39. The Motorcycle Club

Dean wanted to accompany us to Sam's place. As much as I wanted him to be out of woods for a while it was risky. Anyone could spot him and easily recognise him resulting in Damon freaking out and their plan going down in pits. He was needed back at the packhouse. Dean was insistent on going anyways in the hope that he could finally find the real killer as soon as we can and get out of those woods. That one night changed everything in his life. He had to fend for himself and live by himself for years till he finally found his brother.




Kay got a bit misty hearing the story and wanted to take him back. We had to think of the big picture though and that made him stop in the tracks. He trusted me enough to go on with the lead and inform him about it. Dean seemed thankful for my contribution to the case and for taking it up. And I couldn't hold it any longer. The guilt was too much and I blurted out that the only reason I was interested in that particular case was for my application. He seemed quiet for a while before he smiled and shrugged it off.




"It doesn't matter now Anya. The point is you worked hard enough and we were basically strangers back then but you still decided to help. That's what matters. Yeah?"




I preened at those words. Somewhere in the corner of my mind, I was sure that he would be mad and never talk to me. Tell on his brother and break it off. Yeah, I do have a problem over imagining things but it seemed like a plausible explanation to me. Just then the thought popped in my mind that if he can easily accept it then so can Damon. Maybe it's time that I come clean about everything.




In the beginning, my priority was to complete the investigation and interview Damon secretly so that my article would sell. Ever since I got to know the real person that Damon is everything changed. I did write the article and promised Daniel that I would complete it for the paper but it seemed too personal now. It would sound biased whatever I write after knowing the truth.





I gave him a weak smile, "Yeah. Trust me I have no intention of selling it anymore. Not after knowing that I was bringing justice to my own mate"





Dean's lips burst in a smile and he patted at my hand. For someone who looked so lost a moment ago, I had a bright smile on his face. Almost blinding.




"You're a good one Anya. I hope Damon knows how lucky he got"




My cheeks felt red hot at those words. It still felt weird when someone complimented me just as it was when I was younger. Guess some things never change.




"Please if anything I'm the lucky one"



Dean chuckled, "Let's just agree that you both are lucky"



"Yeah" I whispered.



After that we talked for a while and then he was ready to go back. Dean was an easy talker for someone who was in isolation for a long period of time. He knew how to make a conversation. Apparently, he had a phone with him, courtesy of his brother so he spent his time wisely. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough but he didn't complain about it because Damon wanted him to shift back to their summer house in Hampton. Dean insisted on staying back though because he wanted to be award of every progress in their investigation.





Fortunately, Kay was able to fix the car by the time he decided to leave. We bid him goodbye and then we were on our way. Kay was quiet in the car, still, a bit shaken up by everything and too focused to talk about anything. I didn't push it either. She was aware of our conversation though as Dean reminded me, in the end, to make a stop at my hacker friends house. I did reveal too much about myself while talking to him. Told him the way I was able to track their packhouse and if anything he seemed impressed at that.




"Kay" I softly whispered as we crossed the woods. She hummed, her eyes still fixed on the road ahead of us. Somehow it felt like it was my fault that we crashed into the tree. If only I was not playing silly games and indulged her into whatever she wanted to know.




"It's not your fault Anya" She sighed, giving me a look and then her eyes were trained back on the road.




"I sure feel like it then"




"Stop it. Either of us knew that something like that could happen. Besides Dean's fine" Kay huffed, shaking her head. The radio was softly playing in the background which I turned it off and she scrunched her face because she was bopping along to that song.




"It was my favourite song"



I scoffed, "Please your favourite song is not that. Don't insult my knowledge like that"




Kay's lips twitched like she found it amusing and was trying to hold back her laugh. Coughing she glared at me from the corner of her eyes.





"Okay, then what is my favourite song?"




"Anything by the neighbourhood" I imitated her voice. Something she told me when we were playing truth or dare. It was funny.




Kay made a face, "Ugh can't believe you remember that"




"Of course I remember. The only time I didn't want to run away from the game"



It was the year Elena had dumped me as her best friend. Everything felt like garbage and I wasn't interested in doing fun stuff anymore. Elena used to find ways to humiliate me in them so I had refrained from going to parties as well. That one party was important because it was my mother's best friends son and they had sent a special invite which I couldn't avoid. Kay was there and we hit it off since then.




"It was fun"



"Yeah" I whispered staring at her with a smile.
***

Sam was busy with his homework when we annoyed him into opening the door. It was shocking to know that the class clown also studied. But then again it shouldn't be as he's always in the top five in class even though he makes fun of toppers.





At first, he was confused at us suddenly rushing towards the kitchen. I had to find the laptop whereas Kay was thirsty for some cold water. She made a proper show of that as she parked the car.




"What's going on? How are you back so soon?" Sam questioned as he pulled a stool. I slumped down in front of him and pushed the laptop in his direction which made him cock his eyebrows.





Kay grumbled as she shut the refrigerator. Her words cut off as she took a large sip of that disgusting pineapple juice from earlier. Shaking my head at her I blinked back at Sam.





"The tattoo sticker-"




Kay interrupted me, "It's a long story and I'm sure you have better things to do"




"I was doing it when you both rudely interrupted me" Sam made a face as he pointed at his books on the couch. Kay shook her head and patted his cheeks in a mocking manner.




"Aww you poor studious baby"




Sam blushed at that and he shrugged while Kay took a seat beside me. Was she unaware of the effect she had on him or merely pretending? Either way, it was cute to see them like that but I had no time for it.




I sighed, taking the laptop back from him and opening it, "We have important things to discuss. Can we focus on that please?"




"Sure. What's going on? Was Ryan not in that place?"




I shook my head, "He was. That's not why we are here. I found out something from D-" I bit my tongue before I could finish that name. "There's something more important than that."




Sam drawled, his eyes narrowed, "Okay?"





"This sticker-" I pointed at the edge of the laptop. It was familiar but I just couldn't place it somehow- "Where did you get it from? Do you know this place?"




Sam wrinkled his nose, "What place? This is a logo of the motorcycle club. The Jacksons."



Realisation dawned on my face. Of course, they were one of those elite motorcycle clubs that the Jersey Blake, an actor had promoted. Apparently, they were his inspiration for the role he was doing and took some tips from them at the time. I stayed up late to watch that interview.




"What happened to them? The Jacksons? Can we go talk to them?"




Sam sighed, "I wish. Their main leader had disappeared five years ago. No one knows where do they kinda break apart."




My face fell at that. This led nowhere atleast there was a chance that the leader was one of the two guys who attacked Damon's parents. One of them was knocked out by Dean.





"Oh"



Sam shook his head, "You can meet one of them though. Carlos, he's the one who gave me all of their old stuff. He was part of the OG gang. Cool, right?"




"Carlos" I tested his name in my mouth.




"Where does he stay?"



"In the same town. I met him last week and got all this cool stuff."




I licked my lips, "Can you please take me to Carlos? I think I just got a lead"




"Let's go then"
***