Mouser means the world to me, so these girls approving of me means a lot. “Do you want us to show you where you’ll be staying while you two are down here?” Mouser asks them.
“That would be great. We need to catch a breather and unpack.” Farrah says.
Lennox rolls her eyes, “Farrah might need to do that, but I came here to spend time with you so I’m good.”
Farrah goes back up to the car with her brother by her side. The two of them grab their bags and take them up to one of the empty trailers. Honestly, I think the club is going to leave that one for guests. It makes the most sense, especially since they’ve built the two houses for me and then the whores. Gosh, I hate calling them that. But I have come up with the perfect name for the brothel. I’m going to call it the Bad Bunnies Brothel. It sounds cute, and sexy. Perfectly Las Vegas if you ask me.
Lennox and I both walk back over to the picnic table and she sits directly across from me. “How did you and Mouser meet?” Oh, wow. Already diving into the questions.
“Through the club. My Uncle is a friend of Damon’s, an ally, and so we’ve known each other for a few months now.”
“Have you always been . . . you know, together?”
“No. It’s a recent thing. We were friends first,” I say.
“Okay, well, if you hurt my brother, I won’t hesitate to grab a bat and break both of your scrawny little kneecaps. Got it? I didn’t think he’d ever open his heart to another woman after the last one, so I won’t let you hurt him.”
While I don’t like being threatened, I understand why Lennox is being so protective over her brother. “I don’t want to hurt him. Mouser has . . . really enlightened my life. He makes me feel things no one else has ever been able to, and because of it, I don’t want to let go of what we have.”
“Good. It’s nice to see him so happy. He was thrilled when he came down here, but I see a different type of happiness radiating off him now. There’s only one thing that can cause it— love.”
A few weeks ago, I would’ve been terrified beyond belief at what Lennox just said. However, I’m growing to want Mouser to love me. The same way I crave to adore him in every way possible. Honestly, if he were to ask me today, I can guarantee I’d tell him how I truly feel. I’d end up confessing the man has stolen my heart, and how even though it does scare me, I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
Now I’ll just have to spend the next few hours with him and his sisters, before we prep to go on one of the most heart pumping expeditions of my life. But, at the end of this day Mari will be back with her mother and that’s the most important thing.
We’re reuniting a family today.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Remain calm in every situation because peace equals power
~ Joyce Meyer
Sakura
Yami’s driving her old early two-thousands Honda Accord up the interstate. Mouser gave her instructions on how to get to the destination, plus helped her put the address in her GPS. The guys left an hour ago, with Amara. I think everyone besides Kade and Cobra are coming out here for this.
It warms my heart to know so many people are determined to not only protect me but get this child back with her mother. “I’ve never been this nervous in my life,” Yami blurts out as she makes the left hand turn onto the dirt road. We’ll be there in a couple minutes and now she’s starting to freak out? This is horrible timing.
I know she’s focusing on the road, but I look right at her and speak with confidence oozing off me. She needs this right now. She needs a cheerleader to tell her everything will be okay. Am I certain it will be? No. However, I’m wishing everything turns out the way it needs to.
“Yami, you have nothing to be nervous about. You met my mother’s demands and captured me. You’re handing me off for an even trade so you can get Mari back. That is what’s happening today. And, your instincts are going to make you feel like you should get behind the vehicle. Everyone on their side will think you’re putting Mari in her car seat, so it won’t look suspicious. You’ll trade me for your little girl, and then you’ll keep her safe. That’s the only thing you need to worry about. Alright?”
“How can you be so calm right now?” She asks as we reach the dead end and she turns her car so it’s parallel just like Damon instructed her earlier today.
“Because I don’t have a choice, Yami. If you look nervous everyone is going to know something’s up. So, remember what I just said to you. You have nothing to worry about because you’ve done as my mother’s asked and you’re getting your daughter back. If anything, you should be mentally prepared to celebrate. Don’t you worry about me, because I’ll be fine. I have plenty of backup here.”
“I don’t see anyone,” Yami states, looking through the windows of her car.
“That’s the point. You don’t see them, but they’re here.” Now I’m looking through the windows and I see the cliff that’s up a couple hundred feet. I’d put my money on it that’s where the snipers are. Widow, Damon and Hawk are the best shots in the club or at least that’s what Mouser told me, so fingers crossed we don’t run into much trouble. Chaz, Mouser and Amara must be around here somewhere but I won’t keep looking around. It’ll make things look weird if my mother and her men show up soon.
Tires rolling over rocks cause both Yami and myself to look to the right. The passenger side of the car is facing the other vehicle coming up the way and the blacked-out SUV is a sure signal this is one of my mother’s vehicles. It stops about a hundred meters away from us with the lights on and three people step out of the vehicle.
“Come here Yami, we’ve got an even trade for you.” A man’s voice calls out into the darkness, walking slowly into the light. A small shape appears next to the man, looking more like a silhouette.
“It’s go time. Let’s get your girl.” I encourage Yami. She needs to show nothing but strength right now. She exits her side of the vehicle and walks around to the front, opening the door to my side and I play the part.
“What are you doing!? Who is that?!” I yell at her, trying to sell this. If I were to say nothing and act like this isn’t shocking . . . well, everything would go down the drain.
“Get out of my car right now,” Yami snarls, grabbing ahold of my forearm, she throws me down onto the dirt below us. Damn, she’s selling this shit. She slams the car door and looks down at me. “Go over to that man right now.”
“Why in the hell would I do that?” I snap back at her, cocking a brow, looking at her like I hate her entire existence.
“Mama,” A small voice cries out, “Let me go!” The mere sound of her shriek causes every blood cell in my body to freeze. Glancing up, I see the man still has a stern grip on Mari’s arm.
“I’ll be right there baby. Just give Mama a minute, okay?” Yami hollers back, grabbing me by the back of the hair. “Get the fuck up right now, Sakura. I’m done playing games, and don’t act like you don’t know what this is. You’re going back where you belong, with your mother.”
She begins to yank my hair until I’m standing up and for a split second I’m wondering if everything she said to us was the truth or a big fucking lie. Hell, she could just be an amazing actress. Yami pushes me forward and I’m forced to continue forward until we reach the halfway mark. The man stands there and we make the exchange at the exact same moment. I’m pushed forward into his chest while he hands Mari over to Yami.
The sound of feet slamming against the ground is what gives me the impression Yami is running back to her car with her daughter. My back is turned, so I can’t see if they’ve made it.
“Did my mother send one of her errand boys to come fetch me?” I snarl, deciding to antagonize the man.
“Bosu!” He calls, calling the term boss in my native tongue. The SUV door opens again and I see her sandals before I can see her face. She stands ahead of me and shakes her head.
“Sakura, how could you do this to us . . . tsk. Now we’ll have to teach you a lesson like we taught Asami.
I wonder if when she burned . . . she thought about the horrible choices she made against her own family.”
Something in my mother’s voice makes me feel like something isn’t adding up. She said she taught my sister a lesson. “Wait. Did . . .” Everything that’s happened over the last year floods through my mind. Every memory, every reaction, every single moment. “Did you do that to her?” I ask, feeling as if I finally know the truth regarding the situation.
Out of nowhere I hear a round of shots being fired and the man standing next to my mother drops to the ground. My mother on the other hand pulls out a gun and points it right at my face.
Her true colors finally being shown.
“You did, didn’t you? You killed your own daughter?!” I scream out, angrier than I’ve ever been before.
She snickers, “I didn’t kill her. No, the Bears MC did that for me. She needed to be punished for everything she did, how she betrayed our family— her family.”
“You . . . you acted like it was such a shock. Both of you did! Was he in on it with you? Did father know!?” I snarl, taking a step forward but I hear the click of the safety being pulled and know this woman, the one who birthed me, might be as heartless as they come.
“Your father is a feeble fool. I’m the real brains behind both of our successes, Sakura. Surely you understand that. Now, say hello to your sister for me.” She giggles, and I hear another shot ring out, instantly closing my eyes, waiting for it all to stop. For everything to go black and never to feel another thing ever again.
Only, nothing comes.
Instead, another thud hits the ground and I see my mother lying against the dirt with a hole in her head. Blood oozing out of her wound and the men who were with her on the ground in different locations.
I don’t know if I can believe what just unfolded before my eyes. It feels like a dream, like it was a figment of my imagination and in no way reality. Although, I’ve been on this Earth long enough to know true evil. After experiencing it firsthand I can only wish my mother’s foul nature was caused by an evil spirit. My religion can’t even convince me of that, even though I want everyone to be good and pure. Some people just aren’t. Some individuals are just like my mother, miserable and ready to wreak havoc wherever they go.
Rumbling bikes come flying down the road and Mouser’s form comes into the shining lights of the SUV and crashes into my body. His arms wrap around mine, holding me close and he whispers that everything is going to be okay.
“S-she killed my sister. It w-wasn’t the Bears MC. Our m-mother put the order in.” I cry out, every feeling of betrayal and heartache pouring through me. I still can’t grasp why she would do something like this. How it would be even remotely acceptable to end your child’s life when you were the one who brought them into this world.
“Oh Dove, I’m so sorry.” Mouser whispers, rubbing my back with his hand in a soothing manner.
We stand there for minutes wrapped in one another’s embrace. I’m sure he doesn’t realize it, but I’m holding onto him for dear life because I don’t have anyone else to lean on. I thank the kami right now that we crossed paths with one another and they’ve sent such a strong man into my life.
“Thank God Amara pulled the trigger when she did. I almost lost you, Sakura.” Mouser says, forcing me to look at him. “I couldn’t ever make it through this life without you, because I love you more than life itself.”
With tears pouring over my cheeks I confess my feelings, “I love you too, Christopher Michael Valentine.”
He pulls me back against him, holding me so tight I think I’m going to break, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
And I need you, not in the ways to survive, but in the ways that make life worth living
~ JM Storm
Mouser
All my life I never expected to open my heart up to another woman. At least, not the way I have with Sakura. When I was in my teenage years I was the prey of a black widow of sorts. She was beautiful, intelligent and had loads of guys chasing after her in our town. She was practically the whole package. I took this woman to prom, out on dates, picked her up from her job and did everything the perfect boyfriend would at the ripe age of seventeen.
But, like everything else in life, reality came crashing down on me. She started distancing herself slowly and in the pit of my stomach I knew something wasn’t right. I remember staying after school for tutoring one day because I sucked ass when it came to calculus. My teacher was great and offered to help me get the gist of it on Wednesday afternoons until four.
Well, Stephanie was part of the dance team so she was gonna be after school until five. I thought it was perfect that I surprise her. So, I didn’t tell her about my after-school tutoring and went down directly after my tutoring was over. Hell, I thought I might even be lucky enough to get a good view of the girls practicing their routine.
Only, that isn’t what I walked in on. I found Stephanie and Chad, the captain of the football team lockin’ lips. To this day I still don’t know if they were fuckin’ but it doesn’t matter. She betrayed my trust and had been doin’ it for God knows how long.
I saw us goin’ off to college together, movin’ in, gettin’ engaged and all that jazz. She was the first woman who ever broke my heart. After her, I didn’t risk my heart ever again. Not until Sakura.
Now the two of us are at some casino in Las Vegas named Chase’s. Logan Steele called Damon and let him know Lucian would be meeting us here this evening because we need his help on ensuring Sakura stays safe. Lucian can’t even say no because he’s gotten a direct order from his boss to ensure Sakura remains under the radar.
The hope is that the same way Lucian has the masking program on her, he can find some roundabout way of planting her face in certain cities over a period of time. We’d prefer if he’d plant her somewhere in South America, where one could disappear in the blink of an eye.
Sakura sits across from me at our booth in a sparkling silver gown, her hair is up in a bun and her eyes are lined beautifully to the point where her eyes glisten in the light.
“I’m kind of wondering what you have on Logan to make him send me out here for a face-to-face meeting, Saki.” The mere sound of his voice makes me want to wrap my hands around his throat and squeeze until his face turns a lovely shade of blue.
“First of all, I told you to never call me that again.” Sakura sneers, turning her face up to the bastard. He must be in some designer suit. If he isn’t I’d be surprised, but this dude looks the part. Fuck, he looks like a total womanizer.
How did she go from a man like that to someone like me?
“Oh, you’re so cute when you get riled up. So, what am I doing all the way out here?” Lucian asks her, still makin’ me wanna choke the man out.
“You’re a smart man, right, Lucian?” I ask, forcing my tone to come out grumbled. I’m losing my patience here.
“Some would say I’m one of the smartest,” He smirks, diggin’ his hands in his pockets.
“Great, so you can find some way to make it look like Sakura’s in South America.” I state.
Lucian grimaces for a moment. “Why would I do something like that . . . unless,” He shifts his stance and looks back to my woman. “Oh sweetheart, what have you got yourself mixed up in?”
I can’t do this anymore. I won’t stand by and let this bastard think he can talk to her this way. I shoot up to my feet and grasp the collar of his shirt, shoving him harshly against the wall. “You’re gonna keep her motherfucker of a father off her trail, wiseass. But if you don’t wanna do that I can find someone better than you, and if I have to do that, well . . . I don’t have to keep your ass alive I suppose.”
Glaring right at Lucian I watch him gulp and wait for his reply. One of two things will happen, he’ll either be a smart son of a bitch and do as I say, or he wants to be put six feet in the ground. Regardless, I can make it happen.
“Okay, Jesus. I’ll do it. Le
t me go now, will you?” I release Lucian and take a step back, making sure I sit next to Sakura this time.
“You can send an update to Logan once it’s done. He’ll find a way to relay the information to us.” Sakura speaks up, meeting her eyes with her ex.
“Need anything else while I’m here?”
“Yes, actually. I need you to take this, and make it look like my mother is still alive. I’ve been impersonating my mother in text messages to my father. I’m sure you can figure out some sort of way to do it, but, just make sure you don’t get caught.”
Lucian nods and walks off, leavin’ me alone with her. Everyone at the club knows we’re gonna be gone for a while, so we might as well have some fun while we’re here. If you ask me, we’ve earned a little bit of a break.
Epilogue
I may never find words beautiful enough to describe all that you mean to me, but I will spend the rest of my life searching for them.
~ John Mark Green
Sakura
It’s hard to believe today is the fourth of July. The last couple weeks have flown by, and to be honest, it’s been nice. The best part of it all is how we haven’t had to worry about anything. Thankfully, since we were able to have that meeting with Lucian and he implemented the program to be able to leave fake imprints of my whereabouts. Well, let’s just say I don’t expect my father to be able to track me down.
Today is going to be the most special though. Why you might ask? Because two of my good friends are going to get engaged. That’s right, today is the day Hawk picks up the ring he bought for Raven. I of course am going along with him to meet this Indra character and see if we should set her and Dixon up on a blind date. Izzy came along with us since she’s known Raven since they were little girls.
Chaos: A Reapers MC Boxset Page 68
