Chapter Three

Calista

I had no idea where all these emotions came from, but I guess it was only to be expected. I'd been scared out of my mind most of the night. Uncomfortable and in pain, I guess my nerves had taken all the hits they could.

"I'm s-sorry," I sobbed out. Someone had their arms around me, and I had my fist bunched in that same person's T-shirt. And I had no idea who had me.

"Christ," someone swore. "When I find out what sent her here, someone's gonna fuckin' die. Hard."

"Permission granted, Dom." Lemon said cheerfully. "Let me know when all the arrangements are made, and I'll join the effort."

"I'm here! I'm here!"

I heard another woman enter the room and I tried to pull myself together. A big hand rubbed up and down my back as I continued to sob. The feel of those arms tight around me was the only thing that kept me grounded. Even through my tears, the tighter I was held, the better I felt. It wasn't enough to make the fucking tears stop, but it was safe. I guess I needed safe right now, so I could get everything out before dealing with the next set of problems.

There was silence then, "What'd you guys do to her? Lemon?"

"I think it all hit her, Apple," the deep voice rumbled all around me, vibrating through my body and, for some reason, it brought me comfort. I wasn't sure how or why, but my body relaxed even as I knew I was in so much trouble as to not even be believed. Because the man whose arms I was in wasn't my dad. It was Ringo. "Just give her a few minutes. She's good."

"You've got your few minutes." Dom's voice was gruff and cold, deadly. "But only because she seems OK with you. When she's calmed down, we get this all sorted out, and I no longer need you? I'mma kill you for touchin' my daughter."

OK, that surprised me. Enough to pull me back to reality and the moment. I rubbed my cheek against Ringo's chest, even knowing I was a mess. The feel of his hard muscles beneath his shirt was more comforting that I was ready to admit.

A tissue was dangled in front of my face and I took it, blowing my nose. I still had my face against Ringo's chest, unable to put distance between us. I had no idea why. Sure, Ringo had been nice. He'd been the one to sort out who I was and take me to my father. But I had no reason to latch on to him the way I had. Especially knowing my father wasn't pleased. The last thing I wanted to do was to get on Dom's bad side. I needed him if I was going to survive.

"I'm sorry," I croaked, trying to push away from Ringo, but his hold on me didn't ease up.

"Just relax," he murmured. "You're not ready to get up yet." He spoke softly to me, cupping my head to his chest.

"I don't want to c-cause problems."

"You ain't causin' problems, baby girl."

"Don't call her that, you bastard." Dom smacked Ringo on the back of the head.

"Jesus, Dom," Lemon drawled. "Why don't you just piss on her and mark your territory?"

"Lemon…" Dom growled at our vice president but as I looked his way, I saw his gaze shift from Lemon to Rocket. Rocket moved closer to Lemon, draping his arm around her shoulders, standing in solidarity with his vice president and raising an eyebrow. Dom's frustration was more than obvious. "Come on, Rocket! This is my daughter we're talkin' about here! Ringo has no right to touch her. At all, but especially now. She's upset and doesn't know what she's doing."

* * *

Ringo

"That's true," Lemon agreed. "But it doesn't look to me like Calista objects to him touching her right now. In fact, she's clinging to him as hard as he's holdin' her. She's over eighteen. Yes?"

It took everything in my being not to smirk at my SAA. I'd never go against a man when it came to his daughter, but I loved yanking Dom's chain. Besides, Lemon was right. Calista still clung to me. I didn't want to take away her security just yet. It didn't feel right.

What did feel right was having her in my arms and being able to comfort her after whatever she'd just gone through. Which, once I found out what it was, I intended to take care of. Permanently.

Dom sighed, looking no less frustrated or angry. "Yeah. So?"

"Then she has the right to sit with who she wants. If she knees him in the balls like she did Redwood, you can do your worst."

Byte had obviously alerted Rocket and Lemon to the full situation at hand. Which made sense. Lemon liked to sleep in, and she was showing her displeasure at being up at stupid o'clock with snark.

"How has Rocket not smothered you in your sleep, woman?" Dom's muttered response was met with a thunderous look from Rocket.

"Now, now, Dom." Lemon clicked her tongue, tsking like Dom was a naughty child. "That's no way to talk about your VP. Rocket wouldn't even think about smothering me in my sleep because he knows I'm irreplaceable." Then she gave Rocket a lascivious grin. "Besides, we have too much fun at night to sleep much."

Not for the first time, I found myself in awe of the young vice president of Grim Road. Lemon had better insight than any person I'd ever met and could read people better than most of the men in the compound.

While I have no doubt Lemon meant every word she'd said, her comments served two purposes. First, it snapped Rocket out of what was about to be a permanent retirement of his sergeant at arms. Second, she let Dom and Calista know in no uncertain terms Lemon was on Calista's side over anyone else. Including Dom's or mine.

"All right." Dom exhaled sharply, as if reaching a resolution within himself. "But this ain't over, Ringo. We're gonna have a long talk later, me and you."

I just grunted, continuing to rub my hand up and down Calista's back.

She shifted in my arms so she could see Dom. "I'm sorry. I didn't want to cause you problems. Mom just told me that if I ever got into trouble, I needed to come find you. Then there was the trouble with Peckerwood at the gate and Ringo helped me."

"You listen to me, honey," Dom kneeled down and reached out to brush a lock of hair that had escaped Calista's bun off her cheek. "You did exactly what you should have done. It was why I gave your mother the location of our compound in the first place. I helped her draw that fuckin' map, baby. So you could find me if you ever needed me." He stroked her cheek tenderly. "You could never cause me problems by coming to me. These guys are just givin' me shit ‘cause I'm a protective bastard." He grinned. "And Redwood is gonna wish he'd never laid a hand on you."

She looked horrified, which just made Dom grin wider. "Please don't hurt anyone on my account. He didn't know and was just trying to do his job. He was guarding the gate. Right?"

Dom nodded. "He was, baby. But he should have brought you straight to me as soon as you told him who you were."

"But I didn't." She reached out and took Dom's hand, gripping his fingers tightly. "I didn't tell him. Not until Ringo got there. I didn't want to say anything other than Tina had sent me." She held out the compass she'd been gripping tightly in her fist. "She said to show you this, and you'd know it was me."

Carefully, as if handling the most precious thing in the world, Dom opened his hand to look down at the compass Calista had given him earlier. He caught the small map fluttering to the ground when it slipped from his fingers. A pained expression of longing and sorrow crossed his face before he folded the map and secured it back inside the device and flipped it over. Using the edge of his nail, he pried the back cover off.

Calista let out a small, pained noise but said nothing else. I brushed my lips over her hair for comfort. The scent of woods and moss was sharp but underneath I could smell the sweet essence of her. There were no perfumes or fancy soaps. Just exhausted woman. Made me want to carry her to my room and keep everyone out until she'd eaten, rested, and showered. In that order.

"Easy, honey," I murmured to her. "Let him look."

Inside was a small card. Calista sat up and leaned in to see. Dom brushed his thumb over the paper, and I saw it was actually a picture. Caliste gave a small gasp and her gaze met Dom's. Dom handed her the picture, and I looked over Calista's shoulder as she studied the image.

"That's Mom," she whispered. "With you?"

Dom sighed, swallowing back emotion I couldn't read. "Yeah. We were barely more than teenagers. I remember when that picture was taken." The muscle in Dom's jaw bunched. It was obvious he was struggling for control.

"Maybe we should leave and give them some privacy." Apple spoke softly, tapping Rocket on the shoulder. "Take the guys. Me and Lemon can stay until Calista feels comfortable, but I think they need some time to talk."

Rocket nodded, leaning in to kiss Lemon's temple. "She needs anything, you girls call me. Ringo, when you guys find out what happened, let me know. We'll decide what needs to happen next."

I nodded at my president. I liked that he assumed I wouldn't be leaving. Because I wasn't. I was going to find out what happened to send this girl scrambling through gator-infested wetlands and woodlands at night to find a man she'd never met and had no reason to believe he even knew she existed, other than what her mother had told her.

"I'm the sergeant at arms, Ringo," Dom said, his voice husky with what I was sure was emotion. "When the safety of the club is involved, I decide what has to happen. Not Rocket."

"And I'm the president, Dom. Every decision regarding this club is ultimately mine." Rocket pinned Dom with a hard gaze. "You're too close. You can be present and help us plan or anything else you feel like you need to do inside the compound to help us prepare. You will not be part of anything going down."

For a moment, I thought Dom was going to protest, but he finally let out a breath and nodded. "Last thing I want to do is something to bring the club under scrutiny." He scrubbed a hand over his face. "Sorry, man."

"Dumbass." Lemon snorted. "Ain't worried about you doin' somethin' to harm the club. You'd never do that. We're worried about you . Killin' is one thing. But you shouldn't do it when emotions are high. Not unless it's life or death." She gave Dom a stern look. Like a mother scolding a child. "You kill when you're calm and can properly appreciate the pain and suffering you're inflicting without that haze of anger."

That got a bark of laughter from Calista. She sat up straighter and grinned at Lemon. "I think you and me are gonna be good friends."