Page 6 of Outlawed Treat
“Talked to Caliana this afternoon.She’s finally gettin’ a security system installed.I was supposed to do it yesterday but we’re out of the best one and I had to order one.It will be here by tomorrow mornin’ at the latest.It might already be here.I’ll check with the Prospects when we get out of church.Some shit is goin’ down at her house and it’s spooked her enough to have us secure her house better than we already have,” Master tells us as I sit up straighter in my chair and pay rapt attention to what he’s saying since it involves Caliana and the home her children are in.
“What the fuck is goin’ on that she got scared?”I bark out, my words harsh and low as I slam my fist on the table in front of me because I have no clue what’s going on in her life.“Did you know about this shit, Link?”
“I have no clue what Master is talkin’ about.This is the first time I’m hearin’ anythin’ about it.What the hell is goin’ on with Cali?”Kreed responds, turning his full attention toward Master as we look at him for answers.
“She was left a ton of pictures on her porch.They were scattered all over the place and had drops of blood on them.There were also drops of blood on her porch and steps.She didn’t follow the trail to find out where it went.I wouldn’t expect her to.The pictures had a giant X on Reckless’ face.Every fuckin’ one of them accordin’ to her.And they weren’t just recent pictures.They were from years ago.I haven’t seen them personally yet, but from what Cali said, they’re from around the age of eight up to now.This is not only a threat against her, but it’s against you too, Reckless.We have to handle this shit tenderly and I will grab the pictures from her tomorrow when I go install the security system for her.Anythin’ else you want me to do at the house?”Master asks, looking between Kreed and myself.
Everyone at this table knows the friendship between Cali, Kreed, and myself.They know we’re best friends and will always be there for Cali and the kids.More than the rest of them who see it as a way to remain close to Darren.Kreed and I truly care about those three and will jump in front of a bullet to ensure they’re safe from anyone trying to hurt them for any reason.
“I’m goin’ with you,” Kreed immediately speaks up without looking at me because he knows I’ve been avoiding going there.“I’ll take care of anythin’ else that needs to be done.You worry about the security system and makin’ sure it does everythin’ Cali wants it to.”
“I’ll stay here.Call me if you need anythin’.I’ll be there in a matter of seconds if you need me to show up.I’ve got a few things for Rory and Bryce if you’ll take them over with you,” I say, picking the gavel up in my hand as I look around the table.“Anythin’ else?”
“Nothin’,” the guys say, their voices merging together as one as I slam the gavel on the table and call our meeting to an end.
Everyone leaves the room and I slowly get out of my seat.The need to go to Cali right now is overwhelming and I know tonight will be spent drinking myself into oblivion once again.It’s the only way I’ll be able to stop myself from riding to Cali’s house and protecting her from the dangerous world around her.Of making her mine and betraying the memory of Darren.Slowly leaving our meeting room, I head for the bar and look at Rosa.She’s more than a club girl.If I’m being honest, she doesn’t fuck with any of us.She works the bar so the Prospects can handle other things.We all respect her decision not to fuck with us while she lives her life the way she wants.Though, I do know something is going on with her none of us know about.We’ll figure out sooner or later, it’s just a matter of time before one of us steps up and claims her.I have my suspicions on who it will be, but that’s just me.
“Drinkin’ again?”Kreed questions me as he takes the bar stool right next to me and waves off the beer for a bottle of water.
“What the fuck, Link?If I wanna drink, I can drink.You don’t like it, you don’t gotta watch,” I tell him, knowing I’m taking out my anger on him for no reason.I’m not angry at him, it’s at myself because I know I could end this all if I were just man enough to go to Cali.
“Gonna make the call, Caleb.One day soon, they’re gonna show up and you’ll have your ass handed to you.I won’t even be sorry about it, either.Get your shit together or deal with everyone else.I’m not gonna lie to Cali if she asks me about you either.She’ll hand your ass to you if necessary and we all know she can be rough when she lets herself lose control,” Kreed promises me and I know he’s not bluffing.This is him giving me my final warning to pull myself together and do the right thing.
Without looking at him, I grab the bottle of Jack and leave him alone at the bar.I take my usual table at the back of the common room so I can see everyone around me.No one else ever sits at the table and only joins me if I invite them.Kreed is the only exception to the rule and that’s because he knows I won’t ever turn him away.For the rest of the night, I watch the men and women around me while drinking one glass after another of Jack.I know I can’t ride to Cali’s and that’s when I finally slow down and stop drinking one glass right after the other.Kreed keeps a close eye on me, but doesn’t come over to talk or join me at my table.I’m hurting him with my actions, but this is the only way I can think of to deal with everything.Yes, I know it’s not really dealing with anything.I’m simply burying my thoughts and feelings until I sober up again.
Chapter Three
Caliana
EVERY SINGLE DAY atwork seems to get longer and longer.I’m having to fight off my boss’s advances more and he’s becoming extremely aggressive.Marcus believes I’m playing hard to get and truly want to be with him.He doesn’t give a fuck about my children or the fact that I haven’t even been widowed a year.While there was no love between Darren and myself at the end, I know I’m not ready to be with anyone.Well, there’s one person I’m ready to be with, but I know he won’t ever take that step with me.Caleb is a good man and he won’t ever be with me because I was with Darren.He’ll feel it’s a betrayal of Darren’s memory and he’ll be stepping over a line none of them would ever cross.Well, I know Darren would.Kreed told me in high school the reason Caleb was pulling away from me and spending more time with Abigail and the rest of the girls instead of hanging out with us.
I was sitting in the bleachers as normal during my lunch period.While the guys thrive on being the center of attention and being surrounded by girls, I prefer the shadows where I can hide and remain obscure.No one truly knows me except for Caleb, Kreed, and Darren.They’re my best friends and I’m slowly learning to let them in.Especially Darren now that we’re officially together.We’ve been together for three weeks now and I have no clue why he chose me when he still prefers to be in the spotlight and surrounded by girls.No, he doesn’t do anything with them, but he sure as fuck loves to be surrounded by them.
“’Lil Bit, there you are,” I hear from behind me and look to find Kreed walking toward the bleachers with a large smile on his face and a tray of food in his hand.He knows I don’t usually eat lunch because I give mine to Darren so he has more than enough to eat during school.“You gotta stop comin’ out here and skippin’ lunch.We don’t need ya collapsin’ from low blood sugar or some shit.It’s happened in the past and it can happen again.”
Kreed always wants to take care of me.He tries to take care of all of us.We’re his family and Kreed doesn’t know any different because that’s who his mom raised him to be.She wants him to be strong and independent while also being able to recognize the needs of those who he loves.Laura is an amazing woman who has been a single mom all of Kreed’s life.She worries about how she’s raising him and if she’s making the right choices.While we all know she’s the best mom out there, Laura will always ask questions of herself because the confidence was beaten out of her.Sam has done her best to help her instill the confidence Laura deserves to feel, but it’s hard when you’ve been abused for so long and don’t have the time to get the help you need to overcome the trauma that’s been inflicted on you.
