by Dawn Martens
We huddle together while trying to keep ourselves calm. I’m not sure how long we sit on the floor together when the door swings open.
“Get in there,” I hear.
Looking up, it’s then we finally see Eden. She doesn’t look like she was hurt, but she looks shaken up. “We’ll be back in a while with food. Don’t need yas to starve,” Breaks says.
The light in the room snaps on, so we are no longer in darkness. Looking around, I realize that we didn’t have to be on the floor. There are three twin beds in the room—the place looks surprisingly clean.
“Are you guys okay?” Eden asks, rushing over.
“Yeah, we’re okay- well, as okay as we can be,” I tell her. “What about you? What did they want with you?”
Eden gives a small shake of her head and sits on one of the beds. “They were just talking to me. Momma B was trying to get me to understand her reasons for doing this, but I mostly just tuned them out,” she says quietly.
That was a shocker, Momma B being a part of all this. I can’t believe I ever thought of her as a second mother.
“My mom has to be so worried,” I say to the room. I don’t say anything about my father. Ever since my parents got divorced when I was just a kid, he really hasn’t cared much about me. However, he still doesn’t like people to know about Trent, considering he’s a result of him cheating on my mom. That would make him look bad to his church and the town. When he found out I was spending time with Trent, he lost his damn marbles.
If I hadn’t said I’d keep it a secret, I would have gladly told Mason, but because I didn’t say anything, I lost the one man I love more than anything.
“We need to find a way out of here.” I’m surprised they untied us. That has me thinking there is no way we are getting out of here until they want us to or until someone comes for us.
“Only one way in and out.” Eden sighs, flopping back on the bed, trying to get comfortable.
“There isn’t even a window in here,” Lilly states the obvious, sniffling and wiping at her nose with the hem of her shirt.
“Anyone heard from the girls? Mrs. Shepard just called, and they haven’t gotten home yet,” Angel says, coming into the clubhouse while shoving his cell in his pocket.
I frown. “Why would Mrs. Shepard call about that? Old bat lady being nosy again?” I ask. Wouldn’t be the first time. Old bitch has her nose up everyone’s ass. Probably knows what my shit smells like. She’s always the first to know everything.
Angel runs a hand over his beard. “No, Mrs. Shepard was watching Glenna and the twins, and Eden told her she’d be home by now.”
“She trying to scar those kids for life?” I chuckle just thinking about what the old woman’s told them by now.
“What about Lilly?” I hear Zippo ask. He’s been on edge for a while, ever since Lilly found out about Kayla, and especially since her murder. He’s struggling with everything, considering he has Rose full-time now.
“I’ll call Ann,” Angel says while leaving the room.
Zippo comes to sit beside me. “I wouldn’t worry. Girls probably just lost track of time,” I tell him, taking a sip from my beer.
“Yeah,” he says, but he looks worried as he jerks his beanie off and rubs his hands over his head.
“Are you gonna sign those divorce papers?” he asks while nodding his head in the direction of the papers.
“Nope,” I tell him as I place my beer on top of them, using them as a coaster.
His eyebrows shoot up. “From what I’ve heard from the girls talking, you either sign them or Hilary’s going to take you to court.”
I smirk. “Like to see her try. I read that shit. Says we can’t be together during the separation and all that. We’ve been fucking. Won’t be a fuckin’ divorce.” I smile widely. I get lost in the thought of fuckin’ Hilary again and can’t wait to do it every night.
“I thought that’s what you wanted too, though?” he asks, confused.
I shrug. “I thought so too, but I love her, man. Never gonna let her go. I’m giving her another two weeks before I’m tying her to the chair and making her talk to me. Finally gonna let her explain shit.” I pause. “By then, I’ll know if she’s pregnant.”
Zippo lets out a loud laugh. “How’d you pull that one off?”
“I know her. I know she’s shit with her pills, always has been. I didn’t wrap it up the first time I took her three months ago, when I took her last week, or anytime we’ve done it. She could be at least three months pregnant right now.” I grin.
“Man, you’re evil.” He shakes his head and starts searching his cut for his lighter. I save him the trouble and hand him mine.
“Yup, and I don’t give a fuck. I want her, and I’ll be damned if I let her go.” I really hope that what everyone says is the truth- that she didn’t fuck around on me. However, if I find out that it is the truth, then I’m gonna feel like an ass, since it would be me that was the cheating bastard in the relationship.
I rub a hand over my face and sigh.
I wake up to Eden poking me. I wish I could go back to sleep, remembering one of my favorite days I’ve ever had—becoming one with Mason.
“What?” I say sleepily.
“Wake up. I think they’ll be back soon,” she says.
Lilly’s sitting up on the bed with her knees to her chest. “What’s wrong, Lilly?” I ask her.
Her head turns in my direction. “What do you think?” she snaps. “We’ve been kidnapped. We’ll probably die, and I’ll never see my daughter again,” she says as tears fall down her face.
Eden gets off my bed and goes to her, wrapping her up in a hug. “We’ll get out of here, Lilly-pad. I swear it. The guys will come for us. You and I will definitely see our children again,” she says, sounding convinced. I also want to question why she hasn’t mentioned getting back with Vinny. I’m somewhat worried that maybe she’s done with him for good.
“I hope so. I know what Vinny did was beyond hurtful. I didn’t know how to get past it, but this whole situation, not knowing if I’ll see him again, I need to be with him, or at least forgive him and move on,” Lilly says.
“I know how you feel,” I say quietly.
Both girls look at me, confused.
“A few months ago, Mason finally found me, and well, he wasn’t taking no for an answer. We were together,” I admit with a smile.
“What?” both girls shout, then quickly quiet down, not wanting to draw attention to us.
I shake my head. “It was amazing, but I was sort of a complete bitch afterwards. He said he’d give me time to come to terms with the fact that we are never getting a divorce, and then he left.” I pause. “But um, we’ve also slept together a few times after that too,” I say quietly.
“Are you going to let him in finally?” Eden asks quietly.
I think for a moment before nodding. “Yeah, after this whole thing, I want him. I want to really sit down and talk to him and try to work things out. I don’t want to be without him.”
Eden’s face turns sad. “I’m glad you two will have that.”
Lilly speaks up. “Eden, babe, after this, I’m positive you and Jasper will finally be together.” I hope Lilly is right. What she did by keeping the kids from him was wrong, but they love each other. They deserve to be a family. It makes me think of the baby that Mason and I lost. I often wonder, if I hadn’t miscarried, if things would be different. Would we have worked things out years ago and be a happy family with a son or daughter of our own?
Angel comes storming into the room, dragging a beaten up Roni behind him. Both Zippo and I stand up from our stools and look at the two of them, confused.
He jerks her forward, practically tossing her at us. “Tell them what you told me,” he demands.
“I, I, um...” she stutters, looking terrified.
“Spit it the fuck out!” he roars.
“Vic isn’t dead,” she blurts out.
Zippo and I go still. What the hell? Who the
fuck is messing with this club? Victor died years ago. Could he be behind this? Is that old bastard still alive?
“More!” Angel shouts at her with his fists clenched. I have never seen Jasper put his hands on a woman, but he looks as though he’d kill one right now.
She flinches, taking a breath. “Breaks is working for him, trying to take back the club. Bruce too, but Breaks found out that Bruce was going to turn and tell you everything.”
“What?” I ask disbelievingly.
“Momma B was part of it all too. She’s Vic’s Old Lady,” she tells us.
“Oh, but that’s not the best part,” Angel sneers. “Roni here was a part of it all too. It’s why she came the fuck back. She made nice with the girls, got them out of the club last night, and right into their fucking hands!” he screams at the end.
We all go solid with that. “Lilly?” Zippo demands.
Roni nods. “All three of them,” she says quietly.
“Fuckin’ hell!” I shout, throwing my beer across the room.
“Man, calm down. We need to be level-headed about this shit,” Zippo says.
“I should have known. Breaks was asking shit a little while back, Momma B too. I didn’t think nothin’ of it. Fuck!” I roar.
“Bet they were the ones that fuckin’ killed Kayla.” Zippo hangs his head and then snaps it back up. “That motherfucker!” He pops his neck, rolling it around. I look at him, confused, not following. “Breaks. That’s why he got in with Kayla. I’m going to kill him!” he vows. “Sick fuck was around my kid!” he shouts.
I snap and rush toward Roni, wrapping my hands around her throat and squeezing. “You fuckin’ cunt,” I growl into her face.
She gasps for breath while clawing at my hand.
“I should kill you right now, end your fuckin’ life.”
Angel and Zippo wrestle me off her and pull me back. “Get the fuck out, Roni!” Angel shouts at her.
“Fuck, man, calm down,” Zippo says.
“Fuck you all! She got our women into this fuckin’ mess.”
“We know, but we’re gonna get them back. Then we’ll deal with her,” Angel says.
I watch Roni walk out of the club as if she’s in a hurry. Fuckin’ cunt went and told them what was going on. I know she did.
I watch her go to her car and drive off. I follow while placing the call to Vic.
“What?” Vic says when he answers.
“Got a problem. Roni went to the guys, told them everything,” I tell him.
I hear him roar before he answers me. “I can’t have this plan go south right now. Put a fuckin’ bullet in her then start planting the shit we talked about,” he says then hangs up.
Fuck! This is not what we need right now. I’ll have to step shit up. My sway in the department only goes so fuckin’ far. We get those three out of the damn way, and we will finally have the club where we want it.
Roni’s in pretty rough shape. Bitch probably went home to crash. Whore isn’t smart enough to have a gun, and those Angels Warriors pussies don’t care enough to protect the slut. I drive up about a block from where she stays. I creep up to her apartment slowly and use the key that Vic gave me to the place to slip inside—place is fucking empty. Fuck!
I walk back toward my truck and notice her car just down the street, abandoned. Where the fuck did she go? She must have known I was following her.
Momma B came in a few minutes ago to bring us food. I’m sure we all had questions as to why and how she could do this to us and the club, but none of us wanted to even look at her. I still can’t believe the woman that was always there for us growing up and since we’ve been back has been going against the club.
“I feel sick that I let her around my kids and my sister,” Eden says while looking down at her food.
“Same here. I’ve let her watch the baby when I just needed a break. She helped me after my thing,” Lilly says quietly.
I look over at Lilly’s wrist, and I see the marks she put on herself a few months ago. We all should have seen the signs that she would go that far. Once we found out she was depressed, we all pitched in when we could. None of us thought she would do that, though.
“None of us could have known,” I tell them, trying to put them at ease. “This is the woman that was always there for us growing up. Hell, she even helped pull off some of our pranks.”
“I know, and that’s what hurts the most,” Eden says.
Just as she says that, Momma B comes back in the room, looking at all of us with a sad look. “I’m sorry, ladies. I am. I wish things were different.”
The room must be bugged, because why else would she come in and say that?
“I don’t get it. You were a second mother to all of us. How could you do this?” I ask her, needing answers.
She sighs and sits on the chair by the door. “I’ve been in love with Vic for as long as I can remember. He’s always been my one. I accepted his life-style, his need to be with other women, but then he fell in love with Jasper’s mom,” she starts. “I can’t have children, never been able to. She was beautiful, loving, a good woman, and she could have children- everything Victor wanted in a wife, an Old Lady.”
“Okay, but still, why would you do this?” Eden asks.
“Through it all, Vic and I were still together. When Gloria left him because of the club girls, I was still standing by his side. I was happy she was able to give him a child—a child he wanted. I love him, girls, and true love... with that comes anything. You’d all do anything to stand by your men. I don’t like this anymore than you girls do, but it’s what I need to do to be with the man I love,” she says firmly while standing up and leaving the room.
“Well, that was a crock of shit. If Mason suddenly decided it was all cool as shit to go out and murder people and kidnap them, I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t stick with him,” Eden says in outrage to me.
I stiffen. Sometimes I forget that Eden doesn’t know who Mason was before the club changed. Lilly notices this too. “Um, Eden, how do you think Mason got his name?” Lilly says to her.
Her face pales. “No,” she whispers out.
I nod grimly. “I stayed with him. He only told me something once before I told him no more. I couldn’t bear to hear it. But it was part of what he did in the club. That was his life.” I remember that awful day he came home covered in dried blood.
“But it’s Mason,” she says, snapping me out of the memory.
“I know, but he’s not that anymore,” I assure her. At least I hope not. I haven’t really been around him much with this switch in the club, but I highly doubt he’s still doing that shit. He isn’t that man anymore. I know it in my heart.
It’s been a week since we found out the girls were missing, and we are no closer to finding them. “How fuckin’ hard could this be?” Zippo yells. “They can’t be just gone.”
“Yeah, well, our tracker was Breaks. I highly doubt we’ll find him and ask him politely to find them,” Angel sneers. Smart ass.
I hate just doing nothing. We’ve checked out warehouse after warehouse, all the old spots we knew of that Vic would go to.
“Have we checked in with the cops?” I ask.
“Yeah, but they weren’t any fuckin’ help. Officer Thrane gave me some intel. Word has it that we are gonna be under investigation. Last people to see Bruce and Foxy alive? Us. Told me that they plan to have a fuckin’ search warrant for all our shit,” Angel says, beyond pissed.
“Planning a raid?” Zippo says snarkily. “We helped them raid the fuck outta the place before. They should know better than to think it was fuckin’ us.”
“Yeah, Thrane said they think we only helped with that shit because we wanted to run the fuckin’ place,” Angel says.
Last time, we were in on the fuckin’ raid. Angel and Zippo were anyways. At that point in my life, I didn’t fuckin’ care.
Life was a damn mess. Cleaning up this club and our lifestyles has been a blessing. I was going down a fuckin’ r
oad that would have landed me in prison, or dead.
It’ll be over my dead body that this club gets taken down.
Jasper even reached out to Monica to see if she knew where the fuck Roni ran off to. Bitch took off before we could ask her where they were holding the girls. She told Jasper to fuck off, said she wasn’t getting caught up in our shit ever again. I can understand with all she has been through, but we’re talking about the lives of the ones we love. It’s rough; Vinny’s girls are babies and don’t know what’s going on, but the twins and G-baby know shit is up. Jasper told them that the girls went on a vacation together, but they see through the bullshit. Those kids are smart.
We’ve been in this room for seven days—seven extremely long days. We get let out long enough to have a freezing cold five minute maximum shower. God, I’m craving a hot soaking bath right about now. Momma B stopped coming in to see us on day three. I don’t know if it’s from guilt of doing this, or if she doesn’t want to look at us while we rot in here.
Eden and Lilly are lying in their beds, sleeping, but I can’t. Every time I close my eyes, I think about Mason and all those wasted years. I should have just tied him to a chair and forced him to listen to me.
In this stupid room, I also miss Jessica and Ethan. I’ve never been away from those kids. They aren’t mine, but I raised them as if they were. I didn’t even struggle with the choice to help Eden out with them either. More likely, I jumped at it.
After suffering a miscarriage and losing Mason, I figured raising those kids for Eden would probably be my only chance at motherhood.
“We did it!” Jessica and Ethan were both shouting at me about passing their math tests. They were so proud of themselves, and so was I. To celebrate, I took them to one of those pizza places for kids with the games and such. We had the best time stuffing our faces with greasy pizza and playing games. Ethan earned so many tokens that night and won a pillow that said number one on it, and he gave it to me. Said I was his number one other than his mom.
