Stryker’s Fight by Erin Osborne
Chapter Six
Stryker
I’VE BEEN AT the clubhouse for about a half hour after being out searching every day for any news and sightings on the Frozen Bastards. No one knows exactly where they are. Rich followed them yesterday when they showed up at the bakery while Sally was there. Unfortunately, they remained in town. The three men went from one business to another, terrorizing and being general assholes to the townspeople. It’s not going to fly with us, and we’ll put an end to their joke of a club sooner or later. I just hope no one gets hurt before that happens.
Killer and I are sitting at a table talking and relaxing as the ol’ ladies prepare our dinner. I’ve got a beer in hand when the main door opens up once again. Rich walks in followed by Sally and my Princess. I haven’t seen her anywhere other than the clubhouse since I took her to dinner and the park. Natalia yells out my name and races to my side as Sally and Rich walk further in the room. At the same time I set Natty on my lap one of the new house bunnies walks up and rests her hand on my shoulder in a very personal gesture as she leans down to get close to Natalia.
“Stryker, I didn’t know you had a daughter. She’s very beautiful,” the house bunny purrs in my ear while ignoring the little girl sitting in my lap.
Sally rushes to us and grabs Natty from my lap. It’s not hard or anything that will hurt my Princess, but I can see the hurt and anger flaring in her eyes. It also doesn’t escape our attention the way she forces her body between Natalia and the house bunny. She doesn’t want this bitch anywhere near her daughter and I can’t blame her. I’m pissed as fuck about the situation to be honest because not only do I not get to spend time with Nat, but Sally thinks I’m fucking this girl. It’s written all over her face.
I turn in my seat to watch my girls race into the kitchen to help out with the rest of the ol’ ladies. Laughter and talking filter out into the common room as we sit and try to enjoy a cold beer after being out in the heat for so long. Once they disappear from sight, I turn my attention to the house bunny who is trying to get a seat in my lap. That’s not gonna fucking happen.
“You’re new here so I’m goin’ to give you some advice. When here with my Princess, you don’t step foot near me. My girl comes first. Always. Second, you don’t fuckin’ touch me unless I ask you to. I haven’t and I won’t ever ask you to touch me. That woman owns my heart and I’m as good as taken as far as your concerned. Do you understand me?” I question her, looking to gauge her response.
“That bitch can’t satisfy you the way I can,” she says as if she means anything at all to me.
“You call her a bitch again and I’ll make sure you don’t stay at this clubhouse. Ever,” I tell her. “In fact, if you ever step foot near her, I’ll kick your ass out without question and not a single member here will back you up. You’re nothin’ more than a hole to the single men here. Find one of them and leave me be.”
With the stomp of her foot and an exaggerated huff, the woman turns on her heel and heads for the back hall where her room is. Or she’s going to tattle on me to Slim and he’ll laugh her ass out of the clubhouse. Sally might not be an ol’ lady right now, but she holds the same respect as one. Not a single man or woman here will put her below a house bunny. Add in Natalia who has every single one of us wrapped around her finger and this woman is pushing the limits of remaining here very long. House bunnies are a dime a dozen, and they can be replaced with the snap of a man’s fingers. Plenty of women want a walk on the wild side and to have the protection of the club.
“Have you seen Cammie today?” Killer asks me as I try to lean back far enough in my chair to see in the kitchen.
“No. I was gonna take her dinner when they’re done. Have you talked to her?”
“Not today. When I saw her yesterday, she was upset. Her son needs to be brought to her as soon as possible. That’s the only thing she wants. I’m startin’ to wonder if we’ll find them in time to save him,” Killer admits as Gwen makes her way in with their twins.
“We’ll find him in time. There’s no other option. With the guys runnin’ around the clock tryin’ to find them, it’s not goin’ to be much longer before we get a location. They’re goin’ to fuck up really soon,” I try to assure him and myself at the same time.
We sit in silence for a few minutes as more laughter filters out of the kitchen. Rich is behind the bar taking care of the clean glasses and making a list of the alcohol that needs to be restocked. He’ll take care of his responsibilities to the club while Sally is here since most of his time is spent at my house or the bakery these days. I’m not sure why she’s there all the time, but that’s what I’ve been hearing around the clubhouse when the ol’ ladies are here. It’s been a few days and she’s been there for both of them. Apparently, that’s why she’s late getting here today. Sally is usually one of the first ones to arrive when the ol’ ladies plan on making dinner for all of us.
Standing up, I make my way over to Rich at the bar. He bends down to grab me another beer before I hold up my hand to stop him. I don’t want another one because I’ll be heading back out with Boy Scout after dinner to continue our search. Between the time I’ll be sitting here and eating whatever dinner the women make us, I won’t have to worry about riding after drinking one beer. Taking a seat at the bar, I look at him for a few minutes.
“How’s my girls doin’?” I ask him, knowing he’s not going to lie or sugar coat things for me.
“Sally is tired as hell all the time and works herself to death takin’ care of Natalia and your house. She’s been pale as hell lately and there’s no way she’s not sick with somethin’. She doesn’t complain about a damn thing though. Natalia is a ball of energy, but she’s kept on the schedule you guys have been keepin’ her to. Sally’s an amazin’ mama.”
“Has she been to the doctor to find out what’s wrong?” I question, concern filling me and making me wonder what the hell is going on with her.
“Yeah. I think she has another appointment comin’ up, but I’m not sure. She tries to keep me in the loop so I know what’s goin’ on throughout the week. Sally doesn’t want me to have to ask every mornin’ what the plan for the day is. We have our own routine down and it works. I’m just sorry I’m not here at the clubhouse to do what I’m supposed to be doin’ here,” Rich tells me as he continues working.
“You’re exactly where you need to be,” I tell him, meaning it. “Those girls are my entire world and I need to know they’re bein’ looked over and protected. Thank you for bein’ there for them when I can’t.”
“Stryker, I know I’m nothin’ more than a Prospect and I don’t get a say in anyone’s life. All I can say is she misses you. Sally’s nothin’ if not a strong and independent woman. When she thinks no one’s lookin’ at her, she’s sad as hell. I hear her cryin’ in your room at night after Natalia’s asleep. I know she’s conflicted about what she wants, but it’s more than what you’re thinkin’. I just get that vibe from her because of the way she still watches you. Especially when she hears your bike goin’ by the house,” Rich informs me things I didn’t know.
“Thanks man. I’ll take it into consideration. I’m just as lost and confused as she seems to be.”
With a nod from Rich, I head back to the table with Killer. We sit in silence while trying to catch what’s going on in the kitchen. There is no way in hell we can hear exactly what’s being said. The ol’ ladies caught on pretty quickly we’d try to listen in on their conversations from when they were in there. Now, they murmur so we can’t understand what they’re saying without physically being in the kitchen with them. None of us are brave enough for that task though. We’d rather do anything other than that because then they’ll put us to work and bust our balls more than they already do.
“Have you thought more about where we can look that we’re obviously overlookin’?” I ask Killer as he holds one of his daughters.
“I’ve been thinkin’ about it nonstop. We all want these games and bullshit over with. Other than findin’ out where they are, there’s not much we can do. What if we go in when it’s dark and try to go through the rundown garages and barns? Maybe they’re hidin’ their bikes in there. It wouldn’t surprise me. Honestly, these assholes don’t want to come at us head on. They want to come after our women and scare the women of town more than anythin’ else. In a one-on-one fight, they wouldn’t fuckin’ win or stand a fuckin’ chance. You know that as well as I do,” Killer states, his voice harsh as he thinks of anyone getting close to his girls or anyone else in town.
“Fox can’t find much of anythin’ on them either. He’s been lookin’ nonstop and only stops when Kim forces him to. They’ve been hidin’ their tracks and that’s about the only good thing I can say about them. It just sucks for us because it’s goin’ to take longer to find out anythin’ about them. I wish they hadn’t blindfolded Cammie so she could give us a target location,” I respond to him as the women begin carrying things out of the kitchen.
Now it’s time for us to step up and make ourselves useful. We don’t let them carry much of anything when we’re more than capable of grabbing the plates and platters that hold the food they’ve been preparing for all of us. Any little bit of help we can give them; we strive to take care of it. Standing up, we line the plates and platters along the top of the bar. Gwen brings out the paper plates and silverware to get the kids plates ready before anyone else. Before I can say anything, the house bunny from earlier steps up and begins helping herself to the food. Not only did she not help prepare it, but she’s also taking it before anyone else. We all wait for the kids to eat first.
“You can eat your dinner and then you’re on clean up alone,” I inform her as she gets to the end of the food line.
“You can’t tell me what to do,” she states as if she’s anyone here inside this clubhouse.
“The hell I can’t. Your time here is done. You’ve got no respect for anyone here. There’s a way we do things, and you haven’t cared to learn anythin’ about it,” Killer speaks up. “The way you just barged in to get your food shows you haven’t learned a damn thing here. Our children eat before any of us. Then, the ol’ ladies eat before we get our food. Prospects and house bunnies are last to get their food. You’ve shown Stryker disrespect more than once today and it means you’re outta here.”
Rich takes the plate of food from her hands and tosses it in the garbage. Not a single one of us are going to touch it after she’s had her hands on the food. After dumping the plate, the Prospect walks her from the clubhouse. He doesn’t give her a chance to do grab anything as she shrieks and screams the entire way outside. She’s being so loud in throwing her temper tantrum we can still hear her after the door has slammed shut behind them. I shake my head, turning my attention toward Sally as she helps Natalia get her a plate full of food. Well, a plate full for her.
After the women and kids have their food in front of them at various tables, I walk down the line filling two plates of food. One for me and one for Sally. We’ve been taking care of her while she’s still locked in a room. She can have visitors in the room, and we’ll get her whatever she needs or wants. However, she’s not allowed out of the room at this point in time. We can’t trust her still. Cammie understands and doesn’t complain about anything. I personally believe she’s living her life locked in a room because she’s still being treated better than her own father treats her at his clubhouse. Or wherever they’re staying.
“Can I sit here when I’m done?” I ask Sally as there are still two empty chairs at the table she’s sharing with Killer and Gwen.
“Yeah,” she answers when no one else does.
Setting my plate down by Natalia, who smiles up at me, I make my way to the room Cammie’s staying in. When I knock and unlock the door, there isn’t a sound from inside. Opening the door, I find her crashed out on top of her bed with a book in her hands still. The ol’ ladies have been bringing her books to read. Setting her plate on the stand by her head, I pull one of the throw blankets in here off the chair before covering her up. This room can get a little chilly for some reason. We’ve tried to fix it, but nothing has worked.
Leaving her room, I make sure to lock the door once again. Heading out to the common room, I take my seat next to Natalia and dig in. Today they made us shake ‘n bake chicken with roasted potatoes and corn on the cob. It’s delicious as usual as I try to pay attention to my Princess.
“Stryker, I miss you,” Natalia says suddenly.
“I miss you too Princess.”
Sally looks on at our exchange with sadness filling her expressive eyes. I would do anything to take that look from her. Anything except for moving back in the house with Sally and Natalia. It hurts like hell that I’m not there with them. Turning my eyes back down to the table, I keep a close eye on my girl as she picks up her corn on the cob. Natty only has a half piece of corn. I help her after silently asking Sally if it’s okay. With a nod from her in response, I butter the corn before showing my Princess how to hold it so she can eat from the sides of it.
For the next hour, I spend time with Sally and Natalia. Sally and I talk about Natalia only as she plays in between us. As usual, nothing personal is mentioned between us. In this scenario, I can’t really blame her because we’re surrounded by every member of the club who’s not out searching and the ol’ ladies. Our situation is not up for discussion among anyone. They’re all gossiping and trying to figure out what’s going on as it is.
“Well, it was good to hang out with both of you tonight. I have to head out for a while. Can I get Natalia for a while one day this week?” I ask Sally as I stand from the couch we’ve been sitting on.
“Yeah. Stryker, I told you I’m not gonna keep her from you no matter what happens,” she says quietly so only I can hear her.
“I know. I’m never gonna just assume or take advantage of it though,” I tell her, wanting to pull her into my arms something fierce. “Boy Scout, let’s head out.”
Instead of watching him tell his family goodbye, I make my way out to my bike. Looking toward the road, I notice a truck sitting just down the road off on the side. We’re gonna creep by it before doing anything else. Keeping my eyes locked on the truck, I tie my bandana around my face and wait for Boy Scout. As soon as he’s on his bike and ready to roll, we head in the direction of the truck. Passing by slowly, it’s abandoned. Or at least no one’s in it right this second. I’ve never seen it before, but it doesn’t mean anything. I make a mental note to check on it when we head back if it’s still there. For now, I blank my head of everything so I can concentrate on the task at hand.
