Chapter Three

I chat Bowser about me on a no work order so I won't show at the simulator and get a thanks back. I hope he's over the simulator shit. It's not like the wind and debris was real. The scene made it look bigger but it really is only fifty feet. We did that on the training room wall without anchors and leads hooked to each other.

Nike is training the dogs because he didn't get the order. He's happy with the bed we spent a couple of hours building. Anchor had enough scroll printed for another king bed and I had the extra logs cut and sanded from my bed, so getting it built went pretty quick. Wolf helped me with the frame. KC made the roll out trays for the gear boxes and Anchor made paw fronts for the wheels and mesh for the bed. Racks built stairs and got the sensors on fiber optic paw prints that Nike gave a thumbs up on.

Today, I'm building a couch. It doesn't match the chair style but I like it. Hank and Wolf do too and since it's the same soft leather bomber jacket material the Bits made me a roll of, I guess it works. I started a sectional that fits both my length and height and my Brothers showed to help finish it. I didn't expect to get it done but the printer did the hard work, we just put it together then padded and covered it.The brass-looking bike tire upholstery nails I printed look nice on the edges. I stand back and like the look thinking it looks Badass.

"Where did the padding come from?" I ask.

"That mattress in the storage trailer."

Storage trailer? I go out and look at the road. "Where's the trailer?"

"Between this one and the next house." Wolf points the opposite way.

I see Cowboy on the truck and I finally get Pres's cowboy furniture thing. I thought he meant western style. Everything in the ABSZ had Alpha Rising logos on it. "That's the new furniture store. It's not my furniture."

"Fuck. They're missing two mattresses now. I took one for the ottoman piece." Hank adds in and walks away.

"Our job coordinator just lost her bed, Brother." Pulling my tablet, I look for furniture and find Cowboys then make the call. They'll have it here tomorrow. Fuckin' great.

I turn to Wolf. "Tomorrow. Did she get a couch?"

He shrugs. "I'll go see."

I wait to see if he gets in. I have admin access but would need to look it up. No, I wouldn't, my thumb gets admin. I walk that way but stop. A bike coming my way has me waiting. I'm not in her house, after stealing her mattresses, while she's pulling up.

Something is holding me here. The build? I can't see her face with the helmet on. The hair? What the fuck?

Her visor is still pointed my way as she trips off the bike. When her helmet comes off, I stop breathing. "Firefly." I try but no sound comes out.

I bend and try for breath. She's here, right there. I stand and watch her frozen in place. My feet finally move and get blocked by the Brother.

"Whoa, Brother. She's got space she don't want you in."

Not happening, she's right fuckin' here. "I'm VP and your brother lives next door. This is Fleur and I've known her since she was born."

The Brother turns fast. "No fucking way. Is this Keylan?" He said my name right.

"It is. My aunt said he lives in New Mexico."

"Holy fuck. Well, sooner is better than later and you know he's not letting anyone near you."

She whacks the Brother without seeing where because her eyes are still on me. I smile at that. "Still my Firefly. Why didn't you call?"

I see pain and put a hand up remembering the violence Pres talked about. "When you are ready. I can tell you about the Club and why you don't have mattresses to sleep on tonight." I go for light with my hands itching to hold her.

She tries to smile but that pain doesn't leave her eyes. "No mattresses? It's supposed to be finished."

"I stole one and Hank took the other. We thought it was a storage trailer. VPs couch is nice and I guarantee no one has been on it since we finished building it about a half hour ago."Wolf owns that theft. I appreciate it.

Firefly laughs and I smile. "It's good to see that smile again. I've missed it, Firefly."

Her smile dies too fuckin' fast. "You know, I spent so much time agonizing about seeing you and here you are. You're not married? Kids, ex?"

"I've been waiting for you. I got out two years ago."

Wolf hits my shoulder. "Don't fuck it up, VP."

My hand goes out and I shove. "I'll see you for the Vision, take Hank's thieving ass with you."

He laughs but I don't turn away from my girl. She's right here. "You, husband, kids, ex?"

Tears form and I step closer. The Brother stands his ground with an arm between me and my girl. I'd like to snap that arm.

"I made a promise to you but need time, there's no one and never was. It's okay, Barry. It was a long time ago and he'd never hurt me." Her words confuse me but my breath catches. She kept her promise.

Barry looks my way but I don't return his look. I'm trying to piece together my girl's words.

"Give her time. I get it isn't easy for you, but she needs to tell you her story in her time."

"I've waited for years, I've got all the time she needs." My eyes are still holding hers and see her relax.

"Go, Barry. Keylan can show me his new couch, then my mattress-less house. I'm okay."

Barry kisses her cheek while her eyes are still on mine. I put my hand out and she takes it hesitantly.

Turning without ever looking at the Brother, we walk to my house. "Knowing I'd have down-time, I decided to make furniture. We just got here so the house is pretty much empty."

"You still build everything. That's good to know. I asked for minimal but got a two-bedroom house."

"They're all two bedrooms. No, Pres has three but one room is an office and our houses have a bit more kitchen to them. My dog has his own room."

Her giggle stops me at the door. I breathe. That sound brings me back. "You made a room for your dog?"

I smile at the amusement in her eyes. It takes the sadness out of them but they aren't lit. "Yeah, and a bathroom with a dog wash. I didn't do his because I didn't know I'd have him. I've built them for other Brothers though."

There it is, her eyes dance as she laughs. "Dog wash?"

"I'll show you. Nike, you in?"

Nike comes into the living room. "Fleur, I call her Firefly. Family, protect her. She's our job coordinator."

He chuffs and sits throwing a ‘welcome' and ‘Boss' up on his board.

Firefly laughs walking closer. "Can I pet you?"

I watch, not seeing the dogs getting pet often, I wonder if he'll let her. I do it but never asked.

Nike chuffs. "That chuff means yes."

She's down and scrubs around his gear. "You're a cool dog. Nike. Thank you for protecting me."

Nike shakes and she's up. "Not too much."

Nike chuffs. Too much or not too much gets a chuff but I don't know if it means he doesn't like too much or she's asking. I give up when he turns with a low bark. She follows like he asked her to. I follow them to his room, wanting her right where I can see her.

She shows appreciation for his new room, real bed and pictures, then laughs through the bathroom explanation."You're all set up here. This is great, Nike. If I ever get a dog, I'd want this for them. Respect and love should be shown to everyone."

Nike gives a happy bark surprising me. Not because he shouldn't bark, he's a dog, it's that I got the tone right.

I know that because his board shows ‘all equal.'

I explain. "Someone found out the dogs were being grown and Badass is getting them here. They work like Brothers and get treated well. Here they're free. Some work Security, some Ops. Nike is an Ops dog."

"I saw work dogs in, he's like them?"

What? "You were in the military?" Pres said it but she's Firefly.

Tears form and she looks around the bathroom avoiding my eyes. "Four years, army. It got me away from my parents and their idea that I'd be a nun. I got out and hid in Maine with a friend. She's Badass and pulled me in. It was good but I didn't deal with my past. Going home when I knew my parents were gone again, I saw your address on your mom's fridge and she told me about you building for a Little President all over New Mexico. Barry told me about his brother and this Club so I took the job. It was closer but gave me some time. Barry being here meant I wouldn't be able to bury…" she stops like she can't get it out, her eyes on the tile don't move.

I turn her face back to me, glad she didn't flinch away. "I don't need that story now unless you need to tell it now. You're here, I'm here. We've both kept ourselves open for this to happen. I've got time and can't find words to describe what you being here feels like, but finally home feels like it parked in my heart and comes close. We live, learn and start us together, here, now. Yeah?" It does explain why her parents didn't have much to say about her in their letters.

A tear escapes and I swipe it with my thumb. "Yeah. Thank you." Her croak kills me.

Bending slowly, I kiss her lips quickly but she doesn't let me get far. Her arms go around me and we stand in an unbelievable hug, in Nike's bathroom. The ridiculous location keeps me with a smile, but the dream and reality of her being here, in my arms, may be doing that too.

"Command–VP," Anchor yells and we hear the door close.

Firefly steps back.

I take her hand. "Fuckin' hell. We'll be right out." Leading her out, I explain, "Anchor was my second. Here he's a Team Lead."

"I'm supposed to have dinner with Pres. Will you be there?"

"It's at the Vision, a park I built. We'd planned on being there."

Her giggle has me looking where she's focused. Fuckin' Brothers. "Get your shoes off my couch."

Anchor jumps, then scrambles, tripping to get up. "Sorry, VP. Who are you? Is this your girlfriend? Did he make the bed for you?"

"Shut up, Anchor. How can we answer if you don't stop with the questions?"

I angle myself to watch Firefly and Anchor. She's smiling but I see her eyes back to holding sadness. "I'm Fleur but Keylan calls me Firefly. I'm the job coordinator here and I've been his girlfriend forever."

Anchor is shocked. "You're Firefly?" He looks from her to me three times.

I shake my head. "She just said that." And she's been mine forever.

"Racks said, you said she never showed." Shit. I did say that.

"So, you know the bed wasn't for her and now she's here. Hank and Wolf stole her mattresses to make the couch. See if you can find her a mattress."

His head nods fast. "We still going to the park? A trainee says it's cool."

"Yeah, Brother. The mattress."

"On it, VP. I know where there's a spare." He runs and she laughs.

I step closer and put my arm around her waist. "He's a good Brother but I need a minute to convince my brain you're really here."

"I'm really here, Keylan. I can't believe you are." My name sounds so fuckin' perfect coming out of her mouth the right way and sweet as hell.

Before I can fuck it up by kissing her or dragging her away on my bike, I take a step. "I need a drink." With a nod from her, we walk to the kitchen part of the open plan.

"The houses here are nice. I heard a lot about the Clubs and kids but no one told me about the dogs. I didn't watch the podcasts yet. Maybe they tell stuff like that."

"How long have you been at Badass?"

"Four months, I dragged my feet not believing all the stories. You were good but I saw your mom struggling after Bruce. He left his house to a friend."

I nod. "He wasn't all in with her."

She smiles putting her cup down. "I heard about that too. When it was explained in detail, it had me finally thinking again."

"You were too young to get it and I knew."

Her head shakes. "More than I did." Sadness shows and I don't like it.

"You're older and here now. Tell me about the army."

Her sadness lifts the longer she talks. I smile at the boot camp and get pissed at her deployment. I could have lost her. She didn't re-sign but hid. Hid from her parents, her past, me. I don't ask a single question.

A knock stops her annoyance at being buried in snow and needing to live with far less of it.

Pres and Flame come in. Pres makes me laugh, pointing with surprise and a big smile. "You got a couch."

I wince at that. "We made it. Wolf and Hank thought the furniture truck was storage and stole Firefly's two mattresses to pad it." I suck in a breath waiting for him to yell.

"You made the couch? It's a sectional." Flame gives me time and I jump on it.

"I have printers that made the solid panels. I just turned the feet."

She bends with Firefly to see the lion's paw feet. I thought they'd be cool.

"At least we have a place to sit. Did you order more mattresses?" Pres asks, sitting. The Brother and his calm always surprise me. I've got every reason to make sure he stays my President.

"Yeah, they'll be in tomorrow, but Anchor is getting a spare he knows of over to her. Probably from his second room."

He nods. "So, you know each other. It's weird how this happens but I'm told it's normal here. Bishop and Marli are with Raiden. They're coming to the Vision."

I nod wanting this straight from the beginning. "She's mine, Pres."

He's showing that surprise a lot today and looks at Firefly.

She shrugs, looking embarrassed. "I always have been. He agreed to give me time." She doesn't give anything away but to me she gave everything.

I turn back to Pres. "It will never be a problem we make yours."

He nods. "Good enough for me. Flame told Barry she'd take over the house tour, food check and list of needs and how to get them."

I take a breath for calm knowing he wants to talk to me.

My girl smiles looking my way, she knows. "I'll see you for the park."

"You will." I say the words but don't really want her out of my sight. I feel her, felt her close when she rode up, I can do time away if I can feel her close.

As soon as they're out, he turns. "Did she tell you what she's been through?"

I think about how much to say then decide he's Pres and I know him to be fair, honest and sane. "Some but not what caused it."

He nods. "Do you want it? Know I only ask because of Barry's warnings and concern."

Closing my eyes I breathe deep. "Overview." I put my elbows on my knees and head in my hands, bracing.

"Her parents had ties to the church. Dragged her to all kinds of missionary outreach locations. She finally wanted to go on what she thought was her last but they went with one the priest or whatever was going. It wasn't her choice. Priest's wife became the parents new plan for her. She didn't agree. I'm jumping but she was assaulted when the priest didn't agree with her decision. Another missionary got her home before they married her off and she enlisted." He stops when I start shaking and breathing heavy.

Stopping my hands from squeezing the top of my head off, I growl. "She told me from the enlisting part. Couldn't get out the cause so I gave her a when she's ready option and she took it." I'm up, shaking and pacing. "Her parents are pieces of shit. I talked to my uncle, or whatever he is, so he knew our plans. She was too young for all in and I knew it."

"Find a bag or whatever you do to get rid of that. She needs time. Barry says she never dealt with the betrayal and rape. She was just existing."

Rape. Fuck. I breathe deep. Rape then a shell like my mom after Bruce died. I pull up every bit of control I have and start walking, focusing on my steps.

"Don't miss the Vision. I think Barry is wrong and she needs you by her side while she figures out how to live again."

Those familiar words stop my feet. I can't look at him. "I'll be wherever she is for however long it takes."

"Good man."

I don't wait for more, I jog out then run.

After what feels like an hour of hitting the bag in the weight room, Wolf walks closer. I felt him come in a while ago.

"Spar or talk?"

My arms drop and eyes close. When I open them, he nods. "Since your eyes went from dead to seeing me, I really am in for the sparring."

I shake my head. "She enlisted."

"She had no choice. Parents gave permission for marriage when she was seventeen. That was after she told them what the priest did."

Hands on my knees, I breathe. "Tell me."

"Pres sent me a text or chat thing that Barry was showing. He didn't want everything either, I guess, but thought someone should have it in case you need it."

"Fuck." I wait.

"She made it back to the US through Mexico. They made it through the border with no problem then took a flight to Maine. Friend was close to Badass but she wasn't raised in the Club. Bikers liked her, she jumped on a mission trip making her momma happy but dad wasn't thrilled. New Priest was sketch. Friend's dad paid to get them both home but Firefly couldn't go home fearing her parents would drag her to the priest's door. She enlisted and got room and board with no way her parents could get a hold of her. Marines wanted to test her, she graduated early but she needed a home faster than they moved. Army delivered her the out and she took it. Was in boot camp within a month."

I did nothing to protect her. "Fuck!!" I didn't realize I moved but he backs up with his hands in front of him.

"Breathe, Commander. We're past the bad and you weren't in the country for her to get help from."

I swing hard landing on the bag, then bend to breathe as it swings wild. "She was deployed."

"In an MP unit. Good at her job and made it through unscathed. That alone is a miracle. Back home, she worked online, didn't go out much and the friend pushed Badass stories that got her moving forward. Now she's here, it was a surprise to find you in the Club she landed in but it's obviously not a mistake. You need to move forward so you're not dragging her back."

He stops and I think about that. Move forward hits me. That's what I told mom. It works with the familiar words from Pres. This is all what I said to my mom.

"Keylan, you need to do this for both of you. You've never been with a woman for more than a night. You need to move forward too and your Firefly needs you to make it there."

I stand and he takes a step back. "Yeah. I'll get her there."

He relaxes. "Trust isn't going to be easy. Don't give up and don't fuck it up."

I nod. Her parents consented to her marrying a raping priest. That's a good reason never to trust another living soul again. I'll work on that trust but think she still trusts me. She enlisted for a home, shelter, protection from her parents. Fuck. I close my eyes and breathe through it. I can protect her from today on. Forward, I will protect her from today on. She's mine.

When I open my eyes, Wolf smiles. "I got this."

He nods. "Good, you need a shower. You hit the bag for almost two hours. We're leaving in one."

I nod putting my head back and breathe. "Priest's name?"

"Barry sent it to Badass with the paper following her. I didn't get it but know they did."

I nod wondering who I talk to about that. I'll ask Barry what Badass Club got it.

Forward. Eyes open, I take a deep breath and control it coming out. "Thanks, Wolf. How did Pres know to send Barry to you?"

"I didn't ask and don't really care." He unties the gloves and drops them on a bench.

We jog back to the compound with forward replaying in my head.