Free Play Dirty: Devil's Mustangs MC by Evelyn Glass Page B

try to piece this all together. Here was this guy, a great father by all means, but he’s dangerous. So dangerous people shoot at him and his own friends get a knife to their body if they don’t obey. What have I gotten myself into?
     
    Cal looks at me amused. I’m sure he’s used to girls who are accustomed to this type of life and can handle a little Friday night shootout at the clubhouse, but I’m not that kind of girl at all. I don’t want to be that girl.
     
    I whisper meekly, “I would like to go home now, Cal.”
     
    “I told you, Michelle. You can’t go home. They’ll be looking for you there.”
     
    He’s explained this before, but I’m still not satisfied. I’m not safe wherever I go. I can’t stay here. I can’t go home. What the hell am I supposed to do to actually be safe? I slip slowly to the ground, finding the cold floors with the palms of my hands.
     
    “Listen, just stay here with Maddie until this meeting gets over with and then we’ll talk. We’ll figure out someplace for you to go. Can you just do that?”
     
    I nod slowly. What other choice do I have? I have certain death on one side and uncertain, but mostly probable death on the other. I can’t imagine what Maddie went through living like this, in a place where she knew how to duck and cover from gunshots or where she spent her time walking over beer cans and syringes. She doesn’t get the option. I’m lucky. And it is my duty to stay here in this house for her, to make sure she was truly safe.
     
    Cal outstretches his hand, and I take it. He zips up the rest of my dress and hands me my shoes and purse. Like an adult with a child, he smooths out my ponytail, making me presentable for his daughter and public consumption. I’m the teacher again – the demure, sweet little teacher who doesn’t belong in a place like this.
     
    As we walk towards Maddie’s room, I look down the banister to see the men filing in. They’re carrying guns and bats. Each is stopping to check out the damage to the walls and the windows. Maddie’s notebook, the one her father gave to me to look through earlier, is being trampled on by huge boots and some heels.
     
    Cal opens Maddie’s door where she's sitting on the floor still, her drawing pad on her lap. She looks up at me with wide, grinning eyes. It’s like the shooting didn’t happen. She’s already over it. My heart weeps for her some more. Without instruction or prompting, I sit down next to her and pull out some color pencils from her box of art supplies. She rips me a piece of blank paper as I start to draw.
     
    Her father looks over us – his two girls. He kneels down and pats Maddie’s head affectionately. “Miss Springer is gonna sit with you for a while. Jager’s downstairs so we’re gonna have a meeting. You’re cool, right?”
     
    Maddie nods without even looking up. But her shaking hand tells me Cal isn’t seeing the whole picture. Maddie’s not the tough, take it all kind of girl he wants her to be. She’s breaking right here. Suddenly, I’m glad I’m here, locked up like a child with this girl.
     
    “Good girl. Stay here until I come get you. You hear anything, you duck and get under the bed. Don’t answer the door to anyone.” Cal stands, taking one last glance at us before shutting the door.
     
    Maddie returns to her drawings, her eyes fixed on her page. But I can’t bring myself to draw anything. My mind is completely overwhelmed with the idea that this little girl knows to hide under the bed and lock her bedroom door to strangers. What else has Maddie seen? What has her father put her through?

Chapter 11: The Cold Truth
    CAL
     
    Jager slams his fist into the table as the room suddenly goes from frantic chatter to absolute silence. This is not the day to goof around or test those in charge. This is the time to come together as Mustangs. United in war, divided by none.
     
    He lowers his voice, forcing everyone from those flanking him from the front to