12. Domino

12

DOMINO

" S tubborn, sweet, frustrating woman," I grunt when I check my phone for the first time in an hour. Calista sent a text saying she was going back to the property from the other day. I know she means well, but Jesus, she's going to give me a heart attack.

“Everything okay?” Jett asks. “Aside from the obvious.”

I called Jett right after Diesel called me earlier this morning. He was able to get the tracking devices up and running faster than expected and had important information on the data he’s collected so far.

"Gotta go get my woman and tell her to stay in the damn house," I growl as I shove my phone into my pocket.

“I don’t know Calista at all, but I don’t think that conversation is going to go over very well,” he points out. “Women don’t like to be told where to be, especially if it’s by a man, telling her to stay put.”

“What would you know about women?” I snap, making my way outside. Jett follows.

“I mean, I have a sister,” he says lamely. I wave my hand at him, dismissing his words.

I jump on my bike and rev the engine, peeling out of the parking lot and speeding toward my destination. My heart is stuck in my throat, equal parts fear and anger coursing through my veins. I’m sure Calista had good intentions. She doesn’t have a mean bone in her body.

But Jesus, doesn’t she get that she’s in danger? Why would she go back there?

The normally ten-minute ride takes me less than five. I burst into the building, shocked and furious at what I see. I can't comprehend the disaster zone that's spread before me, instead searching for my woman.

Did they come back and hurt her in just the last hour? What little graffiti I could decypher points directly to Zeke and his newly formed club. Did this happen before she showed up? Where the hell is–

A soft sniffle breaks through the otherwise eerily silent building, pulling my attention in that direction. I sprint toward the booths in the back, nearly tripping over the loose, shredded foam on the floor.

“Calista,” I rasp, my voice caught in my throat. She’s kneeling on the floor, gathering up chunks of foam while tears pour down her cheeks. My beautifully broken woman looks up at me, her eyes filled with sorrow and regret.

I drop to my knees and pull her into my lap before sitting on the ground and cradling her. She twists in my arms, burying her face into the side of my neck, letting me hold her while she sobs.

“Did they touch you?” I finally ask, needing to know.

“N-no,” she whimpers, clinging to me even harder. “It was l-like this when I sh-sh-showed up. I messed up. I messed it all up.”

“What?”

“It was… it was… it was unlocked,” she manages to say in between heartbreaking sniffles. “I left it unlocked.”

“Baby,” I soothe, finally understanding. When we left the other day, we were in such a rush that we forgot to lock up. “I’m so sorry I didn’t think about locking up.”

“Not your fault,” she whispers, her tears still soaking my skin. “I fucked everything up. Maybe my mom was right. Maybe I’m not cut out for a job like this. I don’t know how I’m ever going to recover my career, let alone pay for damages.”

My girl is spiraling. I can sense it in her tone, her words, her very heart itself. I lean back slightly, just enough to cup her cheek and tilt her head up so our gazes meet. “Breathe for me, love,” I whisper. She does, following my lead. “Good girl. Again, a deep breath this time.”

We continue our controlled breathing until Calista isn’t on the brink of a panic attack. Those emerald eyes capture mine and I brush my thumbs across her cheeks, wiping away the last of her tears.

“Thank you,” she says softly, the vulnerability bleeding through her whispered words. “I’m so sorry I ruined everything,” Calista continues. “I’m sure I’ll be fired and then you’ll have to start all over again and–”

“I’d like a tour,” I announce, helping Calista off my lap. We both stand up and I look over at Calista, an adorably confused look on her face.

“Uh… wait, what?”

“Can I have a tour of the property, pretty please?” I ask, doing my best impression of puppy dog eyes. It must work, because she nods and starts walking toward the front of the building. I reach out and grab her hand, lacing our fingers together.

“So, this freshly ruined kitchen used to hold some solid appliances that wouldn’t need replacing for another ten to twelve years. I can’t vouch for that so much anymore under these new circumstances.”

She’s trying to be funny and sarcastic, which I know is a coping mechanism of hers. While I always appreciate her unique humor, I don’t want her to just dismiss this. I’m serious about the tour and I want her to be as well.

“Look at me, Calista,” I say, tugging on our joined hands to bring her closer. “Tell me what drew you to this place. Why were you so excited to show it to me?”

“It doesn’t matter now,” she protests. “Everything is ruined.”

“It matters. You matter. Talk to me, baby girl.”

She sighs heavily, then nods and straightens her back. “Well, the pub and kitchen were huge selling points,” she starts. Calista begins walking again, this time, taking me with her. “The space was already furnished and everything, so you and the guys could start hanging out and making memories right away without waiting for construction to be complete.”

“That was very thoughtful of you,” I comment. She ignores it, but I see her blush slightly.

“The walls over on this side actually open up,” she says, letting go of my hand to undo a hidden latch. Sure enough, with a little effort, the walls can be pushed back to create more space. “I envisioned you guys having wide open spaces so you can build community instead of having a bunch of little rooms for people to hide in. I remember you saying you’re rebuilding, not only the clubhouse but the club itself.”

I hold my hand out for her to take. She does, and I once again draw her close to me. “You’re incredible,” I tell her truthfully. “I love it. Show me more,” I encourage.

We walk throughout the property and Calista relaxes a bit more when she sees the vandalism didn’t go as far as the fully furnished apartments out back. The plot of land is huge and everything she pointed out along the way fits exactly with what I’ve been looking for.

“I’ll take it,” I say as we wrap up the tour and end back at the front of the building.

Calista laughs. “Sure. I’ll go get the paperwork,” she says sarcastically.

“I’m serious. This is the one.”

She stares at me, blinking a few times and then tilting her head to the side. “You don’t have to do this. If you’re trying to save me from getting in trouble or something, please don’t. I want you to have the perfect clubhouse.”

“I will. As soon as I get those papers signed,” I say with all the confidence in the world.

“But… why? It’s ruined. There’s so much work that needs to be done to make it inhabitable. We don’t even know how damaged the kitchen is yet without a professional coming in.”

“I think you mean there’s so much customization that needs to be done,” I correct, grinning down at my girl. She stares at me once again, not sure what to make of my declaration. “I’m serious,” I tell her again. “Not only is this the best location and the best property with all the amenities I asked for, but I know just the people who have the skill and motivation to clean it up and make it their own.”

“What do you mean?”

“One of my MC brothers is a carpenter, another one works with industrial machinery, and we have several mechanics, painters, and construction workers. This is the perfect project that’s going to bring us together. This is what we’re building. We’ll all have a part in it.”

“But… but what about getting away from the past? This building was vandalized by the very people you’re trying to forget.”

“I thought that’s what everyone needed; what I needed. I was wrong. I can’t pretend all the shit with the former president didn’t happen, and furthermore, I shouldn’t. We learned from everything that happened. The club took a hit and came back stronger. Why would I want to hide that? The past doesn’t define us, nor does it dictate our future. Only we can do that.”

“But… but…” She’s having a hard time coming up with another excuse. “I’ll still have to tell my boss about the damage. You and I know who did this, but there’s not a ton of proof.”

“Actually,” I say, peering over at her. “The call I got this morning was from an MC brother tracking those degenerate assholes down. The data showed all four of their motorcycles were here last night for about an hour. Right now, a few of my men are gathering more evidence to place them here at the scene of the crime. Property damage might not land them in jail, but it will put them on the police’s radar, especially if they don’t show up to court or pay the fines.”

“I… I don’t know what to say,” she whispers in disbelief.

"Say you'll sell me the property? At the asking price? Show me the dotted line and I'll sign my name right now. That's how sure I am about this. About my future. Our future, if you’ll have me.”

“You really mean that,” she says, more to herself than to me.

“With every beat of my heart,” I whisper, pressing a kiss to her temple and then drawing her into my arms. “I love you, Calista. I want you in my life now and forever.”

“I think I’d like that,” my girl says, clinging to me with all her strength.

I chuckle and lift her up into my arms, twirling her around and taking her lips in a sweet, joyful kiss.

“I love you, too, by the way,” she says in between kisses.

“You better,” I grunt, making her laugh. This is it. This is the beginning of everything.