Chapter 26
I’m exhausted. Both emotionally and physically, but I also feel, dare I say… happy.
I know we are still under threat, but now that I have Bobbi, everything just feels brighter. My heart feels fuller. And the dark clouds that have lingered over me for so long have vaporised.
The compound has been different since we got back a few nights ago. Smitty has been hiding away feeling sorry for himself after Ringo beat the absolute crap out of him, and no one, not even Smitty’s two worshippers, stopped it from happening.
Celina had packed her things before the punishment was even through, declaring she can’t deal with Nate’s brand of crazy anymore, and that being head Doxy wasn’t worth it.
She moved back into the Doxy den that night, where she’s stayed ever since.
The Doxies were over the moon to finally meet Bobbi.
Darla gave me an old pram that her sister left behind, so I’ve been using it as a bed for Bobbi to sleep in.
It’s not ideal. I’d love a proper bassinet for her, but since the only other option is putting Bobbi in bed between me and Ringo, and I’m terrified one of us will roll on her in our sleep, the pram will have to do for now.
It’s certainly close quarters sharing the small bungalow with Jols, JD and a pram, but we’ve been able to make it work.
Having the extra help has been great too, like last night when Jols got up with Bobbi when she woke at four in the morning and fed her a bottle.
I was completely out of it and didn’t hear my little girl rousing and later woke up to see JD and Jols snuggled close together, smiling down at Bobbi as she drank down the bottle of formula.
Guilt seeps back in as I think about that.
While I have maintained a milk supply, with Ringo’s assistance in the background, it’s still not enough.
Bobbi started to get really restless and hungry, so I’ve had to add in some formula feeds as well, and I’m thankful now that nurse Caroline insisted we take the bottles and teets with us before…
well, before everything happened. Before she died.
“You’re quiet.” Ringo’s voice drags me out of my thoughts, and I blink a few times to bring me back to the present.
“Sorry,” I mutter, offering him a small smile. “Today was a lot.”
Today… the one thing I’m trying not to think about.
Because today, we sent off Trunk, Stocky and Trigger.
Their cuts were laid over their motorcycles. Their drinks of choice shot down. Their favourite songs played in the background. Their names added to the lists inked on each and every Southern Sadist.
“Ride ‘em high.
Ride or die.”
God… There is so much honourable beauty in the way they send off their men.
Their fallen.
At the last Southern Sadist funeral, I killed Wendy. That particular memory swarmed through my mind so many times today that it started to piss me off.
That woman doesn’t deserve the airtime in my head.
“It was a lot.” Ringo’s gaze flicks to mine from the driver’s seat. “I’m sorry if it brought up… stuff.”
My smile is slight as I stare at my husband’s profile as he drives us into Redfield. He knows me too well. He knows exactly what my mind was doing to me, running like a reel in my head.
“I’m sure it brought stuff up for you too,” I say, watching his lip twitch as he tries to hide his feelings.
Yes, Cam, I know you just as well as you know me.
“Maybe we can arrange another secure video call to Tahli later.” His eyes flick from the road to me. “Would that make you feel better?”
My smile is wide as I nod eagerly. I miss my sister and worry about her constantly.
The day after we arrived back at the compound, Ringo had arranged for me to call my little sister, and she got to see her niece for the first time via video. Alana and Millie were there too, and once we were done, Doreen was handed the phone and cried when she saw Ringo holding Bobbi.
I can’t wait for them to meet her in person, but for now, we’ll have to stick to video calls. My mum has been calling daily, although I never pick up, and we still don’t know who gave up our location while we were in South Australia.
“Do you think we can visit her soon?” I ask my husband hopefully, and he shrugs.
“I’m not sure, Angel.” Ringo’s voice has a moody edge to it. “You know what he’s like.”
My mood sours a little at the mention of him, and as Ringo pulls off the road and into the parking lot of the Red Room, my eyes land on the man in question.
“Speak of the Devil,” I snap, my glare locked on the tall, dark, and sinfully handsome yet chillingly lethal, Devon Marx.
He’s standing by the door at the back of the Red Room, his aura pitch black as he stares right back at me.
A shiver ripples up my spine, and I contemplate asking Ringo to turn the car around and leave.
The moment Ringo shuts off the engine, my car door swings open, and I stifle a bloody scream just as Dee comes into view.
“Shit. You scared me,” I rush out, pressing my hand to my chest, but Dee isn’t paying me a lick of attention, her finger pointing into the back seat, her smile wide.
Wow, I don’t think I’ve seen her smile like that before.
“Okay, okay,” I giggle, slipping out of the car and opening the back door. “I can see you’re eager to meet Bobbi."
Dee rolls her eyes like that’s a stupid statement, and Jared appears behind her looking just as keen.
This time when I get Bobbi out of her car seat, she’s wide awake, her blue-grey eyes taking everything in as I press my lips to her forehead, and then pass her to Dee.
I never took Dee, the lethal Hush assassin, as someone that would go all mushy over a baby, but seeing her hold my little girl with Jared reaching over her shoulder and stroking my daughter’s cheek, makes me realise Dee is just as human as I am.
I wonder if she wants to have kids one day too.
“Is this what all the drama has been about?” Devon’s deep gravel has me stiffening, and before I can stop him, he reaches down and scoops my daughter out of Dee’s hands, cradling her to his chest. “Why hello little beauty. Do you have a smile for Uncle Devon?”
I scoff, “Really? Uncle Devon?”
His soft expression, which is purely for my daughter, hardens as he glares at me. “You have a problem with that, Blondie?”
“You wanna speak to my wife properly, arsehole?” Ringo snarls, coming to my side, and the smirk Devon shoots us isn’t just sinister. It’s pure evil.
“I’ll take her, thanks.” I hold out my hands, expecting him to pass my daughter back, but he spins and walks away, carrying my daughter with him.
“Hey!” I snap, ready to throw down, but then I hear him chatting away, his voice taking on a softer, soothing tone as he walks.
“This is Uncle Griffin’s strip club. Not a place for you, little one. And if I ever find out you ask to work here when you’re older, Uncle Devon is going to be very angry.”
A giggle escapes me as we follow behind, stepping inside the club with Dee and Jared on our heels.
Like last time, we go into the back room with the conference table, but unlike last time, the Angel sisters aren’t here.
“You gonna give anyone else a hold?” Griffin asks Devon as he takes a seat at the table, instantly shaking his head.
“Nope. She’s having Uncle Devon time.”
Griffin laughs at his cousin while shaking Ringo’s hand and gesturing for us to take a seat.
Ringo and I sit in the same seats as last time, and it’s then that I also notice Dee and Jared didn’t follow us into the room. Turning to glance over my shoulder in search of them, I spot Dee out in the hallway, and Jared pulling the door shut, closing Ringo, Bobbi and I in with Devon and Griffin.
Why isn’t he in here too? Isn’t he part of the Marx crew? They call him Crow. And Hush is part of it too, right?
Shit. I don’t even know.
“So you were ambushed?” Griffin starts, pouring himself a whisky at the head of the table before offering the bottle to Ringo, which he declines with a shake of his head.
“Yep, someone gave up our location. Only Abbey, Daniel, Lewy and I knew where we were headed. The roads were dead. No one was following us, so it had to have been someone close.”
“I gotta be honest, I don’t see it being Lewy,” Griffin states, relaxing back in his seat before taking a sip of his drink. “He’s one of the most loyal guys I’ve met. He’s been completely transparent with us while we’ve been trying to piece together the warehouse raid.”
Ringo nods. “I feel the same.”
“Could it have been your captive?” Devon asks, looking totally relaxed with Bobbi in his arms, her little hand wrapped around his big finger.
“Daniel?” Ringo asks, and when Devon nods, Ringo continues. “He didn’t have access to a phone to tell anyone. He had people watching him the entire time.”
“People you trust?” Griffin asks, and Ringo nods.
“My team was watching him.”
“Have you considered it could be one of your team?” Griffin asks. “Because the only other possibilities are that you have trackers on your cars and bikes.”
“I’m suspicious of fucking everyone,” Ringo barks. “So why are we here? I thought you must have had a lead for us given the urgent request to come tonight.”
Griffin rolls his eyes. “Devon sent that text from my phone.”
“So?” Devon scoffs. “We have business to discuss. No point in waiting since I was already in town visiting.”
I glance between the three guys at the table. Ringo. Griffin. And Devon.
Two are related, but I swear all three could be blood brothers. I hadn’t noticed it before, but now, with Ringo still neatly groomed from today’s funerals, his hair back in a neatish man bun, you could definitely mistake these three as siblings.
Hell, they even act like it sometimes.
“What fucking business?” Ringo snaps. “I thought you were helping us. I thought we were here because you might have a lead.”
“No lead,” Griffin says casually, not in the least bit bothered about the anger emanating from Ringo.
“Why the fuck are we here then?” Ringo snaps, and I reach under the table, placing my hand on his thigh and giving it a squeeze.