Page 41 of Outlawed Treat
Tank is another one who’s been with me more often.He shows up at the house and doesn’t leave until Kreed and Caleb are back.I can feel him watching my every move and I feel both comfort and annoyance at his attention on me.It’s like he’s waiting for me to break once again.The only thing that would make it worse would be if there were pity in his eyes.That’s not something I see from him.Yesterday, he made me workout with him.We went over all the self-defense moves I learned growing up and then we used the weights for a while.I was sore, tired, and covered in sweat by the time we were done in Kreed’s gym.It’s also the first night I actually slept more than a half hour at a time over the last three days.Like normal, Tank knew what I needed and made sure I got it.
Even when Caleb and Kreed are at the house, they’re on their phones and a laptop.I’m not allowed to see what’s going on and they stop talking if I get too close to them.I understand they’re trying to protect me, but I feel as if I need to know what’s going on so I can prepare myself.They won’t listen to me when I try to talk to them about it though.This is them in full protection mode and I have to remind myself not to get annoyed and go off on them.Luca is the only one who talks to me like normal and he’ll be the one going to work with me when I go back.It’s refreshing to know he’s not letting this affect our friendship and treating me differently because of the panic attack he saw me having.
Bryce knows something is going on and has been at my side when he’s not sleeping or being kept busy by the other adults in the house.Rory has also been really clingy when she’s awake.I hate this for them because I’m letting it affect them when it shouldn’t.My children don’t deserve to be touched by this in any way.It’s one more way I’m failing as a mom.That’s where my head keeps going.Sam and Maddie have talked to me about this more than once, but nothing sinks in.Nothing will ever make me feel any different about how I’m failing Bryce and Rory.
Today, I’m heading for a short shift at the diner.One of the girls had to leave unexpectedly and Simon had no one else to call.Veronica is out sick and Maysen is already working.No one else ever goes in when they get called on a day off or stays if they’re asked.Maysen is usually the one who picks up the extra shifts and stays later than normal almost daily to help out.I’m happy I’ll be working with her.
“Luca, I’m ready to go.You’re coming with me, right?”I ask him as I enter the living room from the bedroom.
Maddie and Tank are sitting on the couch with Rory in Maddie’s arms.Bryce is playing with his motorcycles on the floor in front of them.One of the kids movie’s is playing on the TV though no one’s paying attention to it.Sam will be here soon with Playboy and Shy and Slim will remain at the clubhouse.Slim has been helping the guys figure things out and calling Fox to help them from Benton Falls.Playboy and Tank have been helping too, but they tend to let the guys in this club do the work while they support them from the shadows.
“I’m ready when you are, Miss Cali,” he answers, getting off the stool he was sitting on at the island and moving closer toward me.
“Cali, you need anythin’, you call us.I think some of the guys plan on stoppin’ in while you’re workin’ at some point.You see that person again, get the hell outta there.Luca, you stick to her like glue.Reckless already called Simon to let him know you’ll be there with her.He’s not gonna say a word about you doin’ what you gotta do to protect her,” Tank says, watching as I grab my purse, keys, and make sure my cell phone is in the pocket of my apron.
“Won’t let her out of my sight,” Luca promises him as I move over to the kids.
Leaning down, I kiss the top of Rory’s head as Bryce jumps up from the floor and races to stand behind me.He patiently waits his turn as I give my daughter one more kiss.Turning to my son, I give him a big hug and place a kiss on his cheek.
“Bye, Mama.Love you,” he says before going back to play with his bikes.
“Bye everyone.I’ll see you in a few hours,” I say as Luca follows me out the door and to the SUV.He won’t be riding his bike when we leave the compound for now.Caleb wants him with me in the SUV from the club because it’s got bulletproof windows, a reinforced frame, and all sorts of other protective measures in place.
I’ve been at work fortwo hours and we’ve been busy as hell.Maysen and I are running circles around the other waitress on duty today.She’s barely taking care of her tables and we’ve had to get those customers things for her tables more than a few times.While I normally love being busy, I’m a mess at work today.Every noise makes me flinch and I keep looking for any sign of Darren being close to the diner.There isn’t anything I can do to stop from feeling this way.Maysen noticed and asked Luca if I’m okay.I don’t know what he told her, but she’s watching me like a hawk now.
Right now, Manic, Chaos, Count, Priest, and Mad Dog are sitting at the club’s reserved table in the back corner of the diner.They’re going to remain here for a while and when they leave, the rest of the guys will show up and take over.No one is taking my words in vain and they’re all showing up to not only protect me, but to see if they can find Darren and prove to themselves it’s him.They believe me when I say I saw him, but the proof of seeing him in person means I’m not alone in this knowledge.Caleb has been going out of his mind trying to figure out what the hell is going on and who we buried if it wasn’t Darren.
“Is there a Caliana Foster here?”a young girl asks, walking in the diner and stopping just inside the door.
“I’m Caliana Foster.Can I help you?”I ask, walking up to her and wondering why someone would come in the diner asking for me specifically.
“I was given this and asked to hand it to you,” she says, holding out one of those manila envelopes.
For several minutes, I don’t reach out to take it.The girl stares at me as I slowly reach out with a shaking hand.It’s not until I feel Luca at my back that I fully take possession of the envelope and the girl rushes from the diner.I don’t exactly feel like I’m about to have a panic attack, but I’m definitely weak and trembling uncontrollably.
“We’re here for ya, Cali,” Manic says, walking up to me and guiding me to the table they’re all sitting at.“Already called Reckless and he’s on his way here.Let’s see what ya got.”
I follow Manic and Luca back over to the table Manic was sitting at with everyone.They all stand and let me slide in one of the seats so they can form their protective barrier around me.Simon is on the floor and immediately takes over my tables.No one says a word or looks in our direction.They’re giving me as much privacy as I can get in a public space.
Opening the envelope, I tip it over on the table in front of me.Picture after picture fall out and land all over the table with a few sliding down to the floor beneath.The guys grab those ones and set them back on the table after looking at them.Again, every picture of Caleb has the X over his face and it’s etched out worse and worse with every picture I pick up.This is getting ridiculous and my fear for his safety skyrockets as my hands start to shake even more.
“What the fuck?”Manic barks out, startling several customers and Luca.“Is this the shit you’ve been gettin’ since this started?”
“Yeah,” I answer him, noticing the drops of blood on the photos like usual.
“We’ve all heard the guys talkin’ about the photos, but this is the first time we’re seein’ them,” Manic explains as he picks up another one.“Cali, I’m sorry you’re havin’ to deal with this shit.You’ve done nothin’ to deserve it.”
Looking in the envelope again, I find a folded up piece of paper.Pulling it out, I take a deep breath and hold it before releasing it slowly like Caleb has me do when I’m having a panic attack.Carefully, I unfold the paper and close my eyes before opening them to read the words I know are only going to hurt me.
Caliana,
In less than a week, it will be one year since your husband gave his life protecting someone else.It’s taken less than a year for you to start whoring yourself out to a fucking motorcycle club.How many of them are you letting fuck you?Are you one of the club girls?Trying to find a new daddy for your children by conning some poor guy into marrying you like you did with your husband?
Do you know he couldn’t stand you?He thought you were a weak, pathetic excuse for a woman who couldn’t do anything right.The house was never clean, you couldn’t cook anything edible, and the kids will suffer with you as their mother.They never should have been born in the first place.At the end of the day, it was all part of his plan.A plan you’re all too stupid to figure out in the first place.
I see it also didn’t take you long at all to let Caleb and Kreed into your house on a full-time basis.Though, it isn’t your house, is it?That’s sitting empty.Maybe one of you should check out what’s been done while you’ve been gone.You might like the changes that have been made.You’ve moved into the compound and are living in their homes.You really don’t know how to keep your legs closed do you?Are they sharing you like they used to share girls in high school or when they were in the military?You’ve changed and it’s not for the better.If anything, you’ve only gotten worse than ever before and I know Darren is happy he doesn’t have to witness your current behavior.
In less than a week, you’ll all experience loss.No one is safe from the revenge you all deserve.Darren didn’t deserve to die and others didn’t either.Cali, the revenge starts with you.I suggest you hold your kids tight and love them while you can.They’ll be orphans before too long.
