anymore.”

  “I’m not leaving without her,” Deke stated.

  “I don’t think she wants to go with you,” Frankie said.

  “Deke, we should go,” Gator urged. “We don’t want to start any trouble here.”

  “I think I’ll stay here,” Deacon said leaning against the wall. “I’m family and she needs me right now.”

  Deke tightened his jaw and without saying a word, he stomped down the hall to the main doors.

  Gator followed closely and when they were outside, they both heard the lock snap behind them.

  As he and Gator got on their bikes, he looked up and saw her standing in the window of one of the classrooms. He could see the tears on her cheeks and the heartbreak in her eyes. Deke growled beneath his breath as he hit the gas and he popped a wheelie as he turned and roared down the street.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Two hours later, thirty bikes and bikers came into the lot.

  Cassie, Deacon and the other guys watched as the bikers came forward.

  Wiley was among them and he stepped forward to announce, “We’re here to help, just tell us what to do.”

  Cassie showed no expression as she nodded and motioned for Amos.

  Amos stepped up and began giving orders. About midday, a large delivery truck for the local hardware store pulled in. On the truck were stacks of lumber, sheetrock and other building materials.

  Cassie was handed the delivery slip and after the guys unloaded everything, she watched the truck pull away. She glanced at the slip in her hands.

  “I think this is his way of apologizing,” Deacon told her as he came up behind her.

  “Why can’t he just say the words?” Cassie whispered.

  Deacon wrapped his arm around her waist and put his chin on the top of her head. “Honey, some men just can’t say the words, they think that what they do says it all. Deke is just one of those men.” He chuckled. “I can tell you he’s never met anyone like you before.”

  “Meaning?” Cassie frowned.

  “Deke is and always will be one of the leaders. He doesn’t follow very well. He knows what he wants and he goes after it. As President of Satan’s Spawn MC, he’s had various women throw themselves at him, hoping to be the one he chose for his old lady. He would play the game but he never played it for keeps. Not until he met you.”

  “You think he wants to keep me?” she asked as her hand brushed against her stomach.

  Deacon’s eyes caught the movement as slight as it was and his mind went blank with surprise. “I’m thinking he does, he maybe just doesn’t know it yet. Some men are stupid that way.”

  Cassie nodded as she turned and watched the crew working. She motioned at the bikers and materials and asked, “Why is he doing all this?”

  “My first guess would be, because he wants you to have your dream. He thinks he knows how much this means to you,” Deacon whispered. “Deke isn’t a bad guy, baby. He’s a good leader and the men under him would go to the wall for him. They respect him and they willingly follow his rules, because they know he’s got their backs too.”

  Amos and Frankie came over to where they were standing. Amos was rubbing his whiskered chin. “I guess that man of yours ain’t so bad after all.”

  Cassie smiled a little. “No, I guess he isn’t.”

  “You know something, missy,” Frankie remarked.

  “What’s that Frankie?”

  “You’re giving us a second chance to make something of ourselves here maybe you should do the same for him.” With that said, Frankie and Amos turned and went back to work.

  Cassie slowly walked away as well. She went into the old gym and closed the door behind her.

  ~* * * *~

  Deacon stood there for a while, then turned and walked down the hall looking for what he could do to could help.

  Wiley st
ood in the doorway and called out to him, “Deacon, can I see you for a minute?”

  When Deacon joined him, Wiley shut the door cutting off the noise of hammers, saws and the other men calling out orders. Motioning toward a bench, he sat down and stared at Deacon. “So what’s going on here? Why did Cassie leave?”

  Deacon shrugged. “All of this…” He motioned around the room. “Deke didn’t know about until yesterday. Cassie’s been working on this for over a month now and she didn’t tell him.”

  Wiley whistled low. “And he got pissed about it?”

  “That and other things,” Deacon admitted. “He didn’t give her a chance to tell him last night and she left. We followed her here this morning and found out about this place.” Shaking his head, Deacon stared at Wiley. “And Deke being the jackass he can be at times, pissed her off. He should have remembered she isn’t like the other women he deals with every day and that he can’t order her around.”

  Wiley grinned. “Yeah, I’d have liked to have seen that for myself. Both of them have strong personalities. I’ll bet she didn’t give him any quarter either.”

  “No she pretty much stood nose to nose with him. Plus, I saw that mark on his jaw.”

  “Yeah…”Wiley chuckled. “I’ve gotten a few of those from the Spitfire, myself. Well, he told us to come here and help. At least, it gives us something to do. It’s kind of slow right now.”

  “Cassie and the guys appreciate the help.”

  “So, who are those guys?” Wiley asked. “They look homeless.”

  Deacon shrugged. “I don’t know. I haven’t asked them yet. For all I know, they are.”

  Wiley got to his feet. “We’d better get back to work. I’m sort of looking forward to this.”

  Deacon left the room and went to find Cassie. When he entered the gym, he found her painting a sign. He could clearly see the outline of the name Redemption House but what she was working on surprised him. “Why are you putting Rufus on there?”

  Cassie gave a small smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Because he’s the one good thing in my life. Every time I needed him, he was always there. He listened to me when no one else did. He gave me comfort just by being there and no matter what, he never turned his back on me.”