“Ok, Belle. Have fun and I should be back soon. Put Red back on the phone.”
“Stay safe and I’ll see you soon. I miss you.”
“Miss you too.”
“Red!” Danyella shouts. I hear the phone being exchanged.
“Prez,” Red says when he gets back on the line.
“Need you at the computer. Put your Prospect on the girls at all times. I don’t give a fuck if they’re in their rooms. They stand guard and know where they are at all times.” I bark into the phone.
“Got it, Prez. Heading to the computers now. Anything you need me to check specifically?” He hurries into the Clubhouse and tells the prospect to stay on the girls at all times. I hear his keys jingle and a door opening. “Ok, Prez, I’m here. What am I looking for?”
“Bring up the bar and the safe house where we’re at right now. You can find me on GPS tracking.”
I hear the clicking of keys and Red is humming to himself. “Gotcha.” He gives a low whistle. “That place is a ghost town.”
“No shit, Sherlock. Now span out about twenty miles south of us and tell me what you see.”
“Ok, just a sec.” I hear clicking again before Red releases another low whistle. “What the fuck happened here?”
“What do you see?”
“Give me a sec, Prez. I want to look around.” Red answers. The clicking of keys can be heard through the phone, driving me nuts. “Two days ago, there was activity. Now, there’s nothing here, Prez. The compound about twenty miles south of you is deserted. No one coming or going and no one inside. What the fuck’s going on?”
“I don’t know but you confirmed what I suspected. We’re going down there to see if anything is left behind and then heading back. I’ll text you when we’re on our way.”
“Ok, Prez. I’ll leave these monitors up and keep watching just in case someone comes before you’re there.”
“Sounds like a plan. Thanks, Red.” I hang up the phone and look around. “Where’s Blayze?”
“Still on the phone with your sister.” Torch teases.
“Go get him.” Torch leaves the room and comes back a few moments later with Blayze hot on his heels.
“Red did a search and the Compound Salazar was in is abandoned, just like these places are. We’re riding down there, doing a search then heading back. Let’s roll before it gets too late and we’re forced to stay the night down here.”
“Any idea why he’d leave here?” Blayze asks.
I shake my head. “Not a clue. This was supposed to be a strong cartel but something happened and I don’t know what. That’s what I’m hoping to find when we get there.”
I walk out of the front door and put my sunglasses on. The dry heat blasts me in the face but it feels better than being in the stuffy hotbox of a house. I straddle my bike and the rest of my brothers do the same. Together we ride off toward Salazar’s compound, hoping and praying we find something, anything to tell us why he’d abandon this place.
I rub my palm over my chest as a dreadful feeling takes hold deep in my stomach. I need to figure out where he is and why he left before he reaches Danyella.
A horn blaring from my left pulls my attention away from the road in front of me. Before I know it, I’m sailing through the air, my bike skidding behind me. Fuck me. I brace myself for the fall and the pain that’ll follow.
Chapter 10
Danyella
I hand the phone back to Red and search out where Monica went too. I find her giggling on the phone, pacing back and forth in the backroom. Instead of eavesdropping on her conversation, I head to the treadmill and set my pace to run while I wait. I pop my earbuds in and begin running, thinking about everything that’s happened to me in the past year and the secrets I’ve been keeping.
I’m so much stronger than I was after Monica rescued me from the Bloody Scorpions. I’m still dealing with the aftermath of the torture I was put through but killing Dred in Michigan helped heal those wounds. Knowing he will never be able to touch me again. No man will ever take anything like that from me ever again.
Taking that next step with Capone was the best outcome I could ask for. He’s caring, sweet and gentle with me. I have no remorse or fear when it comes to him touching me. I want it, I crave it. I need it. He’s helped me get past my fears and insecurities and I didn’t even realize it. Him always being here for me when I need him the most is what’s helped me.
Now, I have two choices to make. I can either tell him about what I know and how Salazar is blackmailing me or I can keep it to myself and figure my own way out. I don’t know which way to go or how to do it. If I tell him, I risk losing everything we’ve worked for. If I don’t, I risk losing his trust. God, why am I put in this predicament? It’s enough to drive a person crazy.
“Danyella, you ready?” Monica asks from behind me, making me jump.
“Holy shit you’re a freaking ninja, sneaking up on me like that.” I slow the treadmill down and hop off. My heart is still slamming in my chest and I take a deep breath to calm it down.
“I wasn’t quiet, you’re just lost in your head. Want to talk about it?”
I cut my gaze to the prospect standing at the door and shake my head. “Not here.”
Monica nods her head and loops her arm through mine. “Let’s get cleaned up and ready for the Netflix marathon.”
We leave the gym with the prospect hot on our heels. I turn to him with a raised brow. “Is there a reason you’re following us?”
His cheeks turn pink with embarrassment. “I was told by Red to keep an eye on you two at all times.”
I roll my eyes, “We’re going to shower and watch some hot football players on Netflix. Is that something you’re into? Hot men getting all sweaty?” I’m teasing him, but I need him to back off so I can talk to Monica in private.
He yanks on his cut and clears his throat. “Ma’am? I’m sorry did you ask if I were gay?” He fidgets with his cut some more, not looking in our direction.
“It’s OK if you are. No judgement from us.” I bat my eyelashes and give him an innocent look I’ve perfected over the years.
The moment he realizes what I’m doing is priceless. “I’m not gay and no I don’t want to watch sweaty men play football. I’d rather watch some bikers blow shit up.”
“Oh! That reminds me.” Monica interrupts our banter. “There’s a new show about bikers on Netflix I’ve been wanting to watch.”
“After we watch football, we can get you your biker fix. Deal?”
“Deal.” Monica and I walk into the Clubhouse together and the prospect backs off a little, giving me some breathing room. I love Capone for watching out for me, but sometimes a girl just needs girl time. My steps falter at the thought, yanking Monica.
“Danyella, what the…?” She turns around to look at me and a smile forms on her lips. “You just figuring this out now?”
“What? I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I try to shake her off the trail but it isn’t working.
“Uh, huh. Bullshit, Belle. I see that look in your eyes.” She pulls me into her room and shuts the door. “You just figured out you love Derek.”
“Is it that obvious? I mean we just got together, isn’t it kind of fast?” My head is running a million miles an hour.
“Girl, you know better than I do how love works.” Monica plops on her bed. “He’s been after you, trying to get you for years. It’s inevitable you fall in love with him.”
“But what if he doesn’t love me?” I question.
“He does. No man would do what he’s done if he doesn’t love his woman. Blayze tried to fight it too, but after my attack, that stopped. He realized we’re better together than apart and he realized he was the only one who could stop the nightmares.” Monica runs her hands down her arms and her palms splay across her stomach. Seeing the pain on her face from losing the one thing she’s ever wanted breaks my heart. “Now, are you going to tell me what you couldn’t in the gym?”
I hesitate to answer. I do need to tell someone before shit hits the fan though. I can’t keep this inside of me any longer and I need advice on how to move forward. Taking a deep breath, I open my mouth and the words come tumbling out. “Salazar has been trying to blackmail me. He contacted me about a week after you rescued me, telling me if I don’t comply with what he wants, he’ll kill me, then come after Derek. I don’t know what to do or how to tell Derek.”
“What the fuck?” Monica’s jaw drops and she’s speechless.
“Monica, please. I need your help. I don’t know what to do.” I wring my hands together repeatedly, trying to soothe the pain in my soul.
“What has he asked you to do?”
“Nothing yet. He just keeps texting me, telling me my time is almost up. I’m scared, Monica. I don’t know how he found me or what he’ll do.” I didn’t tell her about the last text message. If I did she’d go ballistic. I can’t bring that much turmoil to her. Besides, Derek is safe right now. I just talked to him. I don’t need to add to Monica’s stress.
“Here’s what we’re going to do. First, you’re not leaving my sight. We will both shower in here and you’re staying with me tonight. Then, I’ll call Capone telling him he needs to come home right away. It’s your life in danger, we can’t wait until they get back. We need them here now.” Monica is acting with a clear head and I’m a mess of confusion.
“I can’t sleep in here with you.” I shake my head back and forth.
“You don’t have a choice, Danyella. You are not leaving my sight for a moment.” Monica rises from the bed. “Let’s get you a clean change of clothes and some food. It’s going to be a long night.”
“You don’t get it. I can’t stay here.” I plead. “I can’t sleep. I don’t sleep. Last night was the first time in over a year I did sleep all night without the nightmares plaguing me. I can’t put you in that situation.” Tears swell up in my eyes and I take a deep breath.
“Danyella, trust me.” Monica puts her hands on my shoulders, comforting. “You’re not putting me in any situation. If anyone understands nightmares, it’s me. I’ve been having them since the attack in Detroit. I’ve been having them since Chains and Steam stabbed and beat me within an inch of my life. I get it and I will help you through them tonight. We will tackle this together.”
“Are you sure?” Hope blooms in my chest.
“Positive. I’m not going anywhere and neither are you. You’re not alone anymore. You have me, Blayze and Capone. You have a whole MC that will lay their lives on the line to protect you.”
Tears rapidly fall down my cheeks and I take a deep breath, nodding my head. Wiping my face, I stand taller taking the strength Monica is giving me. “OK. But I want to be the one to tell Capone.”
Together we walk out of her bedroom and into mine. I quickly gather some clothes for the night and we head into the kitchen. Rose is at the stove cooking something that smells wonderful. Aerial and Daisy are sitting at the island playing a game of cards. Red, Derange and their two prospects come into the kitchen behind Monica and me.
“That’s smells delicious, Rose. What are you making?” I ask trying to peek over her shoulder. It’s time to bury the past and move forward. I need all the allies I can get at this point.
“Thank you, Danyella. I’m making my famous chicken stir fry.” There’s a slight accent in her voice I’ve never heard before and it raises questions in my head.
“Where are you from?” I ask.
“What do you mean? I’m from Los Angeles.” The southern accent is gone.
“No, I’ve heard it a few times, you’re accent is from somewhere else. As a matter of fact, I know nothing about you besides what you’ve shown me. Where are you from originally?” I cross my arms over my chest and lean against the counter next to Rose. I don’t think she’ll hurt me or anything, I’m curious.
“Danyella, leave it be.” Red mumbles from across the room.
I level him with a glare. “With everything going on, I have a right to know where she’s from. Don’t try to shush me, Red.”
He abruptly stands, sending his chair back against the wall. “I said leave it be.” Red bellows across the room.
“It’s OK, Red. She has a right to know,” Rose speaks softly. “Thank you for standing up for me, but I can’t hide anymore.” Red sits back down with fire in his eyes. Rose sets her spoon down and turns toward me. “I’m from Texas, born and raised. I came to L.A. to escape my past and ended up here with the Royal Bastards.”
“Are you hiding from someone?” My heart breaks for this woman in front of me when I see the pain in her eyes.
“Something, not someone. Not anymore.” Rose shakes her head. “Thanks to these guys that someone will never touch me again.” She plasters on a smile and continues to cook her food.
“Are you OK with that? Running from your problems instead of facing them head on?” I gently ask.
“For now, yes. I needed time to heal and these guys have given me that. Even if I never become an Ol’ Lady, I know my worth and what I enjoy. And I will never be shamed for it again.” The strength in Rose’s voice is noticeable. “I will never allow another person to destroy me that way again.”
“Thank you.” I place my palm on her shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze.
“What are you thanking me for?” Rose asks, confused.
“For telling me a part of your story. I want to bury the past with you and this is a first step.”
“Then, you’re welcome.” Rose turns the stove off. “Dinner is ready, enjoy.” She walks away from the stove.
“Where are you going?” I ask.
“To my room so you all can eat.” She looks at me with confusion in her eyes. Normally the patch whores don’t eat with us, but I don’t see her as a patch whore. I see her as a woman trying to make her way in a man’s world.
I pull down a plate from the cupboard and hand it to her. “No, you’re eating with us.”
Her eyes ping to Red and he nods his head. “Are you sure?”
“Positive. I want you to join us for dinner. No questions asked.” I push the plate into Rose’s hands and she takes it hesitantly.
“If you say so. But I’m not overstepping my role when Capone gets back.” Rose fills her plate with the stir fry she made and the rest of us follow, sitting at the table and island.
“I’ll make sure you don’t have any issues when Capone gets back, Rose. I promise.” I eat the delicious food she prepared and before I know it, I’m stuffed. “I can’t eat anymore. That was excellent.” I push my plate toward the center of the table.
Monica finishes her plate and together we stand. “We’re heading to my room for the night,” Monica announces. The prospect shoves the rest of his food down his throat, not even chewing. “You can stay here and finish your dinner, Prospect. We’re inside the Clubhouse, safe and secure.”
“I can’t do that ma’am. Where you go, I go. Prez’s orders.” He says swallowing hard.
Monica glares at him and he washes his food down with his beer without even flinching. “Uh! Fine, but you’re not coming into my room.” She stomps out of the kitchen pulling me with her. The prospect hot on our heels. Monica spins around almost taking my arm out. “Look, I get you have a job to do, but back the fuck off. I don’t need you breathing down my neck.” He steps back a few feet, giving us breathing space.
Monica opens the door to her and Blayze’s room and shuts it in the prospect's face. She searches all over, for what I have no idea. She checks under the bed, in the closet, checks the latches on the windows and lastly checks the bathroom. Once she’s satisfied with whatever she did or didn’t find she sits on the bed and turns her T.V. on.
“What were you doing?” I ask.
“Making sure no one was in here.” Monica shrugs her shoulders like it’s no big deal.
“Why would there be someone in here?” I’m about to freak out thinking about all the worst possible scenarios when she answers me.
&nbs
p; “It’s a thing I do before I settle into a room. Since the attack, I have a compulsive disorder where I have to check every crack and crevice. To settle my mind that no one will jump out at me when I’m at my most vulnerable.” Monica motions to the bathroom. “Go ahead and take your shower. I’ll find something on T.V. and then we’ll call Capone.”
I grab my clothes and hurry into the bathroom. I take a shower, cleaning my body of the sweat I produced today during my work out. Thinking about what I’m going to tell Derek and how I’m going to tell him what Salazar has done. I also think about how I’ll tell him I’m head over heels in love with him and want to spend the rest of my life by his side.
Feeling clean and refreshed, I pull back the curtain and step out of the shower with a towel wrapped around my body. Monica’s standing at the sink with tears streaming down her cheeks and her phone clutched tightly against her chest.
“Monica, what’s wrong?” My mind plays the worst possible scenarios right now. Blayze is dead, someone kidnapped Aerial. Capone is hurt. “Monica,” I snap my fingers in front of her face, pulling her from her daze.
“Get dressed, now. We have to go.” She storms out of the room and begins stripping her clothes off. I follow her, sliding into my clothes.
“Monica, what the hell’s going on?” I ask as I slip my shoes on. My wet hair is hanging down my back getting my shirt wet. A loud bang on her bedroom door startles me. Monica opens it and lets Red and Derange in.
“Let’s go.” Derange growls before walking back out of the room. He’s pissed and agitated but no one’s told me why. Red stands at the door, not saying a word, waiting for Monica and me. The flare of his nostrils tells me he’s pissed too.
“Can someone tell me what the hell’s going on?” I ask again.
Monica stops putting her hair up and turns toward me. “We need to go. I’ll explain when we get there.”
“Get where? Monica, what the hell?” I grab her arm, turning her in my direction. Her eyes are red and puffy from crying. “Girl, you’re scaring me. What is happening?”
Capone's Chaos: Royal Bastards MC Los Angeles Chapter book #2 Page 9
