Truth and Lies: Chapter 22

Waking this morning, I’m ready to go home and to have a real bed, but I still have to find Miriam and tell her I’m sorry. I don’t know if she’ll forgive me, but I have to tell her anyway.

I go into the bushes to do my morning pee, then take a few wipes to clean up everywhere. I don’t like showers that much as I like lying in the bath, but a shower would be good about now.

We eat a protein bar and open a can of soda, watching the morning activities at the compound, turning to Target, ‘Are we still doing recon? You know spying on them?’

Target grins finishes his can, and looks to the compound, ‘My gut tells me something is about to happen. We’ll make our move when it does. We get in, you tell your truth, and if needed, we get out again. Whatever happens, I’ll keep you safe.’

Nodding at him, I smile as I know he will. He’s kept me safe all this time.

A few minutes later, we see a stream of bikes ride up to the compound gate, speaking to the prospect who opens it for them and quickly closes it again once they are through.

Target turns to me, ‘Let’s pack up, Zara. We’re gonna be moving in a short while.’

It doesn’t take us long to fold the blankets, place all the empty wrappers, cans, and bottles into the bag that Target had at the ready and tuck the backpacks and carryall against the tree for when we come back for them.

‘Are you ready to go put all this right?’ he asks, looking down at me, then tucks some hair behind my ear.

Nodding, ‘I’m ready.’

We walk over to the compound and stand, waiting for the prospect to come out of the guardhouse and speak to us.

‘What can I do for you?’ the prospect asks, and I’m surprised he asks in a friendly way too.

‘I need to speak to Sharp, the President of Rogue Legion MC. I know he’s here as I saw him come here a while ago.’ I tell him and hope he doesn’t argue.

‘What are you called, and I’ll see what I can do,’ he asks, taking out his cell.

‘My name is Zara Michaelson. I’m Gunner’s daughter.’ I state strongly.

The prospect walks a little away, speaks to someone, then returns to us, nodding as he enters the guardhouse and opens the gate.

As the gate opens, my stomach does a flip flop. I’m nervous. In fact, I’m scared. I look up at Target, and he gives me the nod and squeezes my shoulder, keeping his hand there to provide me with courage.

Someone walks out of the building, and Target guides me slightly behind him, giving the man a good look as we get near him.

‘Names Hammer, follow me inside. A meetin’ goin’ on, so ya need to go in quiet-like,’ he states, giving me a weak smile.

Target and I nod that we understand, and we enter the building. I hear part of what my dad is saying, then what Miriam says. Before I can say anything, at that point, my dad calls her a lying whore.

‘No, she isn’t. She told the truth.’ I say, but it comes out reasonably quietly as I’m scared.

My dad sees me, and anger is rolling off him. He storms towards me, ‘Where the fuck have ya been, worryin’ everyone, causing shit?’

He’s coming at me full-on, furious, you can see it in his face, but before he gets to me, Target steps in his way and shoves my dad back hard.

My dad throws a punch, but Target spins, lift his leg and kicks my dad in the chest, which has him flying backward and hitting chairs and a table behind him.

Target pulls an arm back, gently pushes me behind him, and moves us both back, so the wall is behind me and Target is in front.

My dad flies once more toward Target, hitting him in the stomach with his shoulder, and I rush to the side to get out of the way as they both fly towards the wall.

Target hits my dad on the back of his head with his elbow and takes him down to his knees.

Two men rush over and grab my dad, pulling him across the room and slam him down in a chair. Then they stand next to him, with each of them holding him with a hand on his shoulder.

Sharp calmly walks over to me, keeping one eye on Target, who’s still standing slightly in front of me. He reminds me of Trip’s attack dog when he’s guarding something.

‘Are you alright Zara?’ Sharp asks, coming to a stop a couple of steps in front of Target.

‘Yes, thank you. Target is my friend, and he looked after me.’ I state as I don’t want anyone hurting him, ‘I’ve been looking for Miriam so I can tell her I’m sorry.’

‘Sorry for what, Zara?’ Sharp asks as he squats down in front of me.

‘For not making anyone listen, I could have made someone listen, I could have stood in the clubhouse and shouted at the top of my voice that she didn’t do anything wrong, but I didn’t because when I tried, my dad wouldn’t listen, no one was listening, so I stopped talking at all.’ I blurt out, and tears start tracking down my cheeks.

‘Cara has been lying to you all for a long time. She’s been telling a man what you have all been doing, where you’ve been going.

‘She doesn’t want to be with us at the club. She has another club she wants to be with.’ I blurt out.

Sharp steps back and picks up a chair, placing it in front of another, then he sits and points for me to sit facing him.

‘Tell me it all, Zara,’ he says, giving me a weak smile.

Target stands behind me and places one hand on my shoulder, squeezing it, ‘Now’s your time, Zara, tell him it all.’

Dad shouts, ‘Get ya hands off my daughter.’

Target places his hands over my ears, then I hear a muffled, ‘Fuck off, cocksucker.’

Looking at Sharp, I take a deep breath, ‘Cara came back because her ol’ man told her she had to. She has to get the information about your money. He wants her to get the numbers.

‘I think he means the bank account numbers, but I’m not sure. She speaks to him every Friday when dad is at the clubhouse or somewhere other than the house.

‘Well, dad never comes home anymore, so he doesn’t know what is happening at home anyway.’

Sharp nods, giving dad a look I don’t recognize, ‘Anything else, any names at all?’

‘She called him Snap, and he’s her ol’ man, not my dad.’ the room erupts with anger, so I think they recognize the name, ‘I have this,’ and I dig into my backpack, right to the bottom and find the cell that she hides, which I stole when I left. I pass it to Sharp, ‘She uses this to call him every Friday as I told you.’

I stand and walk toward Miriam, who is not looking at anyone, but down at her knees. ‘I’m sorry, Miriam. I wish I’d told them sooner, made them listen.’ I start to cry, and Miriam stands, places her hands around my shoulders, and whispers so no one else can hear, ‘It’s okay, none of it’s your fault. I’ll always love you.’ and she kisses the top of my head and steps away.

I know that’s the end, as I can feel it. She won’t be coming home with us. She won’t be the mother I always wanted. Walking over to Target, I put my arms around his waist and cry. He pats my shoulder, knowing too that I lost Miriam.

Sharp stands, pats my shoulder too, then turns to the room, ‘We need to get back, find out what the fuck is goin’ on with Cara. We all know Snap. We know he’s been tryin’ to take our business and take the club down since we kicked him out. Her being his ol’ lady means nothin’ to us, but we need her confession so we can clear Miriam’s name.’

‘No, we’ll do that,’ Axel says, and I lean on Target, not knowing what will happen to him.

I tug on his sleeve, and when Target looks down at me, ‘What are you goin’ to do Target, are you coming home with me?’

Squatting in front of me, Target looks me right in the eye, ‘No, it’s not my home. I’m not sure where it is, but your club isn’t it. But I’ll always be your friend, and if you need me you just have to call me.’ he turns to Axel, ‘Do ya have a cell I can buy from you so I can give Zara a number to call if she ever needs me?’

Axel nods at one of his men, who rushes out of the room to return a few minutes later and passes Target a cell, then hands me a piece of paper with the cell number on it.

Tears flow as I look at Target, knowing he’ll be going soon and I may never see him again.

Axel steps towards us, ‘Target, you’re welcome to stay with us, join us, we do a lot of good things, and you may find your place here. Stay awhile and see if you think you can fit before you make a decision.’

I walk over to my dad, ‘Are you going to listen to me now? I don’t want to go home with you if you’re going to be with Cara; she is horrid. She hits me when you’re not home. I’ll stay with Crack before going back to Cara.’

Standing, my dad wraps his arms around me and kisses my head, ‘I’m so very sorry, Zara, I’ll do better with you, I promise.’ then he steps towards Miriam, who instantly moves behind Axel, ‘I’m sorry Miriam, I’ll find out the truth and make it right.’

Stepping to the side of Axel, Mia gives an ugly laugh, ‘You’ll make it right, you’ll give me back five years of my life, the misery and hurt. I want nothing to do with you ever again.’

Gunner drops his head, and for the first time, shows shame for what he’s done and the pain he’s caused.

Sharp thanks Axel and shouts to his men that they’re leaving.

I hug Target again, and he runs a finger down my cheek, smiling at me, ‘It’ll be okay little girl.’ and as I leave, I hope it’s not the last time I’ll ever see him.