Pyr's home base was not a compound. It was a whole dang subdivision. Not to mention was a mite too far from civilization. The last place they passed by was an elementary school. After that, all she could see were trees and fields.
The place looked more like it could survive a zombie attack. The outer wall was covered in vines that it was impossible to know what kind of original structure looked like. It was like five stories high. She couldn't help but giggle. Even the gate looked impressive. The logo that was on the leather patch she was still wearing had the same design as the gate. Whoever made this had talent.
As they drove past the gate, Pry let the window open, and Angel smiled. Clean air. It was such a blessing to be out of the city. Even though she and the kids were enclosed in an air-conditioned car, she could not help but feel oppressed by the heat.
In the waning shine of the sun, the place was the perfect retreat for people who had been traumatized.
"Just like the women I was with," she quietly said.
"Hmm?" asked Pyr. He looked so relaxed. He doesn't look as tense as he was when they left the bunch of aholes on the ground. "You sayin' something, babe?"
"This place…" Angel began, but she couldn't find the right words to describe what she felt.
He gave a lopsided grin from the driver's seat before he said, "I know. I felt the same way the first time I saw this place. I have been all over the world, but nothing can compare to this."
He stopped in the middle of an empty road and stepped out. Pyr opened her door and carefully transferred Cole in his arms before helping her out of the car.
Angel looked at the male behind her. He left the door of the car open so that if ever Kayla woke up, she wouldn't be afraid that she was alone.
Who was this male? She could sense a deep searing pain inside him. Did he lose someone in the past? The way he took charge of the kids made her wonder if he was married before.
A sudden stab of jealousy pierced her heart. Irritated, she crossed her arms across her chest and ignored him.
"Babe, tone down the aggression would you?" the playful tone in his voice was back. When she continued to ignore the man he laughed. "Whatever you are thinking, I have no girlfriend, live-in-partner, a mistress, or a wife."
There was an astonished look on her face that caused Pyr to laugh harder. Angel's face was an open book when she was relaxed. This made him happy. She had after all had no memory, but the way she was with him said another thing.
He casually kissed the top of her head. Oh, he knew that constantly doing it would eventually cause him bodily harm. However, as long as Cole or Kayla was around them, the chances of it were 0.1%.
And both of them knew it.
"The government of this country wanted to turn this place into a hiking ground or something." He explained. "I can't remember exactly who made the deal, but the next time we visited this country, the president at that time set up a personal meeting with me. He gave me the papers and a simple request to make sure that everyone was cared for."
Pyr was shocked. He expected to fight tooth and nail to get the land, yet he never paid a single cent. He just had to keep everyone safe. It sounded like a normal request, but in reality, it was not.
What the president had done at that time, cemented the idea that not all leaders were bad. And for his group, this was the very first time that had a home.
Around that time, the crew was scattered across the globe. He and Ven took the hardest missions while the others added support to the wars going around them at that time. When word got around they finally have a land to call their own, they descended upon the place.
In the first year of the land ownership, none accepted any work. They were afraid to lose something far more precious than money. It took all the world leaders to convince the crew that the land will not be forfeited. That they own it, tax-free, and if ever anyone tries to take it away, all of RagTag's services would stop.
"RagTag is more than just a motorcycle club, babe. I would rather you see what we do than me telling you all the boring details." Pyr scanned the area, taking mental notes of the things that needed to be checked. Food for one, and making sure all the plants in the area were taken care of. "Come on. We need to be in the clubhouse. Ven and the others are anxious to meet you and the kids."
"Why are they anxious to see me?" She asked.
"Babe, you tossed three of my best men. Harden men that are far bigger than you," he replied, a glimmer of merriment was in his eyes. Jin was also giddy with happiness. "No one had beaten them, but you did."
"So, should I be proud of myself or something?" Was her sarcastic remark.
"Oh, babe. You have no idea," was all he could say.
Angel could only follow Pyr back inside the car. When both she and Cole were secure, he then made his way to the main clubhouse he was talking about.
All of them were bonkers, she thought. But, if all of them are bonkers, would that mean, I'm one too? She sighed.
Amnesia or not, this place was the perfect place to collect yourself and do some self-reflection. The fresh mountain air would help cleanse the body from carbon monoxide. As for the food? It remains to be seen.
"What do you call this place anyway?"
"The Nest."