Chapter Five
KAIA
It’s getting toward evening, and while I have enjoyed my afternoon by the pool and my romantic dinner with Hurricane, my mind keeps replaying the faces of Malia and Mauka as they heard that Hurricane was unsuccessful in retrieving Nalani from The Ministry.
Lounging on the comfortable king bed, guilt starts playing havoc with me. As a mother, knowing we walked away from Malia, who is fighting for her daughter on their own, is tearing me up inside. If that was me trying to get Immy away from the Bratva, I would be beside myself.
They had a shot at getting her back.
Hurricane failed.
And I know exactly why.
Because Nalani doesn’t need a man to rescue her.
She needs a woman to reason with her.
To remind her that she doesn’t need a man in her life, especially one who is abusive.
They should never have sent a man to do a woman’s job.
A thought crosses my mind, and I glance to the bathroom where Hurricane has just jumped in the shower. My eyes shift to my cell, and I hesitate because this is all kinds of crazy. I reach over and pick up my cell, dialing Malia’s number.
It doesn’t take long before she answers, “Kaia, I didn’t think I would be hearing from you again so soon,” she says kindly.
I sit taller on the bed, anxiety rolling through me at the thoughts racing through my mind right now.
I glance at the bathroom, still hearing the water running, so I tell her what I’m thinking.
“Aunty… I’ve been thinking about Nalani and what I said about how Hurricane wasn’t the right person to talk to her. ”
“Oh, yes, we’ve been thinking about that too. We think you’re absolutely right. We just have no clue where to go from here.”
Exhaling, I roll my shoulders, looking at the bathroom again.
“I have an idea. Can Wipeout tell me where Nalani is right now? Hurricane is in the shower, so I can leave and try to talk to her myself. I think I’ll get through to her, but I want the club close by for backup, just in case. Can we arrange that?”
Malia is quiet for a moment, almost like she has covered the phone to talk to the Defiance brothers, and then she returns. “Hurricane doesn’t know you want to do this?”
“He doesn’t even know I’m talking to you right now. If he knew, he would forbid it because of the pregnancy. But Aunty, mother to mother, if I can help you get Nalani back, I have to try. I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t. You get it, don’t you?”
She sniffles like she’s trying to hold back her emotion and clears her throat.
“If you leave before Hurricane gets out of the shower, we will text you the coordinates of where she’s currently located.
Though I think it is safe to assume they will be at a club or restaurant this time of night. You might want to dress the part.”
Nodding, I jump from the bed and start yanking off my pajamas. “Got it! Send me the details, and I will leave immediately. But please ensure the guys are close by so they have my back if I send out a 9-1-1.”
“You have my word. They’re getting ready to ride as I speak.” She pauses momentarily. “Kaia… you are a blessing to us all.”
“I haven’t done anything yet, but I sure as hell am gonna try. Gotta go if I’m gonna make it out of here before Hurricane catches me.”
“Be safe.”
“Thank you.” I finish the call and rush about, frantically preparing for a night out. Hurricane sings badly in the shower, and my stomach churns at the hypocrisy that I yelled at him for leaving without saying goodbye to me.
Now I am about to do the same.
He will be on the warpath.
And I will let him.
Because what I’m about to do is risky, though I have more to protect than he does. But I can’t sit back and enjoy the rest of this honeymoon while Malia and Mauka are desperately trying to fight for their family.
Slipping on heels, grabbing the keys for the rental and my cell, I scribble out a note and leave it on the bed for Hurricane.
Hurricane
I know you’re gonna be angry with me. But I can’t allow fellow Defiance members to live with the possibility of going through life without their family.
Family means everything.
You, of all people, should know that.
Nalani didn’t respond to you because I think she needs to hear this from a woman. Sometimes, us girls have to stick together.
So I am GOING to get her back.
I have to.
I’ll be back as soon as I can.
I love you with everything I am.
Always yours,
Kaia xx
Letting out a long breath, I take off, closing the hotel door behind me, and I run because the second Hurricane sees that note, he will come after me.
So I need to hightail it out of here.
I race down to the parking garage as the location comes through on my cell. Then I jump into the car, program the location into maps, and note it’s a nightclub. I haven’t been to a club in so long, so fingers crossed I don’t stand out like a damn sore thumb.
Driving into the city, I find parking on the main street, then start my walk toward the club. Music thumps out into the street as I check my cell, looking at the images the MC has sent me.
One of Nalani.
Three of the main players of The Ministry.
Now I know who to keep an eye out for.
I can understand why Nalani fell for Park. He’s incredibly good-looking, but from the sounds of it, the asshole is a master manipulator, and Nalani is having trouble breaking free from his spell.
As I line up in the small queue for the club, I glance down at my attire after seeing all the women around me, and I suddenly feel my age. I may only be in my early thirties, but these girls look young, fit, and beautiful.
I need to work out more.
As I approach the bouncer at the front of the line, he looks me up and down with a smirk. “Haven’t seen you around here before.”
“I’m meeting a friend,” I reply.
“Lucky friend,” he chimes with a wink and pulls the rope back, allowing me entry. “Have a good night. I get off at two if you’re still around.”
I waggle my brows. “Good to know,” I reply to keep up the pretense and walk inside with a pep in my step.
I’ve still got it!
The music is heavy, and it thumps right through my body, making me a little nauseous. Or maybe that’s the tiny life inside me telling me I’m not safe and shouldn’t be doing this.
All I know is that clubbing isn’t the scene for me anymore.
But I have a job to do.
So I make my way through the crowds of people, trying to locate Nalani, when I see her on the dance floor. Four men surround her like bodyguards as she dances by herself.
No one can get near her.
My eyes scan nearby, and I spot Park drinking with his father and The Ministry’s second-in-charge at the bar. So that’s at least seven Ministry men in here, and who knows how many others are floating around.
This could be more difficult than I thought.
I need a plan of attack.
I think the only way I can do this is to infiltrate first.
Making my way to the bar, I slide in next to Park. He looks me up and down with an inappropriate smile, waggling his brows. “Hey, beautiful.”
Urgh. Dirtbag.
“Hey, yourself,” I reply coyly, then turn away, ignoring him, and gesture to the bar staff.
He smiles, and I point to a soda water on the menu so Dirtbag can’t see I’m drinking virgin tonight. The bartender nods and gets to pouring my drink, then slides it across the bar to me.
Park instantly puts up his hand and winks at me. “Put it on my tab. My name’s Park. You looking to have a good time tonight with a real man, little mouse?”
I let out a small chuckle. “I just want to dance and have a fun night. Thanks for the drink.” I raise it toward him, then walk off toward Nalani.
I drink my soda water, then place the empty glass on a random table.
Making my way out onto the dance floor, I slide toward Nalani’s men and start dancing around them.
I am letting loose, making it look like I’m having a good time.
I hear Nalani giggle as she watches me through the wall of guards.
After a few songs, I smile at her and call out, “Feeling a little stifled?”
She laughs with a nod and continues to dance at the same tempo as me. “Like you wouldn’t believe!”
“Come dance with me, then. We can look ridiculous together,” I yell back over the high-energy GenZ music.
She shoves two of the guards and makes them move around the two of us. Then she reaches out, grabs me by the hands, and pulls me toward her. Her guards go to protest, but she waves them off. “Stop hovering. Let me dance with my new friend, you hounds!”
“Park wouldn’t want a stranger near you, Nalani—”
“If you don’t let her in, I will tell Park you denied me what I want. How do you think that’s going to go down?” she yells at them, and they back away a step, giving us a little space to move.
I chuckle, throwing my thumb over my shoulder and pointing to one of her men. “I could have taken ‘em.”
Nalani bursts out laughing. “Most people are terrified by my goons.”
I shrug but keep dancing. “Hey, they’re good to look at, and they keep the assholes away from trying to feel up our skirts, so that can only be a good thing, right?” I yell back at her.
She bursts out laughing as she continues to dance with me. “I’m Nalani. Thanks for saving me from the most boring night ever.”
I smile. “Kaia. And it looked like you were having a great time?”
“Sometimes you have to pretend to be having fun, but with you here, at least now I have someone normal to talk to.”
We continue dancing, and I see the hurt, fear, and desperation behind her eyes.
I need to work on this carefully.
“I don’t know if you would consider me ‘normal,’ but I will be your best friend for the night if that’s what you want.”
She giggles, grabbing my hand and twirling me around.
I laugh as I dance with her. This poor girl obviously hasn’t had any fun for a while if she is talking to a stranger this quickly.
I can only hope Hurricane doesn’t burst in here and fuck this all up.
***