Quiet Country (Satan's Sinners M.C. Book 2) (25 page)

He drives about fifteen minutes and pulls into a rundown house. It makes me sick to know I'm this close to home, and so was he this whole time. The house is small with dirty white paint that's peeling off. Crawler gets me out of the car and I'm still clutching Cub to my chest, who’s calmed down some since the ride. He takes us into the house, with old creaking floors and cobwebs covering the walls. The wallpaper’s peeling off just like the paint was, and it's bare, no furniture or anything, so I know he doesn't live here. He opens the first door on the left. It’s a bedroom, empty except for a ratty mattress on the floor. He takes me over, sitting me down on it.

"What do you need for him?"

"Why are you doing this?"

"I'll explain everything later. What do you need for him?"

"Diapers, milk, wipes, clothes, and a sippy cup."

He pulls out his phone, calling someone and telling them to bring him a list of things.

"When they get here, if you make a noise or try to run, I’ll kill you both,” he says as he shuts the door. I think I hear a lock click behind him, but I'm not sure so I get up and turn the knob.

Of course, it's locked. I look around the room, trying to see if there’s anything I can use to get us out of here. The windows are boarded up. I see another door so I go over and open it. It's a closet and it's completely empty. I go sit back down and feel something in my pocket. I forgot I have my phone, pulling it out to check for service. Nothing, no service at all. Throwing it down, I sit holding my son, trying to come up with a plan to get us out of here alive.

I've tried not looking at my phone to save on the battery. I don't know how long we've been kept in here, I'm guessing at least a couple of hours. Hearing the door start to open, I scurry to get my phone under my ass. I make it just as the door fully opens, and Crawler comes in, shutting it behind him. He has food for me and all the things I needed for Cub.

"Here. Eat. I got one of these things for him,” he says as he tilts his chin towards Cub, sippy cup in hand.

"You’re the one that sent me all that stuff?"

"Well yeah. Didn't you like it?"

"No. How did you find out where I lived?"

"I followed you the night of the fight. Of course, I stayed back far enough so Bear wouldn't notice, but I had to make sure you got home safely."

"Are you crazy?"

"No. He doesn't really love you not like me. He won't come for you he'll just move on forget all about you."

"Why are you doing this?"

"Because Jacey, you were always mine."

"What the hell are you talking about?”

"Do you remember we used to play together?"

"A little bit, not much." God, that was so long ago.

"Yeah, you were young, six when your momma took you away. I was older than you."

"You know Bear is going to find me and kill you,” I tell him.

"I don't think so.” Pacing the floor, he continues. “This was always the way it was supposed to be. You were the princess and I was the VP's son. We were destined to be together."

"You’re fucking crazy!” I hear the familiar sound of Bear's motorcycle go by. It brings tears to my eyes, knowing he has no idea he just rode by us. "Can you leave me alone so I can eat and take care of my son?”

"Yeah, but just remember what I told you. I’ll kill both of you if you try to leave."

"I know. I just want to be left alone."

When I hear the lock click on the door, I get an idea. I take the phone over to the window, lifting it up. I have one bar. Maybe I can send a text.

Jacey: Bear help 15 mins from home take the road u just went by house will b on left side old dirty white.

I hit send and wait. Finally, right before my phone dies, it says the text was sent.

Bear

When I left the house this morning, I had a bad feeling. I should’ve stayed my ass at home, but I didn't listen to it, deciding to go ahead and go to the garage to get some work done, just like I do everyday. I couldn't take it anymore, the feeling got worse and I had to leave early. I don't know what it is, just a feeling like something bad is going to happen, something's not right. I get to the clubhouse and everyone is there except Pretty Boy because he's with Jacey. Walking in, I see Hanger sitting at the bar. Pulling up a seat next to him I ask, "Hanger, can you call church?"

He looks over to me. "Why?"

"Something's not right, brother. I can feel it."

"With what?"

"I don't know man. I think with all this shit with Lil Mama."

He shouts over the music, "Guys, church now!”

Everyone walks down the hall to the chapel. Taking our seats, he calls the meeting. "Bear, what's going on?"

"I don't know. Do you guys have anything? Anything at all? I feel something's about to happen."

"Whoever it is knows what the fuck they’re doing, Bear. We’ve done everything we can. I can’t find shit all on this person,” Hacker says.

"The fuck is going on?" I ask. "Do we have any ideas on who it could be?"

"None, that's the fucked part of it all."

"Could it be the stepdad?" Hanger asks.

"Not unless he has people watching her. I thought we handled that though." I get a call from Pretty Boy, and I know something’s wrong now. "Yeah?” I talk into the phone.

"Brother, we got a problem."

"What?"

"It's Crawler. Snake sent him today. I didn't even see it coming when he knocked me out and took 'em."

"The fuck? You tellin' me he has my Ol' Lady and my boy?"

"Yeah man, I'm sorry."

I hang up the phone, looking at Hanger. "It's Crawler. He took her and Cub. I'm callin' Snake."

"Fuck. What reason would he have to do this?"

"I don't know, but come to think of it, he gave me a weird feeling when he first saw Jacey. She felt the same way." I dial Snake’s number and his phone rings twice, then he answers. Before he can say anything, I tell him, "Crawler kidnapped Jacey and Cub."

"WHAT?" he yells into the phone. “No fuckin’ way.”

"I just got word that it's Crawler. Why did you send him and not a goddamn prospect?"

“I didn't send him. I sent Spike. I haven't seen him all day, so I assumed he was there."

“Pretty Boy said Crawler was sent by you. He knocked him out. He didn't even see it coming."

"You have any idea where they are?" he asks, his breathing deepening with his growing anger.

"Not yet, but when I find them, he's a dead man. Got me?"

"I'm on my way." He hangs up.

"I'm riding to the cabin to check things out. I'll keep you updated."

"I'll come with you,” Doc says. We leave the clubhouse and ride to the cabin where I find Pretty Boy on the front porch. He's got a gash on his head, dried blood smeared everywhere.

"You might wanna have Doc look at that,” I tell him as I go into the house. They are hot on my trail, and with the bond that Jacey and Doc have formed, I knew he wouldn't be sitting this one out.

"I'm sorry, Bear. He told me Snake sent him so I thought it was okay. He asked me to take a break, but I refused,” Pretty Boy says. “He pulled his pistol and hit me, that's all I remember."

"Not your fault for gettin' knocked out.” I turn my cold stare on him, telling him, "What is your fault, however, was not gettin' me on the phone when he pulled up. If anything happens to either of them, brother or not, I will kill you."

"I know. I wouldn't expect anything less." He drops his head. I know he feels guilty, but I'm too fucking pissed and worried to give two fucks about him right now.

I get to the hallway and laying there is Karma, bleeding. I get down, making sure she's still alive. She's hanging in there, but if I don't hurry, she’ll be dead.

"Get a vet now!” I yell, not caring who does it.

I check the whole house, and nothing’s missing or out of place. There are drops of blood going from the hallway, out the door, and down the steps. I'm hoping it's his blood, that Karma got him before he shot her. Other than that, it just looks like she left without taking anything. The alarm didn't notify me, so she had to have opened the door. My phone beeps with a new text, and pulling it out, I see it's from Lil Mama. Thank fuck! She tells me where she’s being kept at, and it's not far from here. She heard my bike go by. That son of a bitch didn't think this through very well.

Pulling my phone out again, I call Snake. “I’m almost there."

"I got a text from her. I know where she's at, meet me at that dirty old house that you pass on the way here."

"You got it." I hang up and text her back, letting her know I'm on my way. Getting the keys to my truck, I drive a little ways away from the house. The guys park their bikes behind my truck. We pull our guns just in case they’re not alone. I don't want to give him reason to do anything to them, so we walk the rest of the way. I try to see in the windows on the porch, but they’re all boarded up. Doc and Pretty Boy go around the house as I very softly step up onto the porch and knock on the front door. Sure enough, Crawler opens up. I push on the door, knocking him down with it.

"Where are they, you motherfucker?"

"Bear, what a surprise. I have no idea what you are talking about." He goes to get up, but I knock him back on his ass with my foot.

"Tell me where they are and I might consider letting you live." I hear Lil Mama scream from a door on the left.

"Are they in there?" I ask, pointing to the door.

"I don't know what you’re talking about."

I throw a punch to his face. He spits blood and a tooth out onto the floor. Crawler looks up at me, smiling. I walk toward the door, turning the knob only to find it locked. I'm about to kick the door when I feel him at my back. He pulls at me then kicks his leg, sideswiping mine and making me fall to the ground. He throws a couple of his own punches, busting my lip. Doc and Pretty Boy come running into the house, getting him off of me.

I stand back up. "Let him go." They do as they're told. I take the steps to him, throwing another punch, making him stumble. I walk up and give him a couple more hits until he's back on the floor. I straddle his waist, putting all my strength in the hits. I hear someone tell me to stop, but I can't make out who it is.

Blood flies everywhere as another hit lands on his face. At one point he passed out, but I can't stop. I just keep hitting him over and over as I think about him trying to take my family from me. I won't let anyone take my family from me again. It's deathly quiet in here until my fist connects again, and I hear the cracking of the bones breaking in his face. Blood’s everywhere and soon it feels like I'm hitting mush. Someone tries to get me off of him.

"Bear, he's dead. You killed him. That's enough." That's still not enough to get me off this scumbag.

"Bear, where are they? Where is my princess and Cub?”

Coming back to reality, I realize it's Snake. I gotta get them. I stand up, seeing the mess I created, and walk over to the door. "Lil Mama, get as far away from the door as you can!”

"Okay, I'm away from it!” she yells back, and as soon as I hear those words, I kick it open. Standing in a corner, back facing the door, is my Ol' Lady.

"Lil Mama,” I say, so she knows that it's okay to turn around. When she does, she has Cub clutched to her chest.

"Bear?" she questions

"C'mere, Lil Mama." She runs over to me, putting Cub in one arm and throwing her free arm around me. I wrap them both up in my embrace, peppering kisses all over their faces. "Bear, are you okay?"

"I'm fine, it's not my blood," I reassure her. "Are you guys okay?"

"Yeah, he didn't hurt us. I'm so happy you found us! I love you. Is Karma okay?"

"I don't know, one of the guys has a vet comin' to get her. I got your text. I love you too. And I still think you need to have Dr. Greene check you out."

"Okay." She looks over my shoulder. "Dad, why did you send him?"

"I didn't, Princess, and now I have a missin' prospect. Do you know why he took you?"

"Yeah, but I'd really like to get out of here before I start talking about it."

"Let's go back to the clubhouse. We can talk about it and get the doctor to see you."

She then sees Doc and Pretty Boy, her eyes shine with unshed tears. "Pretty Boy, I'm so glad you’re okay!”

"I'm so sorry, Lil Mama,” he tells her.

"Hey, come here. It wasn't your fault." He walks over to her and she gives him a one arm hug. He's lucky he gets out of this one. I take Cub out of her arms.

"Doc, are you okay?" He runs up to her, grabbing her up in a tight hug.

“I'm so fuckin' glad you guys are okay!”

"Me too, Doc."

Cub is looking at me as he puts his hand on my face, saying Dada. My vision goes blurry as my eyes fill up with my own set of tears. If I would’ve lost them, I would’ve died myself.

"Yeah buddy, it's Dada,” I tell him, seeing the smile form on his face.

Snake had a full gas can in the bed of his truck, so Pretty Boy dowsed the inside, along with Crawler’s body and the front porch. I pulled out the lighter I still carry, and once ever one’s outside, I light that bitch on fire and we stand there watching it burn.

We make it back to the clubhouse and she gives the doctor a call while I take a quick shower, getting all the blood off of me. I walk her down to the chapel where Snake and Hanger are waiting for us. I left Cub with Crazy Girl and the girls. We take seats at the table.

Snake starts, asking, "Why did he take you?"

"He was fucking crazy."

"Jacey, come on.”

"What, Dad? He was.” She cocks her eyebrow at him.

"He took me because he said it was where I belonged. I was the princess of your club and he was the VP’s son. We were destined to be together. So, like I said, he was fucking crazy."

"Before you left, it was talked about, but not a minute afterward. I had no idea that he’d hold onto that, and I can't say what this is gonna do between the clubs."

"What do you mean? He kidnapped them, Snake!” Hanger chimes in.

"I know that, and I'm with you guys, but Bear killed my VP’s son. He's not gonna take that lightly."

"I don't give two fucks! His son took my Ol' Lady and my boy! He fuckin' deserved to die,” I tell him, my anger bubbling to the surface.

"I agree. I'll see what I can do, but I gotta go find my missin' prospect." He stands, walking over to Lil Mama, kissing the top of her head.

"I'd have killed him myself if he would of hurt either of you. I love you."

"I love you too, dad." We walk out, going to my room so she can lay down with Cub. I walk to the bar, waiting for the doctor when Romeo calls me from the gate to tell me that she's here. A few minutes later, she comes in with a machine, looking around the club, taking everything in. Her eyes stop on Hacker, all the color draining from her face. It’s like she's seen a ghost. I look to Hacker and his eyes are huge, face red with anger.

"Dr. Greene?" I question, walking up to her. She jumps, completely off in her head.

"What?" She turns to me. "Oh right, Bear. Where's Jacey?" she asks.

"She's this way.” I start leading her to the room. “Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine just a little jumpy, is all,” she responds.

I hear Hacker shout, “WHAT THE FUCK IS SHE DOING HERE?" I look over and see that Dr. Greene has stopped, her eyes closed, breathing heavy.

"Hey, is there somethin' I should know about?" I ask her.

"No, it's fine," she answers, recovering. “I'm just not his favorite person."

We get to the room pushing the door open. "Lil Mama?"

"Hmm?”

"Dr. Greene’s here."

She rolls to the side. "Hey Sierra. How are you?"

"I'm good, worried about you though. What's going on?"

"I had an accident, and Bear just wants to make sure that everything’s good with the baby."