by Ren Parris
“I know, but you said yourself your brothers think I've left, so maybe whoever wanted to kidnap me believes that, too. I need to be on my way so I can get to the meeting with my publisher.”
Letting out a big breath, he rubs the back of his neck. “Let me see what I can do. I'm totally against you doing this but I understand you need to be at the meeting.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Wolf
"Damn, Mary, that chicken and vegetables was out of this world." I rub my stomach with both hands.
Shooter nods. "Yes. Can you come live with us? I could eat this kind of cookin' all the time."
"I appreciate the compliments," Mary says as she starts to grab the dishes.
Pepper and Crystal both stand and stop her. Crystal takes a dish out of her hand and shakes her head. "You cooked, we'll clean."
When they start the clean-up, I head outside with the men.
I bring up what Pepper told me. “Pepper wants her car brought to her before Saturday. She plans on going by herself to the meeting in Illinois.”
Not that I'm going to let her go by herself. No way in hell. She can think I’ll let that happen, though.
“I can follow her to make sure she's safe. I can do it and she won’t know, if you don't want her to," Decker offers.
“How are you going to follow her without her knowing?”
“I have a buddy who lives in Memphis. He'll let me borrow his truck and I'll follow her. She won't know I'm following—I know what I'm doing. When we get there, I can get a room in the same hotel and place a tracker on her car." Decker seems confident.
“So if her car moves while in Illinois, we would know where she is?”
“Yes, and I'll be there if she needs help.” He pauses. "I think this will be a good way to find the mole and who is behind the takeover.”
We all cease talking when the girls come out of the cabin. I go over to Pepper and pull her back to my front, so I can hold her. Shooter does the same with Crystal. We stay on the porch until the sun starts to go down. Pepper's eyes keep closing. Yawning, she wriggles closer to me. “I'm ready to go to bed.”
“I bet you are, sweetheart. Me too.” I grin and wink.
“Get your mind out of the gutter.” She blushes.
“Sorry, baby. I just cannot help myself.” I know she's thinking the same thing.
When we get to the bedroom, I make love to my woman for the majority of the night. I know I will pay for it tomorrow on the drive home. We won't see each other for a while, so I spend as much time giving her as many orgasms as possible while managing to have some mind-blowing ones myself. After our equally fun shower, I finally allow her to sleep and join her.
The sun coming through the window wakes me, but Pepper is still sound asleep. I leave her to rest and dress before heading outside. It's not long before she finds me sitting on the front porch steps.
“Hey, what are you doing out here by yourself?” She steps around me to sit between my legs.
“Just mulling over things, sweetheart. I've been thinking about you going to your meeting, but I would feel better if someone came with you.” I hate to have one of my men following her without her knowledge. If she realized it, she could be angry that I sent someone to watch her or scared it could be someone out to hurt her.
“Well, if you think so. Do you have someone in mind?” she agrees without complaint.
I'm surprised she’s not fighting me on it. “Yes, Decker says he can do it, and I'll feel better. Just in case the mole knows about your meeting and still wants to try something.”
"Okay, but I hate to put anyone out."
“Baby, just in case it'll be good to have someone like him with you, and besides, he's the one who suggested it. He won't ride with you. This way he can follow close behind and make sure there's no one following you.” I know I can trust Decker. The background check came through clean and his only affiliation is with the Dwellers. They aren't my problem. Not anymore, anyways.
“If it will make you feel better and since he doesn’t seem to care, all right. Will you get my car here before Saturday morning? I'd like to leave as early as possible. The drive will take us about six and half hours, if we don't stop.”
“Shouldn't be a problem. I'll call Travis and have him get it to you.”
When everyone gets ready to leave, the girls spend time hugging each other in an emotional goodbye. Mary and Crystal are crying, holding onto each other. I know Mary wants her to stay with them, but to throw off whoever is after the Freedom MC, she needs to go back with us.
Pepper walks over to my bike. “I love you. Be careful.”
I kiss her hard. "I'm going to go crazy not being able to kiss you."
"Me, too. I'll call you when we get ready to leave. I love you."
“Baby. I love you too. I'll be waiting. I want you to check in with me as much as possible.”
She nods and I leave her. I wanted to say so much more, anything to keep us together, but I needed to get on the road.
Chapter Twenty-six
Pepper
As soon as they leave, Mary goes up to her bedroom and the prospect, Joe, follows them out of the long driveway. Decker and I meet up for a talk.
“Do you think they still want to kidnap me to get to Wolf?” I ask him.
"Yes. I'm sorry, it's not what you wanted to hear. I found a GPS tracking device on Wolf’s cycle.” Decker rubs the back of his neck.
“Why did he not find it?” Not that I blame him. He seems so careful with everything going on.
“It was put in a really odd place, and it looked like part of his wheels. Technology has come a long way in surveillance. I decided to leave it alone but I loosened it, so it should fall off by itself.”
“I guess it proves for sure that they have a mole.” Hopefully, it's not one of his brothers. The bond they have is strong and I don't want to see him hurt. "So, if they do still try to kidnap me, you think this plan of yours will work?"
“Yes, it seems to be the case regarding the mole. It's not going to be good when everything finally comes out.” He shakes his head. "I'm hoping this plan works. I think you'll draw them out and I can see who's coming after you."
I don't have to be kidnapped, just act as bait for the bad guys. That's not so bad. At least, Decker and I had managed to speak about this before Wolf came. If Wolf knew about the track on his bike, he probably would've taken me back with him and put me on twenty-four-seven watch. By him only. Now we might really make whoever is involved think I'm alone and maybe end this. “So, how do you know so much about trackers and all?”
"From the Marines,” he answers vaguely.
I respect that he isn't much into talking about it from his short reply. “I guess this is a done deal then."
“Yes. As soon as you get your vehicle, you can head towards Illinois.”
“Let's go over the plan one more time.” We talked about it before Wolf showed, but I'm so nervous, I feel like I'm going to screw something up.
“Okay, you'll drive your vehicle and I'll borrow a truck from my friend that lives in Memphis. I will leave ahead of you. That way it'll look like I've just gone somewhere and you're traveling by yourself. There will be a tracking device on your vehicle so I can find you easily. I'm going to get you some kind of jewelry to wear with a tracking chip, too.”
With a worried look on my face, which I know he can see, I bite my lip. “Do you think they'll try anything, before or after the meeting is finished?”
“It seems like they know all of your moves. I assume the mole is in the Freedom MC because of the tracking device on Wolf’s cycle. I'm not sure who is behind this, wanting to take over the territory. Having just made brother after prospecting for over a year, and having to come straight here to the cabin, I've not heard all the details of what is going on.”
We hear Joe coming back up the driveway so we part.
“We can finalize our plans later. I'll go ahead and get packed.”
“Sounds
like a plan. I'm going for a ride, so I can get a signal to call my buddy about the truck. He'll bring it to me and take my bike back with him.”
Decker stays out on the front porch. Going back into the cabin, I can hear them talking. I hear Joe say everything is good. A few minutes later, I hear a motorcycle going out the driveway.
Mary comes down the stairs so quietly, I don't hear her. “Are you eavesdropping?”
I almost jump out of my skin. “Goodness, Mary, you scared the shit out of me!”
“I'm sorry honey, I didn't mean to. When are you leaving?”
“What makes you think I'm going anywhere?” I haven't consulted with Mary about anything. Hopefully, she hasn't been spying on me.
“Nothing really, but I heard the men talking about you wanting your car.”
"I am. I have somewhere to be. It'll be fine though. Decker will be watching over me." I see her worry and hug her.
"I'm just ready for this to all be over with. Crystal is in the middle and I'm scared to death. I know Hitch will protect her and now I know your man and his boys will, too, but it's still too much." She cries softly.
After hugging and consoling each other, we part ways. "I'm going upstairs to get all my stuff packed up.”
I spend the rest of the day getting packed and working on my book. I hope they bring my vehicle sometime tonight. We'd be able to leave early Saturday morning.
Decker wakes me up around five in the morning to let me know Travis is here with my car and that we need to leave.
Here goes nothing.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Springfield
Pepper
Decker just left, taking Travis to Memphis where he has family to visit. I run through a mental checklist to make sure I have everything, including the earrings with the tracking device. I already have them on so I won't have to worry about forgetting. After forty-five minutes, I bid goodbye to Mary and make it on the road by seven, which should put me there around two.
I call Wolf as soon as I get a signal and smile when he answers on the first ring.
“Hey, baby. Are you on the way out?” His deep voice melts my heart and has me wanting him with me.
“Yes, I left about an hour ago. Should get there around two.”
He sighs. "Okay, baby. Call me every two hours until you get there. If I don't answer, leave a message. If it's important, then get in touch with Decker."
I can tell he's worried and missing me as badly as I do him. "I will. I love you."
"Love you too, sweetheart. Now focus on driving."
"I will." When we end the call, I'm worried it could be our last. I trust Decker, but even he says he's unsure of who they're dealing with. I just wanted to help and it seemed like they were going to find me no matter what.
There's nothing really to look at as I take Interstate 55 straight to Springfield. I stop once to use the bathroom and watch everything and everyone around. No one seems particularly interested in me. I haven't noticed anyone following either, but Decker seems to think they know where I'm heading anyways, which means they could be waiting there.
I call my mom. Her voice brings tears to my eyes for I miss her so much. I could regret leaving her for this trip, but that would mean regretting meeting Wolf.
“Hello sweetheart, how are you?”
“I'm good, Mom, just on my way to my meeting.” I manage to keep my voice steady, so she doesn’t catch how upset I really am. I've always been able to hide my emotions well. Unless I'm angry.
"Alone or is that Wolf with you?"
I smile at her wording. He is a wolf for sure. "No, I'm by myself."
"Are you sure that's safe? Why aren't they watching you?" She's almost frantic.
I don't like hearing her concerned tone. "It's okay. No one’s with me in the car, but someone is watching out for me."
She tsks. “I'm still am going to worry about you.”
“I know, Mom, but everything will be all right. Have you had any more problems?” We are really too much alike because I worry about her just as much. She's my best friend.
"Yes and no." She sighs.
"Well, what happened?" I tap the steering wheel, freaking out. My mom is having to deal with some freak who decided he wanted to be obsessed with me.
"Yes, he did show up one night and tried to break in. No, there really wasn't a problem because those big biker men stopped him before he even had the door open and scared him to death. Then they called the cops and he was arrested." She sighs dramatically. "Those biker men are still insisting on sticking around until they make sure he's going to stay where he's at. I don't think he'll mess with us anymore. They really worked the scary magic on him."
“Thank God they were there! They need to keep an eye out, so stop complaining about that. They can't be too hard on the eyes anyways." I'm trying to lighten the conversation, but my heart is still racing from her news.
"Oh they're not, but they're much too young for me. Anyways, I'm safe so you don't need to worry about me anymore."
“I'll always worry, just like you will always worry about me. I don't want to stop our conversation. It means I can't hear her voice, and I love talking to my mom. "Mom, I'll call you later when we can talk longer. I'll be driving for a while."
“Okay, sounds good. I will talk to you then. Be careful.”
Hanging up, I settle in for the drive. When I finally make it to Springfield, I start looking for my hotel. It is supposed to be near the Lincoln Museum. My publisher set up my reservation. I know Decker is already there from his earlier text on the burner phone he gave me to use. We decided it might be a good idea for me to have an extra phone in case something happens to me. Having him there helps me not to feel all by myself.
As I pull to the front of the hotel, a valet comes out to help with my luggage. Another valet drives my SUV to the parking garage. I'm not going to need my car, since my publisher has provided a driver to take me where I need to go. I plan on doing a little site-seeing all day Sunday with an assistant from my publishing house.
The front desk has all my reservation stuff ready when I walk in. I settle into my room easily, which is extremely nice. The room has a king size bed with a great view of downtown. Room service will deliver my supper so I don't have to go anywhere for the rest of the day.
When Sunday morning comes around, I meet the assistant in the lobby for our tour of Springfield. A woman sits in one the chairs in front of the concierge desk—the only person there. “Hey, I'm Pepper.”
She stands with a smile on her face and offers a hand. "I'm Hannah, your assistant for the trip. It’s great to finally meet you. Are you ready for the grand tour?”
I can’t believe what a beautiful woman she is. She has long, brown hair with golden and red highlights. The most outstanding feature, though, are her eyes. Her long eyelashes frame a set of vivid medium green eyes with a starburst of gold.
“Sure am. I hope I'm not putting you out.”
“No, not at all. I live by myself and would have just sat at home all day. This is great to get to go around the city with you.”
“Lead the way,” I tell her, excited.
“The driver is supposed to pick us up, and I thought we could start by getting some breakfast,” she offers.
My stomach growls and I'm glad she doesn't seem to notice. “Sounds good. Let’s go.”
After eating large platefuls of pancakes, bacon, and eggs, we tour all the historical sites Springfield offers. When we're finishing up with the day, I feel the hairs on the back of my neck tingle. It’s the first time I've felt like someone is watching me. Trying to look around without being obvious, I don't see anyone following us.
We arrive at the hotel and I get out of the car. “Thanks for the tour, I'll see you tomorrow at the meeting.”
“You're welcome, I'm scheduled to pick you up in the morning at nine.” She smiles and waves.
“Okay, see you then.”
Going into the hotel, I stop by the front
desk to see if there are any messages. They hand me a sealed envelope. I open it to find out it is from Decker, telling me to stop by his room.
Getting on the elevator, I start to hit the button for Decker’s floor. Then, a huge man gets on with me. He gives me the creeps, reminding me of Bobby, the guy who broke into Wolf’s bedroom. I decide to go to my room instead. Getting out on my floor, the guy stays in the elevator, but is sticking his head out when I happen to look back. I walk faster to my room. Before putting my key card in, I look back again. The elevator doors are closing. Not wasting any time, I rush inside, shaking and breathing hard. I lock all the locks and flip the safety knob, too.
I lean on the door, getting myself together. Grabbing the burner phone from my pocketbook, I hit the button for Decker’s cell.
Decker answers after a few rings. “What’s up? I thought you were coming to my room.”
Sliding down the door to sit on the floor, I tell him about the guy in the elevator. This is the first time I've really felt so frightened. I’ve been nervous and tense in the last few days and with that stalker creep following me before my trip, but this feels so real now. Fear eats at me.
“I think I've had someone following me today,” I whisper as I grip the phone.
“You were, and I was following them. There were two of them. Both big men, and maybe looked a little alike. They didn't have on a cut or colors. We still don't where they are from.”
“You know, Ghost would have a picture of Bobby, the guy I saw going through Wolf’s bedroom. Maybe you should see if he can text you a copy. We would be able to rule him in or out."
He goes silent for a while, then finally tells me, “That’s a good idea.”
We get off the phone and I'm exhausted. Feeling like I’ve had enough excitement for the day, I decide again to get my supper from room service. Hopefully, I'll be able to sleep tonight.
