I Dare You To Meet Me
Chapter 20

I must admit that the reactions of the bikers made my self-esteem and ego skyrocket.

Especially the reaction of a certain black-eyed biker, the real Tasha.

A little smile of pure satisfaction appeared on my face as I crossed the bar, I could see how several of the brothers looked at me with their mouths open, as well as the twins and several sweet asses with eyes sparkling with anger.

Undeterred by any of them, I continued on my way because I was certainly starving.

When I got to the kitchen I ignored the presence of the two bitches who looked at me as if I was going to disappear under their withering eyes. I reached for the stuff and made myself a couple of peanut butter sandwiches, and poured myself some juice. I finished one in a few bites and was halfway through the second when my father came plodding into the kitchen.

-You, in my office, now.

He said and then disappeared out the door. My b***d ran hot at the clear command, and just because I could, I took my time to finish my sandwich and my juice, then poured myself another glass and when I was almost done I refilled it. With the glass full now I went to see the annoying biker who demanded my presence as if I were one of his subordinates.

Hades is going to have a hard time if he thinks I’m going to obey him just because.

My presence was turning faces as I walked to the office, and when I arrived I didn’t bother to knock before opening the door with a bang, my father was already there, walking like a caged lion from one side to the other, one of the twins, I couldn’t tell which one, was sitting on one of the chairs in front of the desk with a relaxed attitude but with his muscles tense.

-What do you want?

-Those manners. He scolded me immediately.

-Don’t waste my time, I have a lot of things to solve, so get to the point and tell me why you send for me like an owner calls his dog.

We engaged in a staring duel, and neither of us gave in until he turned on his heel and went to sit behind his huge desk. He picked up a black folder from the clutter of papers and dropped it in my direction.

I reached over and picked it up to see its contents, my b***d ran cold and every one of my nerve endings went into overdrive as I saw much of my information written down. Little by little I began to see everything in red as anger clouded my reason.

-Did you dare to investigate me? I blurted out through gritted teeth as my hands crumpled the papers and I trembled with rage.

-I think every father has the right to know if his daughter is a murderer.

I couldn’t help myself and threw the f*****g folder in her face with anger.

-You had no f*****g right! How many more times do I have to tell you Hades, you’re not my f*****g father so don’t think you have the rights of one! I shouted angrily, he stood up angrily and with the veins in his neck standing out, his face was red and his eyes looked at me with pain and annoyance.

-See your f*****g birth certificate where it says I’m your father no matter what you say, and as your father and President of this club I order you to tell me if I’m giving a roof to a f*****g murderer!

-Prez…

-Don’t get involved in this! He yells at the twin who was trying to get in the way, and with that the little patience I have left evaporates.

-I would never take a f*****g order from your lips, and listen to me, I’m not a murdering whore no matter what your little papers say, so I’m not going to let you disrespect me with your accusations, I’m not going to stand idly by while you dig into something that doesn’t belong to you! Because what happened is mine alone and I’m going to tell whoever I want! So if I were you I’d be careful with your words! Because if it were up to me I’d get on the next flight to Russia no matter how many lives I ruin with my departure! I warn you that you do something like that again and you’ll never see my face again for the rest of your life!

And with that I turn around as I walk out of the office and slam the door shut, silencing the screams of my father calling my name.

I hear him come out after me, but I’m faster and I’m used to running out of places.

I shove anyone who gets in my way out of my way and get out of the damn club before I hit the first idiot who gets in my way.

I get on my bike and with no helmet, no jacket, no cell phone, nothing but the keys and the wallet I forgot to bring down, I turn it on and leave a mark on the asphalt as I accelerate.

Through the rearview mirror I can see how my father leaves followed by the twins and the three of them watch me ride away, but none of them tries to get on their bikes to follow me.

Better, so I don’t have to deal with imbeciles.

I speed up even more breaking the speed limits and get lost in the streets of the city.

(…)

I spend almost the whole day driving, at the end it’s already mid afternoon when I finally rest my bike in front of a bar/club that even though it’s still early in the morning is open.

There is one or two other motorcycles parked with a couple of cars, and although I was never a fan of getting drunk, my throat was itching for a glass of tequila or a vodka.

I got off the bike and put my keys in my pants as well as my wallet. I walk briskly to the entrance and don’t worry about the suspicious and desirous looks I get from the few people inside.

My eyes locate the bar and my butt doesn’t take long to sit on a high stool, immediately a handsome guy approaches me, he must be my age or a few years older, his hair is green and combed upwards, a pair of expansions decorate his ears along with a piercing in his l*p with another one in his nose. He had dark blue eyes and full red lips, his nose was straight and his eyebrows were bushy, his cheekbones were delicate and if it wasn’t for his piercings and crazy hair color I would dare say he looked pretty.

But no, he looked sexy and mysterious, just the way a bartender should look.

-Did you miss it, beautiful? He asked me and his lips curved into a smile as he looked into my eyes, I liked that, many men would not have hesitated to lower their eyes to my chest because of the top I was wearing but he did not.

-I don’t think so, pour me a glass and a bottle of tequila with a couple of lemons and salt.” The boy looked at me with an arched eyebrow but didn’t question me, he handed me the bottle and a shot glass, followed by several halves of split lemons and a plate with salt.

It took me no time at all to pour me the first drink and take it in one gulp, I took a lemon half and put it in salt and then sucked on it. I grimaced at the heat going down my throat and the acidity of the citrus.

-Hard day,” the boy asked amused, and I gave him a mocking grimace.

-You have no idea.

I said before refilling the glass and taking half of it in one gulp and sucking down more lemon.

-You’re not from around here, are you,” he asked me with curiosity sparkling in his blue eyes as he cleaned some glassware.

-I said as I finished my drink and poured the next one.

The boy just shrugged his shoulders.

-Something, your accent gives you away more than anything.

-I’m from here, I was born in California but I lived most of my life in Russia and I just came back, maybe I’m still a little lost about how to act in this country. This time I just sipped the drink while squeezing more lemon on my tongue.

The boy’s face transformed into one of surprise and he let out a low whistle.

-Wow, a Russian huh, you’re a bit far from home in that case, tell me, what is it that has such a beautiful girl drinking at such an early hour, and please don’t tell me it’s because of an idiot.

A chuckle leaves my lips as I take another sip.

-Yes it is because of an idiot, but not just any idiot, my father more specifically.

The red-haired man’s eyebrows rise and his expression of surprise changes to one of understanding.

-Family problems, of those I understand well, I have a brother who lives to fill my mother and me with debts, so if you want my advice, I recommend that you don’t let whatever it is that has you like this get into your head. Just let it flow and don’t let what they say affect you, people feel important when they realize that their words have power in you.

I was not intimidated by any of them, I went on with my meal because I was certainly dying of manhood.

-Don’t waste my time, I’ve got a lot of things to solve, so go to the phone and tell me why I’m looking like an owner or his dog.

I looked up and picked it up to see its contents, the contents went cold and one of my nerves went into overdrive when I saw a lot of my information written down. Little by little I began to see it all in red as the anger clouded my face.

My eyes are blurred and my threesome is sitting on a dark anklet, in the middle of it a small boy is standing in front of me, he must be about my age or a few years older, his hair is green and combed in an ornate style, a pair of earrings decorate his ears along with a piercing in the lobe with another one in the nose. He had dark blue eyes and fleshy red lips, his nose was straight and his eyebrows were bushy, his cheekbones were delicate and if it wasn’t for his piercings and crazy hair color I’d say he looked pretty.

But no, he looked sexy and mysterious, just the way a bortender should look.

-Did you miss beautiful? He asked me and his lips curved into a smile as he looked at me or my eyes, I liked that, many men wouldn’t have hesitated to bojor my eyes or my chest because of the top he wore but he didn’t. I don’t think so, put me in the top, I don’t think so.

-The boy asked amused and I gave him a mocking sucker.

-You have no idea.

I said before returning or filling the glass and taking half of it in one gulp and sucking more lemon.

-Aren’t you from around here green?” he asked me with curiosity sparkling in his blue eyes as I wiped some glass glasses.

-I said as I finished my drink and poured the next one.

The boy just shrugged his shoulders.

-Something, you’ll notice more than not,” I said.

The boy’s chorus turned into one of surprise and he let out a low whistle.

The red-haired man’s eyebrows smiled and his gesture of surprise combined with one of comprehension.

-I have a brother who lives in the midst of my relatives or my father and me, so if you want my advice, I recommend that you do not let what I have for you get into your head. Just let it flow and don’t let them offect you what they say, people feel important when they don’t tell you that their polybros have power over you.

Now it was my turn to look at him with an arched eyebrow.

-Drinks and motivational advice, boy this place sure gives you the full experience, doesn’t it?

The guy lets out a laugh and I can see his white teeth, I like the way his fangs protrude.

-I like you girl, my name is Darren, nice to meet you.

-Tasha, I like you too, Darren.

We share a smile but he excuses himself when another customer demands his attention, I finish my third shot of tequila and I doubt if it’s a good idea to keep drinking considering I have no idea where I am and I have to drive back.

…I believe that every father has the right to know if his daughter is a murderer…

My father’s words come back to my mind as well as the rage in my body, without hesitation I fill a fourth shot glass and take it with a grimace as it burns my throat.

I’m filling the fifth shot when I see a girl sitting on the other side of the bar being harassed by a pot-bellied drunk.

The girl clearly uncomfortable asks him to move away but the man doesn’t desist.

My gaze remains fixed on the man while I repeat to myself that it’s not my problem, but the man’s insistence is increasing, I look around for Darren but I don’t see him nearby. I bite my l*p thinking about what I should do when the drunk raises one of his hands and leaves it very close to the girl’s crotch.

The girl yells something at him and slaps him. The man gets angry and slaps her back.

That act finally makes all the anger he has accumulated replace a target and explode.

-Hey, you idiot, didn’t your mother ever teach you that you should never put one on a woman?

I exclaimed as I approached him, the man in his forties surpasses me only by a few centimeters in height, his hair looks greasy and he has a big belly. Besides he smells for miles of cheap cologne and alcohol.

-Don’t get involved in what they don’t call a bitch. He slurred his words, totally drunk, and turned to run his hand down the arm of the girl, who is blonde, short, and has chocolate eyes that look at me with supplication and at him with disgust.

With a jerk I pull him away from her body.

-Don’t put your filthy hands on him. The tequila blurs my mind but I remain strangely aware of what is happening.

-I told you to mind your own business. And with his fisted hand, he tries to hit me in the face, but I’m quicker and stop the blow.

In a quick maneuver I twist his arm behind his back, kick him in the balls that makes him get on his knees and I hit his face against the wall of the bar.

-And I told you, you don’t lay a hand on a woman, you idiot.

I say with contempt before twisting his arm a little more and leaving him moaning on the floor.

-What’s going on here?

A blond haired man in his fifties dressed in a suit but with a loose tie comes out of nowhere followed by Darren, they both scan the scene stopping especially at me and the drunken man on his feet.

The man sees me angrily and points accusingly at me, but before he can claim anything to me the little blonde girl shoots out of her seat and hugs him.

-Dad, that guy was touching me and this girl put him in his place when he slapped me, it’s not his fault, I was just defending myself.

The guy relaxes when his daughter hugs him but separates her and then inspects her face seriously looking for the slap, when he sees her red cheek his angry expression returns.

-I’m going to kill that son of a bitch.

-Don’t do it, he’s just another drunk, besides someone already taught him a lesson.

Father and daughter look at me.

-Thank you for helping my daughter, Darren do me a favor and get this scumbag out of here before I tear his body apart with my hands.

-At your orders boss.

And piercing boy winks at me as he reaches over to drag the guy’s panting body out of the place.

My attention returns to my tequila as well as my a*s, I’m sipping another drink when two presences appear on either side of me. The blonde on my right and her father on my left.

-Thank you for saving me, I had no idea what to do, you are very strong, I thought he was going to hit you too, but it was amazing how you stopped his punch and then put him on his knees, I had never seen anything like that, my name is America, do you think you can teach me how to do that, I also want to hit drunks like you do.

I saw the girl with an arched eyebrow, because it seemed that the words were coming out of her mouth at a thousand per hour.

-America, don’t bother the girl, I’m sorry for my daughter’s chatter, I’m Trenton and although I already told you, I thank you for helping her, she is a magnet for trouble. The man says to me.

-That’s not true,” his daughter shrieks indignantly and I can’t help but laugh at the sarcastic look her father gives her, “Well, maybe just a little, but it’s not usually my fault.

-Of course, by the way, whatever you drink is on the house, don’t worry about paying,” says the man and gives me a smile, and for the first time that day my anger starts to subside.

-Thank you.

At that moment Darren returns and joins us from behind the bar.

-Well Tasha, looks like you’ve met my boss Trenton and his daughter, my annoying best friend America, I hope you don’t think we’re all the same, only she’s as irritating as she is talkative.

America sticks her tongue out at him, a gesture Darren responds to while Trenton looks at us curiously.

-You two know each other?

-We are acquaintances, we met ten minutes ago and have had a beautiful and deep friendship ever since. We believe we are soul mates destined to meet.

The green-haired boy says confidently and makes me stop drinking so I can laugh until my stomach hurts.

-Leaving the subject aside, I thank you for what you did, I’m not much given to defend myself and I was dying of fear, thank you.

Says the little blonde looking at me with sincerity and a strange warmth filled my heart.

-You’re welcome America, my name is Tasha, and it’s a pleasure to have helped you. I tell her while I wink at her and finish my last shot of tequila.

F**k, the alcohol is starting to hit me. The man lets out a snort and his hands dig into his hair where they pull it tightly.

-This day really only gets better and better. He says in a tired voice.

-How did it go at the bank, Dad, did you get the loan you needed? asks the blonde with concern.

The man sighs and shakes his head, raises his hand and Darren immediately puts a glass in front of him with an amber liquid that I can swear is Burbon.

-They didn’t do it daughter, in their words the business is unreliable and they can’t risk not making a profit in the future, they denied me credit and now I don’t know what to do to pay the damn rent we owe.

A sad grimace forms on the man’s lips and his daughter does not take long to stand up and hug him.

-Don’t worry dad, you’ll figure something out.

-I hope so, this bar is all we have, Darren excuse me if your check is late again this week.

Says the blond with an embarrassed voice and the boy just shakes his head.

-Don’t worry about it right now boss, you’ll pay me when you can. Concentrate on keeping me employed, I don’t want to go back to school.

A chuckle comes from everyone with the red-haired man’s comment intended to raise our spirits.

-I’m sorry that so far our country is leaving so much to be desired, little Russian.

Darren says and the pair of blondes give me an impressed look to which I give them a shaky smile.

-Don’t worry, I understand better than anyone that there are good days and bad days. Who knows, maybe right now everything looks gray but tomorrow things will replace their way.

-That’s the way to talk, girl! The red-haired man says and the blondes nod their heads in agreement with me.

-If you don’t replace the money soon, what will happen next, dad?

-You can borrow from one of those motorcycle clubs, there are some that aren’t so bad,” Darren says as he snaps his fingers, but Trenton shakes his head.

-I don’t want to get into debt with a club, plus it’s a hefty amount of money, I wouldn’t risk it that way. I’d rather lose the bar than pay the consequences of not paying the money back on time.

Both America and Darren give him an incredulous look while I don’t understand what I’m doing in this clearly personal conversation.

-How much money do we owe?” the girl asks and I can hear her voice as she makes an effort not to cry.

-We have until the end of the month to pay if we don’t want them to take everything from us and close the place.

Trenton says as he finishes his drink in one gulp, then stands up and says goodbye to us before disappearing the way he came, up a flight of stairs I hadn’t noticed before.

A heavy sigh leaves my companions lips and I can’t help but reach over to the blonde to take her hand and squeeze it in comfort.

-It’s going to be okay America, you just have to have faith that your dad will get through this.

Darren says but he sounds unsure, the girl gives him a shaky smile as she shakes her head.

-You know how he is Darren, he’s been accumulating these debts for a year now, he’s been putting this off as long as he can but it’s time we faced it. The best thing would be for him to get a job and stop being a burden. Anyway, I think I’m tired of the strong emotions of this day, it was nice to meet you Tasha, I would like to be friends, I’m always around if you want to do something sometime, bye guys-.

And the little blonde disappears upstairs leaving me alone with Darren, and as much as I try not to intrude, the tequila makes me indiscreet and I can’t help but ask.

-How bad is the situation that they could lose the bar?

Darren looks at me hesitantly before biting his l*p before letting out a sigh and nodding.

-A year ago America’s mother was diagnosed with advanced cancer, Trenton mortgaged everything and spent all his savings on medication, yet she died within months. Since then he’s been uphill with debt and the bar can’t pay for it, even more so when there is so much competition in the surrounding area. It would take a real miracle to get this place afloat again.

He tells me and then goes off to attend to a couple who have just arrived. My heart is pounding in my chest and it could be the tequila, but I swear I can hear my mother’s and grandparents’ voices in my mind.

-So a miracle huh-. I mumble through my teeth as an idea forms in my head.

The hell I’m going to do it.

I get up from the bench I’m sitting on and have to wait a few seconds for a brief dizzy spell to pass. I’m not drunk but I’m a little dizzy. With hesitant steps I ask Darren where Trenton is and he tells me his office at the top of the stairs, I thank him and that’s where I head as he pours drinks.

I climb the stairs holding tightly to the banister as the last thing I want to do is fall.

Finally I reach a mahogany wooden cubicle with a dead glass window with the word Office on it, I tap a couple of times and see Trenton raise his head to look at me as I enter.

-I think I have the solution to your financial problems.

The man’s eyes look at me curiously but a spark of hope ignites as he leans back in his chair.

-I hear you.

I step through and close the door behind me.

It’s time to do business.

(…)

The cab Trenton ordered for me drops me off outside the clubhouse, because according to him I wasn’t well enough to ride the bike and maybe he was right.

Maybe it’s because of the alcohol still in my system but a strange bravery fills my chest and I walk without hesitation into the bar where the disaster greets me.

…Come back tomorrow when you are sober and you have thought it through and propose me the same thing, only then I will accept…

Well that’s what I would do, I would go to sleep to wait for the tequila to get out of my system and then I would come back.

I concentrated on walking as straight as I could, but I was so busy watching my steps that I didn’t see where I was going. I hit a wall of muscle and staggered backwards while rubbing my forehead.

-What the hell? I blurted out with slurred words.

-Where were you?” Hunter’s voice startled me and I jumped in my place, I raised my face to see him and saw his black eyes looking at me with annoyance as he pursed his lips.

-I said with acid before trying to go around him, but he avoided it by taking my arm.

-This is serious Tasha, the Prez has been going crazy trying to replace you, it’s the second time in the day that you leave without saying anything and to top it off you left your cell phone behind so we had no way to locate you.

He tells me very angry and I pushed him away from me.

-Where I go at what time I do is none of your business.

I said and hurried to leave before he continued to stop me. I walked through the halls of the place and ran up the stairs, I was about to reach my room when a hand pulled my body again.

-Don’t leave me talking to myself. Hunter says between his teeth.

-Don’t make stupid comments. I reply.

-You try the patience of a saint. I feel my skin tingling where his hand touches my skin.

-It’s lucky that none of you are, besides, if I’m so annoying, stop chasing me everywhere I go.

-What more do you want.

I swallowed saliva before the strong desire to k**s him that I had, a trembling sigh came out of my lips when I saw his eyes stuck in my mouth. But before I could join his lips with mine. Hunter breathed heavily through his nose and pulled away.

-You smell like tequila, you’re drunk.

My eyes rolled at his unbelievable way of killing the moment.

-I drank tequila, I’m not drunk, there’s a difference.

-Oh yeah, and tell me which one…” But the words died before they were spoken, his eyes fixed on my chest, I followed the direction of his gaze replaceing the tattoo with Niko’s name on it.

-Who the hell is Nikolai?” the biker asked through gritted teeth, and that made me remember how my father had investigated me believing that I had been my friend’s murderer. Fury returned to my system as I guessed that Hunter was sent by my pdare to replace out the story – I’m not going to ask you again Tasha, who the hell is Nikolai and why do you have his name tattooed on your chest – He said and his black eyes got darker.

-No one you care about you idiot.

And with a strong push I sent him against the wall in front of me, he was slow to recover from the shock, which gave me the perfect opportunity to enter my room and lock the door to prevent him from following me.

Hunter tried to open it but couldn’t, he kept knocking on the door for several minutes and demanding answers until he realized that I wasn’t going to leave.

When his footsteps moved away I finally relaxed, my boots disappeared from my body, as well as my pants, top and panties, and with only my panties on I dropped onto my comfortable bed and fell asleep.

But another f*****g nightmare appeared, more vivid than ever.

And it made me scream.

Loud.