Claimed by the Biker Giant (Maxine and Tank) novel Chapter 294

Storm POV

Tempest was putting on a brave face, but I could tell the news hurt her deeply. No one would want to come across her Dad, even before he was arrested and escaped. When he was out in the public eye, he was someone smooth, a perfect con man, but behind closed doors, he was a monster. More and more people are coming forward with complaints of violence against them. Some are suggesting he murdered people, but until the evidence was found, he has not been charged.

My Dad and Mum have tightened security at home. Penny was not allowed out unless accompanied by at least six guards, and she’s not happy about it, according to the family chat app.

My mates haven’t been here in weeks, and I texted them to tell them not to rush over, and I continued at the clubhouse. Tempest insisted that things were to appear normal, or as normal as our family was. It was a shame that this makes life harder for some; those who work here, on the grounds, might have to have an escort from the gate to the house. We have left the logistics of all that to Dirk; he has had plenty of practice with level-two alerts.

We received a call from the police, asking if we needed them to post a police presence around our home. We politely declined, explaining that we have our own security beefed up and that the police should save resources for community safety, which might panic if Mr Dawson appeared in our town. They were aware of our guards and asked if they could come to town and join in some community activities when the police presence was thinning out, until this issue was resolved. I had no issue lending our men out, as long as it didn’t compromise our safety. Again, another area for Dirk. Poor Dirk will be rushing about now. Glad he has a man he was training to replace him one day. Will miss him when he is no longer running things. You get comfortable with someone, and don’t want to let them go, but he’s getting old now, and should have retired a while back. He was more family than head of security, and I have known him all my life.

Last night, I expected Tempest to have bad dreams, but she didn’t; she slept like a log, all the way through. I think her training session with Tracey might have a lot to do with that. Tempest was finally getting some meat on her, in all the right places.

I had noticed that since Tracey came to live with us, Tempest hadn’t had a bad nightmare. I hope that meant that, together, they were a healing balm for each other, and that watching Tracey come out of her shell around me, and some of the men around us, had been a boon for Tempest’s judgement, recognising a person who hurts deep and hides it, or tries to. Tracey still gets uncomfortable when there are more than two, but she’s definitely improving.

“Tempest, you okay with the guys coming over on Sunday? They miss our game days.. The teams in the grand final want a sports day, we can dress up in the team’s colours, and scream at the television.”

“Sure, I will see if I can get Tracey to come join us: It will be a good test to see how she has improved. I can cook some pies to enjoy.” Tempest cooks nice pies, just the right size, to get both hands on to hold them.

“Are you matchmaking?” I see her smirking at me, and I know I guessed right. She likes this girl enough to want to set up one of the guys, which was saying something about that girl. Tempest doesn’t have any friends, and although she has met a lot of ladies in the club, that didn’t mean they were close or even friends, more like acquaintances, some you tolerate, others you like, but not necessarily going to be close friends. I understand that. I have a lot of guys who want to be friends for what they can gain from me, not for me. Sad, but it’s true, not just women who try to cozy up to you for status.

“Tracey’s perfect for either Doom or Sprocket.” Tempest defended with a huff. She was cute, pushing out her lower lip as if pouting.” If she could, I am positive, Tempest would be standing up to me and stamping her foot in defiance.

“What about Skunk?” Does she not like Skunk?

“He’s not ready to settle down; he’s still what you call flighty, still happy to bounce between different thighs, where the other two look to be ready to find the one. Just like you were, he doesn’t have that look yet.”

“What look?” I was confused; they looked fine to me. What are they sick with?

“The predatory look.”

“Hi, Tempest”, Dad and Mum called out, both sounding happy.

“Hi,” Tempest replied, but she didn’t sound that enthusiastic.

“What’s wrong?” Mum picked up her tone straight away.

“Mr Dawson has been sighted; he appears to be headed your way,” I replied carefully, and then proceeded to fill Dad and Mum in on all the locations that he had been sighted.

“There have been others, but these appear to be more likely correct. Dirk wants to know if there are any security suggestions. He rambled off some suggestions, but I wanted to talk to you first, before we made any.” I then gave some of the suggestions he had made.

“Dirk, if nothing else, is thorough. He has given those suggestions, so I suggest you trust his judgment and have him implement them. I will let Alan know about these trustworthy sightings and prepare the town. I will have Alan contact your police chief and fill him in; it’s best to come from another police chief.” Dad and Mum went on to talk about level one, and if sightings of him heading to our town, it was best to call it. Dad and Mum will alert the family, and level one will commence today.

Level one was completely shut down; no one was allowed to leave until the threat was over. That includes Ice Hockey, which we know Mr Dawson has been to. It will hurt my brothers, not being able to go. The major level has just about finished the season, but the school level has just begun; school goes all year round in our town. The scouts came out on game one and won’t be back for another couple of months. They visit all the local towns twice a year, and if they find someone of interest, they will invite that player to train with the big league during school break. Razor was hoping he would be picked. He will have to hit the gym, while in confinement, it’s going to suck. The moment Mr Dawson was seen moving on, or caught, Razor was stuck at home, defying the order to stay home would not only be dangerous, but the loss of trust that can’t be replaced was not worth risking going against my Mum or Dad.