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Boone pulled up in front of the empty shop DeeDee and Winona looked at yesterday. The shop was just a small mom and pop kind of place but it was big enough to start out in. It was in a good part of town at least. And not too far from the Savaged Souls.
He sat there and turned off his bike while staring at the building. He prayed she would be here and not between here and Moss Bluff. Swinging his leg over the bike, he walked to the back door. He saw her sweet ride parked crooked and said a silent prayer since she was here. He tried the handle and found it opened under his hand.
His heart began to beat stronger and harder as he prayed she would be upstairs. He mounted the steps and when he reached the top, he looked around at the empty apartment. There wasn’t much for furniture, just as old chair and tray table. He took a step into the almost empty room and looked around.
He finally saw her sitting in a huddle in a dark corner. Tears were rolling down her face, some were fresh and some had dried. His heart cracked open when he saw the forlorn look in her eyes. Boone walked closer to her and finally sat in front of her. Reaching out to brush the hair away from her face he said, “Sweet girl, you’re breaking my heart here.”
“I’m sorry.” She could barely speak her voice was so ragged from crying. “I love my dad and my mom but I can’t stay there anymore.”
“I know babe. And so does Gunner I think. It tears his heart out but he understands. He’s really pissed at Dana at the moment but he knows she crossed the line this morning.”
Winona shook her head. “It doesn’t matter, there shouldn’t be any line for her to cross. I get that she hates me but I didn’t do anything wrong here. I just went on a dammed vacation.”
“And you found your family. I found the one woman I could love,” Boone reminded her gently while kissing her lips as he pulled her onto his lap.
“It should have been the happiest day of my life right?” She reasoned as she rested her head on his shoulder. “But it wasn’t. I mean meeting my dad was wonderful but Dana? I can’t go back there. I’ve had more than I can take from her already. If Gunner wants to spend time with me he can come here, I just can’t go back there, Boone. I just can’t. I hope he understands that.”
“I think you should know Jett is staying here to help with the kid’s club and he’s claimed Dana,” Boone informed her.
“Then I feel sorry for him.” Winona pointed out.
Boone almost cracked smile at her tone. “Your dad wants you to come back to the clubhouse.” Boone began but paused when she shook her head. “Sweetheart, you don’t understand, and I need to tell you the reason why. When DeeDee came here it was because a few of Blacky’s men were watching your shop in Moss Bluff. They don’t know his franchise is all but gone and he’s dead. You need our protection until this is settled and the best way we can protect you is under our roof.”
“Oh Boone.” She reached out and cupped his jaw. “I do love you and I also love Gunner, my mom, and the rest of the guys, but I can’t go back there. No, I won’t go back there. Mom and I will be okay right here during the day. I can lock up tight at night and I’ll be all right.”
“I’ll be right here with you, you know that right?” Boone told her gently.
“You will?” She looked astonished at his statement.
“Well, of course. You’re my woman. I go where you go and vice versa. I’d rather be at the club though. There’s strength in numbers.”
“I know that’s why I think you should stay there.” She sighed heavily.
“No way, you aren’t sleeping anywhere but in my arms and in my bed,” Boone assured her. “I have to let your dad and the club know where you are baby.”
“Well, let them know but also let them know I can’t come back there. Dana belongs in that place and I don’t.”
“You’re his daughter too, you know,” Boone reminded her. “You know you are Gunner’s first born.”
Winona shook her head. “Doesn’t matter. She’s been there all her life. Many would consider me broken. And I suppose in many ways I am but I don’t have to take her abuse and I won’t.”
“Aww baby, you aren’t broken. You have been through hell and you are still strong and stand up for yourself, but certainly not broken. Ok, let’s go back to the club and grab my clothes.”
“I’ll wait here for you to come back.”
“No babygirl, I won’t make you go inside but at least say bye to your dad. Do it for him and yourself. I know he’d appreciate that much anyway.”
Winona pressed her head against his chest. taking a deep breath in and letting it out. “Alright, that I can do but I will not go inside.” She passed her fingers across his lips. “And please don’t make me when we get there, and I’ll walk away if she comes out. Just warning you.”
He sighed. “Damn, you are as stubborn as your dad, you know that?”
A few minutes later, they pulled into the compound.
Cobra and the rest of them hadn’t left yet, and they were standing around their bikes getting packed up to depart but when they saw her sitting on Boone’s bike, they knew they didn’t have to go. Cobra shook his head. “Hell and damnation girl. We were looking for a good fight.”
“Well, don’t let me stop you.” She swung her leg over the back of Boone’s bike. “I’m sure those boys need a good lesson in manners.”
Boone stood up from the cycle as he nodded to the men then he broke off to go inside.
Cobra and the guys watched and when she didn’t join Boone, they looked at her.
“You aren’t going in?” Jett asked.
“No I’m not.” She just looked back at them. “I’m tired of being told I don’t belong here, that I don’t mean anything to anyone living here. I’m just tired of the bullshit.”
Cobra nodded. “I don’t blame you sweetheart. But you need to forgive your daddy.”
She shook her head. “Gunner hasn’t done anything wrong. Mom didn’t either and neither did anyone of the Savaged Souls. But I can’t and won’t stay here and subject myself to anymore of her crap. She belongs here I don’t and she’s made that perfectly clear.”
“She’s wrong though isn’t she?” Jett asked. “You belong here as much as she does.”
Winona slowly turned her head to look at him. “Maybe once upon a dream ago, I thought I did. But now I know I don’t and never did. I learned a long time ago not to stay where I wasn’t wanted. But hey, you’ll all be welcome in my place once we get it up and going.”
Gunner and DeeDee came out of the front door and moved over to where she was standing.
Winona looked at them and smiled sadly. “I’m sorry to worry everyone but I’m ok. I’ll just stay at the apartment for now. Boone and I can look for another place once the dust settles.”
“But honey,” Gunner started.
Winona held up her hand, “Dad, please don’t. I’m fine, we’ll see each other as often as you want. Hopefully, mom will still work the bakery with me. I’ll be just fine.”
“You should be here,” Gunner insisted. “This is your home too.”
“Oh daddy, at least I got to finally meet you. That’s all I ever wanted you know?” She brushed a tear away from her eye. “Growing up, I prayed that Mike and Sheila weren’t my real parents. I used to dream of finding my real parents. To finally meet you and mom. Now that I have, I’m good. I know the truth now and I’m good.” She smiled. “However, I would love the opportunity to get to know you both better.”
“Well, you got that baby girl.” Gunner drew her into his embrace and hugged her tightly.
DeeDee sniffed back tears and patted her arm.
Dana stood at her bedroom window and tears rolled down her cheeks at the scene outside. One part of her wanted to stomp her feet but a small part of her regretted what she’d done to tear her family apart the way she did.
She saw Jett lift his head and turn her way. His eyes were distant and she feared she’d lost him before she even had him. She’d felt the electricity between them when he’d charged into her room earlier. She also remembered the pain of his punishment. The feeling deep in her belly and the feeling of his hard cock in her hand just before he left her here. She hoped he came back to her soon. She couldn’t wait to see where this would go.
She knew he was staying to help with the new club but lately she hoped he was staying for another reason. But with all the trouble she felt he hadn’t seen her at her best. She was afraid now. Afraid she was going to lose her place in the roll call here and that was something she couldn’t do.
When Blacky brought her back here twenty four years ago, she automatically became club princess and now, she was losing her title to an outsider. Looking beyond her father’s shoulder, she saw Winona. Her eyes dulled and she did stomp her foot even though no one else could see her.
Now that Winona was leaving, she knew she could get the princess title back as long as Winona didn’t come back. Dana narrowed her eyes and looked beyond Winona to glare at DeeDee. She didn’t understand why she never came back until now. She said she came back from time to time but Dana wasn’t sure she believed her. Yes, she had her dad all these years but didn’t DeeDee understand she’d wanted her mother too?
Now, she was full grown and she no longer needed a mother. Winona had her for three years but Dana didn’t. She felt she somehow missed out on something but she didn’t know what.
She and Winona were worlds apart. Winona was so perfect. She could cook and bake and Dana couldn’t even fucking boil water. Now Dana felt like she was lacking in even more ways somehow. Everyone here had been comparing the two women and she could tell she was falling short of their expectations. She never had before, sure some of the men didn’t like her. But they were going to have to accept that Winona wasn’t living here anymore, and that she would get her position back.
Then she would start on getting her father back. He so deserved more than DeeDee. She had betrayed him once and once had been enough. Dana didn’t think she deserved a second chance to break her father’s heart all over again. She would have to start planning to rid the club of her too.
For now though, Dana considered, she had to get back in the club’s good graces. Without Winona here, she might have a chance to pull it off, all the while plotting to get rid of this DeeDee person. She looked back at Jett and saw the disappointment in his eyes now. She would have to pull back her feelings in front of him or lose him and she refused to lose him, not until she had him of course.
She moved away from the window and watched from the shadows as Cobra and his men got on their bikes and took off for Louisiana. Something about Blacky’s men tracking Winona? Or was it DeeDee? Shrugging, she realized she didn’t really care, but then the thought came to her that she might could use them to get rid of both women.
She sat down on the edge of the bed again and winced. Her ass was still tender from Jett’s spanking this morning. Her heart began pounding in her chest as she remembered how his hand had felt on her bare ass.
When she could no longer hear the roar of the bikes, she got up again and went to her window. Winona was still there talking to Gunner and DeeDee. Now she didn’t have to hide her animosity for both women so she didn’t bother. No one was looking anyway.
Winona was waiting for Boone to return. “I’m sorry for worrying you guys.”
“Oh, honey.” DeeDee hugged her. “We just needed to know you were okay.”
Gunner nodded. “I don’t blame you for walking out on that. Your sister stepped over the line. I don’t know how to control her anymore.”
“Dad, she’s a grown woman, you can’t control her.” Winona shook her head. “Like I told Boone, I don’t have to live here, but I would still like to get to know you better.” She glanced over at DeeDee. “I’m hoping you’ll work with me at the bakery at least until I get used to it again. But most of all I just want to be happy. I finally found you guys and I don’t want to lose you again.”
“I will always be there for you,” DeeDee said through her tears.
“You belong here,” Gunner argued as he gave her that hard glare of his.
Winona shook her head. “No Dad, I don’t. Dana grew up here, she fits in here. I don’t. And I’m fine with that.”
“You’re my kid too.” Gunner growled. “There could be room for both of you here.”
“No, I think we both know she would never let that happen and I’m not going to fight her anymore. I have you and mom in my heart and that’s where I’ll keep you. You can come over and see me anytime you like. Just make sure you tell her she’s not welcome there. I don’t think she would show up anyway but I won’t tolerate her antics in my shop.”
Gunner hung his head and nodded. “I’ll tell her and I’ll stand by your request.”
“Do you have to go tonight?” DeeDee asked. “We haven’t even had a chance to clean the place up yet.”
“I think its best,” Winona said quietly. “I can clean the place up. We may have to sleep on the floor until we can get a bed in there but I’ve done that before.”
“We can bring some furniture over for you guys. We got plenty here,” Gunner offered.
“And we can help you clean up today,” DeeDee added. “There’s still plenty of daylight.”
“Gonna miss you, sweetheart.” Gunner stared at her. “The guys are going to revolt now that you got them spoiled with your cooking.”
Winona threw her head back and laughed. “Mom will win them over in no time. She’s better than I could ever be. Who do you think taught me to cook?”
Gunner looked over at his woman and grinned. “I remember well her cooking from twenty five years ago. She was just starting out back then but she sure could cook. Come to think about it, I should have known who she was as soon as she started cooking here.” He stared at both women. “I can’t tell you how glad I am that the two of you are here, where you belong.” He kissed Winona’s cheek. “I’m going to go talk to the brothers, so we can get you moved properly.”
Gunner left DeeDee and Winona talking about the bakery and what they needed to do to get it open. He went inside to announce to the men what he hoped would be something they wanted to do.
He headed to the main room and cleared his throat then called out for Boone.
The men all stared at him as the room became silent.
Once Boone entered the main room, Gunner then said, “Men, you do not have to help in any way but due to Dana’s actions this morning, our Winona will not return. She found a place and Boone our VP is moving out also. So, I need to see a raise of hands. Who will help clean and move furniture for them? We need them settled by nightfall.”
The room burst with noise. Mostly grumbling at first, due to the brother's anger over what Dana had done. Then hands went up and chairs were pushed back as the men looked to Gunner and their VP to see what they could do to help.