Chapter Twelve

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Oak followed Melody to her house, chuckling about her reaction to him. He knew there was something brewing between them but he wasn't sure about pushing it with everything she was going through. The more he got to know her the more interested he was in pursuing something, but he still felt she wasn't in a good place for that.
Watching her disappear into the house with Coal, he stayed outside and wandered over to the garage before opening it. He figured he'd ride her dad's Road Glide while she took his Mustang which he knew to have the sweet big boy motor in it. He would definitely be taking that out for a spin but first things first.
He didn't say that moving her dad's machines would at least be safer for her since she planned on staying at the house. He figured once she left Coal at the clubhouse, she would give in after a day or so and stay there too until this all blew over.   

Leaving the door open, he made his way into the house to find her throwing together breakfast sandwiches of eggs, cheese and bacon on English muffins. His stomach growled giving him away and he smiled at her when she turned from the stove.
"I'll have the sandwiches done in ten minutes or so Mister Grumbles" Melody joked as she checked on the bacon and fluffed scrambled eggs. He took a seat at the table and watched her get lost in her cooking as he felt Coal next to him, petting his head and neck.
"Sounds good, I don't cook much myself so it's a rare treat to get some home cooking." Oak replied.
"Does your mom not cook or your Dad?" Melody asked as she reached for some seasonings and dashed it onto the eggs.
She missed him wincing but he knew she would have no clue so mine as well tell her.
"No, they are both dead but it's ok, you had no way of knowing." Oak smiled tightly but reassuringly at Melody as she whipped her head to look at him.
"I am so sorry, your right I had no clue but it doesn't make it hurt any less." Melody spoke with complete understanding as she turned back to the stove. He saw her rapidly blinking and knew the recent death of her father was at the fore front of her mind. He and his brother had been blown away at the confession of Bryce killing her father and it made him wonder what more they would find out once they got more involved.

"I know you had wanted to see Bryce's body but my brother said there was an issue and he got a picture for you before his body was destroyed. If you can trust me on something, you can trust me on that he is no longer a threat to you. I don't have all the details but Ash is going to call Church once we get there and you have the option of sitting in or waiting until after." Oak stared up at her as she placed the completed sandwiches on the island in front of him.

Chewing her lip, she briefly caught his eye before sitting down and biting into her sandwich. She swallowed and pushed a strand of hair behind her ear before responding.

"I will be fine waiting until afterwards. I would rather everything be laid out instead of mincing words because someone is afraid to offend me. Enough people have died because of whatever this is and I just want my life back without having to look over my shoulder. Again, if it comes to a vote or whatever you guys do, if it is too much for the club than I would completely understand. I am just a stranger at this point who happens to be working at your bar." Melody shrugged her shoulder as she continued to eat her sandwich, her troubled expression rubbing him the wrong way.

"Listen Melody, we are not your usual biker club in the sense we do not run drugs, guns, or anything else. We invest our money wisely and have profited well from it. But, we are not above stepping outside the boundaries and dealing with issues that can't be dealt with the law abiding way. This includes helping those that have found themselves in unfortunate circumstances like you. It's not a charity case and benefits the club by protecting our own, even if you are just an employee," he stressed the last word as he looked at her down turned face.

Coal nuzzled close to Melody as she finally looked up at him, her eyes searching his and attempting to find what, he didn't know. "Then, thank you is all I can say until we know what is going on. I guess we should head on over. Figured you could take my dad's bike and I'll drive Coal and I over in the stang." She grabbed both of their empty plates before tossing them into the sink with the rest of the dishes, staring out the back kitchen window before turning around and smiling.

He could tell it was forced and that she was as worried as he was on what they were going to find out. When his brother had called last night, he had been holding back barely suppressed rage as he bit out what he could over the phone. It took a lot for his brother to loose control so it scared him to wonder what his brother had gotten out of Bryce. That is before Tanker lost a little bit of his control and burned the guy to death. He grinned when Ash had relayed Tanker saying it made pulling his limbs apart that much easier.

"Sounds good to me." Oak stood and walked out with Melody, Coal trotting ahead as they locked up and headed over to the open garage.

Melody slid behind the wheel of the Mustang after letting Coal jump across to the passenger seat. Turning the key, the car rumbled to life as Melody's face broke out into a true smile before looking over at him. He smiled back as he backed the Harley out of the garage before shutting both bays once Melody had shifted the car out as well. Revving the bike he watched Melody clutch the Mustang sideways out of her drive way.
      Shaking his head he led the short distance back to the clubhouse and rode all the way to the back bays. It would be safer if they kept these gems hidden and his brother had even said no way was Melody to be left alone. That statement worried him greatly.
        Seeing Wyatt walking their way, he left Melody and Coal in his hands to get acquainted with the garage and it's surroundings. Oak made his way to the clubhouse where Ash called the patch members for church. He followed Mason and Garrett in before taking a seat next to Ash and across from Tanker.
Tanker was expressionless like always despite having killed a man less than six hours ago. He came from a military background and was built like a tank, hence the name. His buzz cut and scarred face from shrapnel gave him a sinister look while paired with a large, tattooed body. Both him and Ash had serious expressions that made the men quiet down right away. 

"Alright, after questioning Bryce, we finally have an answer on some of this shit. He had been involved with some drug running for a Mexican cartel which Melody's father got wind of. Her father attempted to invest through Bryce but got screwed over and after loosing out, he threatened to go to the police. He got some information to the police before Bryce figured it out and literally pulled the plug on him. Except now, that cartel leader nicknamed, the devil, is wanting to take Melody as a drug runner and worse from the sounds of it as retribution. These aren't nice people at all, and with Bryce dead we aren't sure how this is going to play out." Ash looked at Oak before continuing.

"There's more. Bryce's partner, who is also in cahoots with this cartel has a thing for Melody. One of the last nights before Melody moved to Evergreen, she was attacked by Bryce and his partner, Greg. Bryce gloated about this, saying it was only going to help her in her new life and that she ended up loving it by the end of the night." Ash broke off at seeing Oak's thunderous expression but Tanker spoke up.
"I know I wasn't suppose to kill him so quickly but the way he was talking, I just couldn't keep listening. I...I burned his dick right off while he screamed and gut him slowly until he bled out. The hot torch up his asshole was probably overkill but that fucker deserved it." Tanker sat back, his vein throbbing in his neck as he cracked his knuckles. 

"No, we both had heard enough. We know that this devil guy will actually be sending Bryce's partner once Bryce doesn't show up next week with Melody. This is dangerous territory we are in, with one detective already six feet under and another one that needs to be put there.  We still have to keep a low profile. The cartel has no clue about our involvement and I would like to keep it that way. I have fellow chapters and clubs on the lookout for this Greg guy and I am thinking about reaching out to the HA chapters closest to us," Ash held his hand up as grumbles and snorts started around the room.

"I know I said we would never team up with them as it goes against what we want for our club. In this case, I think it would be better to at least give them a heads up and ask for backup in case this does blow up. So two things today, first vote is on whether we continue protecting Melody and taking down this Greg fellow and second vote is on enlisting the Hell's angel chapters around us in Denver and the Rockies against the cartel. Before we do, I know this seems heavy to take on for someone we all barely know. But, in the short time that I have gotten to know Melody, I know that she is a decent person who has been helping my brother out and has already offered to help the club out in any way possible with this. She even said that if it comes to a vote on helping her and we say no, she would completely understand. But, I know my father would not be turning a blind eye to any of this and I know I won't. So vote and let's get this going. All those in favor to help Melody say aye." Ash nodded his head at every aye, pleased that no one responded no. 

"And all those in favor enlisting some help from the HAs, say aye." Ash again nodded his head at all the ayes before slamming his fist on the table. 

"Good, I'll have Tanker and Red ride out to the HA chapters with some prospects after I make a call to the Presidents as a heads up. Oak, I'll leave guard dog duties to you and Garrett and Melody is more than welcome to stay here. Otherwise, church is dismissed." Ash and Oak remained sitting as the rest of the members filed out.   

Oak released his fists from the tight grip they had been in for the meeting as he looked up at Ash. If that detective wasn't already dead, he would have killed him himself and Ash knew that.
"She's a tough cookie, Oak. But this is not the time to go off the deep end and play Lone Ranger. I have feelers out on Greg but it would be a good idea to give her the heads up. I want to kill that bastard as much as you do but we have to make it seem that we are not helping her in any way. If it appears that she is alone then this detective and any that follow won't hide and we should see them coming". Ash noted his brother's expression, grim and pissed off. 

Oak knew his brother was right but it didn't make it any easier. Rubbing his face, Oak nodded. "I'll talk to her and see if she knows anything more about Greg." He was dreading the conversation, not sure how she would react to being asked about him. What those fuckers had done to her made his blood boil and he didn't even know the fine details.
        "Alright brother, let's do this. What did you do with his body?" He knew Ash would be smart about it and it wasn't their first body either.
        "Had Tank dismember and burn it to ashes  and brought to the fields. No ones going to find it." Ash stood up and moved towards the door. "And if they do, then they'll wish they hadn't".

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