“So they’ve been actively trying to find her?”
“She’s still listed as a missing person, and from the police reports, the parents haven’t given up. They’re still pestering the cops on what is now a cold case for them. No one saw Esme being taken away, so the snatch was done cleanly and efficiently. The only CCTV available shows her looking at a window display while her parents hadn’t noticed her stop, then, she walks out of sight. No one else in the footage.”
“Major picked his moment and was clever about it,” I suggest.
“Doubt he did it himself,” observes Beef. “Probably one of his minions.”
“If she got lost,” Shayla adds to the conversation, “she’d have trusted anyone who said they’d help her.”
Of course, she would, and someone had taken advantage.
“It’s a mystery how she got from Flagstaff to Vegas, or how she came into Major’s hands, but it appears she did. It’s Esme from photos the parents posted. They’re all over social media.”
Shayla’s hands form fists. “Major had books with our pictures in there, a brochure of sorts. He showed me once.” Her face twists. “If her picture’s been plastered around, people who saw that would have known she was missed. Not one of them did anything to stop it.”
I refrain from telling her it wouldn’t have mattered a damn to men who preferred their women unwilling, or young.
“Are you on social media, Shayla?” Cad asks.
She shakes her head. “I was… before. But I’ve avoided it and any digital footprint since I got free.”
Sensible girl. She hadn’t given into temptation in case Major used it to track her.
Demon takes over. “Cad brought this to me first thing today. I asked the Tucson boys to check the home out and then called this meeting when Drummer reported back. From what they said, the house is in a nice neighbourhood and the family’s lived there for years. Lady posed as a journalist, and the parents were only too willing to talk to him to get her name front and foremost in the news once again. Obviously, the story had died over the months she’d been gone, the initial interest fading. He saw her bedroom left untouched, her drawings pinned up in the house, some framed. Her mom was upset, but proud of the work her daughter had produced. He also talked to the neighbours and heard stories of a happy, loved and cared for girl.” He pauses and looks around. “From what he said, it sounds like they’re genuine.”
“I agree it sounds kosher,” says Beef, and Thunder nods.
“So what are we going to do about it?” Hellfire asks.
“That’s why I’ve called us together,” Demon states. “If there’s a fuckin’ sniff of a chance they had something to do with Major, I wouldn’t for one second countenance handing her back. But Cad’s found no link with him anywhere. Looks like this is just how it sounds, an abduction and grieving parents who’ve no idea where their daughter disappeared to.” He glances at the only female in the room. “You know her, Shayla. Your view is important to me. Did she ever mention her home or family?”
Shayla’s lips purse and she doesn’t give an immediate answer. Then her mouth opens. “She used to cry for her mom and her dad. I got the impression she had no siblings?” Her intonation rises, and Cad interprets it as a question.
“She’s their only child,” he confirms.
Shayla nods. “Crying for her mom was one of the things that got her punished, so in the end, she stopped. Then, of course, she wouldn’t talk at all. Before that, I’d tried to ask where she came from, but all I got was 1601 River Street, which was probably useful if you knew the town or city, but…” her voice trails off and she shrugs.
Probably why she hasn’t mentioned it before.
Cad’s eyes brighten. “That’s the address,” he confirms.
“What are we waiting for?” Hell snaps. “Let’s get them here. Esme wants to go with them, she can. She indicates otherwise…”
“One sign that Esme’s uncomfortable with them, I’ll take her away.” Shayla sounds firm. “Not allowing Esme near Major again.”
“No one wants her back in his hands,” Demon growls. “Not taking any chance of that.”
“Is there a problem here?” I’ve been quiet up to now. “If Esme was going to be making Major money, and fuck knows I hate to think it, but I can understand how he could have from some twisted motherfuckers, but might he try to take her back? He might have eyes on her parents, just in case she returns if she’s that valuable to him. He was never able to cash in on his investment.”
“She can’t go home then.” Shayla sounds alarmed. “I agree with Lizard there’s too much risk.”
Beef wipes his hand over his head. “Esme has needs, and God help us, we’re trying to provide them, but she needs serious therapy. She won’t say a fuckin’ word. That’s not good for the kid.”
“She spoke yesterday,” Mace puts in. “Told me to pay up when I slipped up and swore, but she hasn’t said a word since.” He catches Shayla’s eyes.
She shakes her head and confirms it. “I tried, thinking that was a breakthrough, and I think it was. But she needs time and patience, and, as you say, professional help.”
“So how do we swing it?” Thunder’s face is taut.
Demon thinks for a moment. “Shayla did nothing wrong. All she did was free Esme and kept her safe for the last few months. Esme wasn’t talking, so how did we know where to return her?” Fuck me, he sounds like he’s talking about a stray dog. But relocating her might have been easier if she was. Some dogs are microchipped. As we learned to our cost, Max is. When Beef took Steph into hiding, Max’s chip led the bad guys directly to them. “We tell them the truth but ask them to keep us out of it.”
“I’ll have to move on,” Shayla tells us. “If her parents see me here and let slip where I am, Major will come to get me. I know he will.” Her voice has gone soft, scared, but also determined.
I see Mace tense. “You’re going nowhere, Shayla. We just need to make fuckin’ sure you’re left out of it. As far as they’ll know, you’ve already moved on and left Esme with us.”
“That would work,” Beef agrees. “We’ve got enough women around to make this a safe place for Esme to be left, her parents would buy that.”
“Settled.” Demon picks up the gavel and bangs it, the noise making Shayla jump. “I’ll ring her parents. If I’m right, they’ll be here first thing in the morning. We’ll check Esme’s reaction, and if she’s happy to go with them, the handover shouldn’t take long. We’ll say the woman who saved her has already left and we’ve no idea where she’s gone. We don’t even have to mention Shayla’s name.”
“Warn the parents to be on the lookout for Major.” Beef’s looking concerned. “They’ve got to understand the risk they’re taking. Soon as she reappears at her home, he’ll know where to find her.”
Fuck it. I hope we’re making the right decision and that sweet girl will soon be back where she belongs and out of the clutches of men like Major forever.
Chapter Seventeen
Lizard
I’m Lizard, otherwise known as Norton James. I ride with the Satan’s Devils MC and have done for the past ten years. I’m… thirty-eight years old, and my birthday is the tenth of January. I’m a tattoo artist and I run Devil’s Ink on behalf of my brothers. I’ve no ties, no family and that’s the way I intend to stay.
Before I open my eyes, I hear the tapping of rain against my window. Guess I’m not going to moan at having a busy day ahead in the tattoo parlour, whereas some Saturdays, I do end up envying my brothers with a day off instead. From the sound of it, today’s not going to be great for riding.
I sit up straight as I remember what else should be happening later. If Demon contacted Esme’s parents and they were as loving as we hoped, I doubt they’ll waste any time coming to collect her. I’m only assuming he made the call last night. When I’d left the meeting, Bella had been available, and I’d made good use of her for a couple of hours. Then one of my blinding headaches had come
on suddenly, and I’d dismissed her, turned off the light and slid into bed.
Sleep gradually gave a release while the pain still assailed me. Luckily, this morning, it’s gone.
I throw off the covers, eager to discover whether Demon’s call was successfully made. I feel invested in the outcome, though God knows why. I haven’t had a lot to do with Esme since she came to the compound, apart from stuffing dollars in that overfilled jar. But I was the first to know of Shayla and the young girl’s problems and was happy my brothers stepped up and gave them refuge.
That I’d stayed clear since then hadn’t been surprising. I’ve never been interested in having kids of my own, did everything I could to prevent it. Always used my own condoms and not one a girl conveniently had in her purse. It’s rare I ever go with anyone other than the club girls who were all on some kind of contraceptive to ensure no slipups were ever made. A couple of times I’d been with hangarounds, but not often. Young dizzy girls are not my style.
I shower, dress, slide into my cut and attach my wallet to the chain on my belt, then descend the metal staircase. The first person I see is Mace. He’s pacing by the door. During the time I’ve walked from the top step to the last, he’s taken out his phone and checked it twice.
I cross the room to him. “The family coming?”
“Yeah, Vanna and Cas are on their way. I’m expecting them any moment now.”
I thought he’d been getting on well with Shayla this week. I hadn’t missed how patient he was being with her and far from his normal enforcer self. I’d actually thought he was getting close to her, and fuck knows, that girl needs someone on her side. Now I find he’s waiting on the other bitch and her son? What’s the fucking man want? Both women? He’s greedy as fuck. I roll my eyes. “I was actually asking about Esme.”
“What? Oh, yeah. Her parents are on their way now. Shayla’s already said her goodbyes to Esme, not that the kid understood. Now she’s gone with Pyro, who’s dropping her off at Mo’s, to keep out of the way until the kid’s gone, or, not as the case may be.” I nod, knowing there’s no way we’re going to let just anybody take her. “I’m waiting on Cas. Then I’ll be taking him to the auto-shop.”
“What about Vanna?”
“Oh, she’s arranged to do some baking with Mel. Seems they’re getting on like a house on fire.”
As if he’s summoned them by magic, the front door opens and the woman and her son come in, both of them already dripping after just the walk from the car to the clubhouse. The boy looks like a dog as he shakes the rain off him.
Vanna wipes her face with her hand and pushes back her damp hair. To give her credit, she looks amused rather than worried about the damage to her style. As her hand draws my attention to it, I notice her hair looks different. Just as long but seems to hang better. Fuck, if I was in the market for a civilian woman, I’d be happy to give her a try. She’s an attractive bitch for one in her thirties. No wonder Mace is sniffing around.
He shouldn’t be.
Shaking my head, wondering where the hell that thought came from, I start to turn around, my intention to get some breakfast before going to work.
“Cas, you okay to head straight out? Pyro needs me at the shop now.”
“Sure,” I hear the kid answer excitedly.
“Hey, Liz. You got something you’ve been keeping to yourself?” Judge calls out, then walks closer, looking between me and the boy standing next to Vanna. “You and the kid look like two peas in a pod. He’s got your nose.”
He looks nothing like me. Red hair and green eyes, whereas I’m a dark blond and mine are hazel. “I ain’t got a monopoly on my nose, Brother,” I bark dismissively. “You trying to stir shit?”
Judge is now close enough to bump my arm. “Just saying, there’s a resemblance.”
“There’s no fuckin’ resemblance, and no fuckin’ chance.” With a leer, I give Vanna the once over, and scoff. “Haven’t ever been there, nor have any inclination.” Realising too late how that might sound, I throw the woman a look of apology. “Don’t mean anything by it, darlin’, but you’re not my type.”
Her face gives nothing away, not even a twitch. Cas though, well the kid goes white. Makes me wonder if he knows who his father is, and if not, whether he’d be worried if he was a biker. Have to admit, his mom seems pretty comfortable in this environment. Well, whoever fathered him, it certainly wasn’t me.
I do notice Cas had bounced in. Now with what’s probably a teenage mood swing, he looks sullen and his smile’s been replaced by a frown. That right there, I remind myself, is why I never wanted a kid.
“I’ve got your helmet here.” Mace gets between me and the boy, reaching over to a table and picking it up from where it’s been hidden on a chair. “We’ve got to get moving, Pyro wants me there yesterday. Best put that on inside.” As he hands the kid the lid, Mace’s face morphs into a grin. “It’s raining out.”
“We’re not going in a car?” Cas asks, his voice dripping with scorn.
“Nah. Little bit of wet never hurt anyone. Hey, Karl! You got some wet-weather clothing Cas can borrow?”
The prospect yells back that he has and is soon approaching with a waterproof jacket.
Cas looks at it but doesn’t take it. “I don’t want to go, Mace. It’s bucketing down out there.”
His sulky tone gets to me. Mace is doing him a favour taking him to the shop, and the kid doesn’t want to go because it’s fucking raining? As my eyes open incredulously, I swing around. What do they make kids of nowadays? “You won’t fuckin’ melt, kid, now go and get on Mace’s bike,” I snarl.
Surprised I’ve entered their conversation, Cas’s angry eyes snap to mine, something in his expression making me take a step back.
Christ. Pain slams into me as though I’ve been hit around the back of the head. I stagger slightly, then straighten again.
“Who the fuck do you think you are to tell me what to do?”
Trying to deal with the pain, my mouth opens and shuts and I’m at a loss for words.
“Cas,” Vanna says loudly. “Where are your manners? If you don’t want to go on the bike, I’ll drive you…”
Now I’m glaring at her. “Kid does what he’s told, or he’s not going.”
Why the hell do I care?
“You okay, Liz?” Mace asks me, his face appearing to shimmer through my unfocused eyes.
“Bad head,” I rasp out. “Don’t let the kid get away with it, Brother.” Then I turn and walk away toward the kitchen, letting them sort it out themselves. Perhaps having some food might ease the pain. The thought flits through my head that maybe the kid hasn’t anything to do with me, but he’s got the same mile-wide stubborn streak.
Shortly after, when I’m tucking into some pancakes, eggs, and bacon, with a cup of coffee next to my hand, Vanna walks in on her own. She seems agitated.
“What did the kid decide to do in the end?” I ask, my headache having receded a little.
She looks down, before meeting my eyes. “He went with Mace. I’m sorry, Lizard. He’s not always that way. It’s coming here...” I notice as her words trail away.
“Coming here… What?”
She looks away. “He finds it hard is all.”
Hard? Thought the boy enjoyed being on the compound. But maybe he doesn’t like being told what to do. She probably lets him get away with shit that wouldn’t fly with us. But if he doesn’t want to behave, there’s a simple answer for that. “Well don’t bring him, then.”
As she inhales sharply, Mel shoots me a look and crosses to her. “Kids, eh? Guess this is what I’ve got to look forward to.” Her hand smooths over her rounded belly.
“Fuckin’ kids,” I say to no one in particular and pick up my fork again.
“P-p-pay u-u-up,” a little voice sounds. It’s one I’ve not heard before.
Despite everything, I break out a smile. “Well, of course, Esme, sweetheart. Here, take five. I’m sure to f- slip up again.”
She gri
ns, takes the bill, and skips off out of the kitchen, returning a few seconds later. I shake my head and chuckle to myself. I hope she does get collected, else I’m going to be broke. Still, it was good to see for myself that she’s starting to recover her voice. Even if she only uses it to demand money for her fucking swear jar.
Suddenly, I hear a commotion from the clubroom. I push my plate away and stand, checking my gun is in my cut and at hand if I need it.
“Where is she?” comes a shrill voice. “Where’s my baby? Where is she?”
Esme, I notice, has gone still as stone. Her head tilting as though she’s computing something.
“Esme! Essie?”
I go out through the door to find Demon facing two people down. Suddenly, I’m pushed forward as someone bumps into me, physically clearing me from the doorway.
If Demon had had any expectations of how this reunion was to be handled, his plans are having to undergo an unforeseen and very swift change. Esme doesn’t falter, just tears across the room and throws herself into the arms of the woman who’s clearly her mother, she even looks like her. Her father’s arms swiftly surround them both, and all three are crying.
“That went well,” I say to no one in particular.
The man is the first to straighten, leaving his wife and child sobbing and hugging, then he, wiping his own eyes, steps toward Demon. Due to the frown on his face, I also move closer.
“I’m Dave Black, otherwise known as Demon.” Prez holds out his hand.
“The man I spoke to on the phone,” Esme’s father states. Joy at the reunion being replaced by concern.
Demon nods, though there’s no need to confirm it.
“You said you wanted to fill me in, in person.” There’s an imperceptible straightening of his shoulders as if in preparation for a weight he’ll be asked to bear. Any hope that there’s an innocent explanation for the four months his daughter’s been missing, is not there.
Satan’s Devils MC -Colorado Box Set: Books 4-6 Page 94
