Chapter Seven
Lavinia
Sitting on the edge of the bed, I stared at the wall, my mind racing. Ever since I’d found out I was pregnant, I’d thought about the future, and how I wanted to raise my child. I’d thought Tyler would be a part of it, but now? The man I’d trusted had turned into a monster. If Cotton hadn’t gotten me out of there, I wasn’t sure what I’d have done.
My heart raced and my hands shook. I knew I was safe here at the compound, but it didn’t stop me from worrying. What if he found out where I was and came after me? I had no doubt he’d try to take me back, but I also knew he’d control every aspect of my life.
Cotton had said Tyler wouldn’t be willing to let me go. I just hadn’t considered the fact he might find a way to actually reach me even here at the compound. It wasn’t like I’d voluntarily walk out of here to greet him. But I wasn’t sure what he was capable of. Would his military training give him the skills to get to me regardless of where I was?
Wiping my hands on my jeans, I blew out a breath. I had no idea if he had friends in town. There was only one person I could think of who might be able to help me. The club hacker. If he was good enough to find out who I was and marry me to Cotton, then I’d bet he could find out if Tyler had any friends in town I needed to watch for.
I stood and left my room, hoping I’d find Surge at home. Even though I’d only been here about a week, I was already getting used to the compound. I smiled at the sight of some kids playing near the clubhouse.
I had no idea where Surge lived. I was pretty sure he had a house on the grounds somewhere. It was just a matter of finding it. I spotted Bear leaning against his bike and headed his way. If anyone could point me in the right direction, I figured he could.
“Bear?” I asked. “Can you tell me where to find Surge?”
The big man came to his feet, his gaze roaming over me. I knew he wasn’t checking me out, more like making sure I was all right. I’d met him and a few others the day after Faith, Raven, Luciana, and Violeta had befriended me. I still had a lot of people I hadn’t met yet. “You doing okay, Lavinia?”
“Yes, sir. I just need to talk to Surge. I have a favor to ask him.”
Bear nodded. “Surge’s place is back that way. His house is on the left. Look for the blue door.”
“Thank you.”
I followed the path, my heart beating harder the closer I got. When I stood on the porch, I wiped my hands on my jeans again, then knocked. It only took a moment for Surge to answer. He didn’t look surprised to see me.
“Come on in, Lavinia. I had a feeling you’d be here sooner or later.” He stepped back and held the door open. “Make yourself at home.”
I went inside and took a look around. I hadn’t been sure what to expect, but it wasn’t the warm, cozy home I’d stepped into.
I took in the sight of the couch covered with a soft-looking blanket. The walls had family photos, and I spotted one of a man and a woman with Surge. I’d bet they were his husband and wife. The scent of fresh coffee reached me, and my stomach growled. It was so… normal.
A small smile tugged at my lips. For a man who could hack into any system, I hadn’t thought he’d have such a homey place. I took a deep breath, then another. I needed to tell him why I was here. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t scared. If I wanted to keep my baby safe, I had to do this.
“I know you’re probably busy,” I said, the words coming out soft and shaky. “But I was hoping you’d help me.”
Surge’s eyebrows rose. “With what?”
I rubbed my hands along my thighs, then met his gaze. “Cotton thinks Tyler will come for me. The thought of it scares me, and it feels like I have no control over anything in my life right now.”
Surge tensed for a moment, and I wondered if that meant he’d already shown up. It wouldn’t surprise me, nor would I be shocked to discover Cotton had kept it from me. I knew he wanted to protect me but leaving me in the dark wasn’t the way to do it.
“What bothers me more is I don’t know if he has any friends in town. I doubt he’d come alone if he decided to drag me back to him. I don’t want to be taken by surprise. I need to know if there’s anyone I should watch out for. I know I’m safe here at the compound, but I don’t want to stay cooped up forever. I feel like I’m locked in a giant cage.”
Surge listened intently. “I have to say, I’m impressed. Not many women would take the initiative like this. You’re a smart woman, Lavinia.”
My cheeks warmed, and I ducked my head. No one had ever thought I was smart before. Most people seemed to think I was an airhead.
“You’re brave to want to know the truth. Many people would rather hide from it,” he said.
I didn’t know about that. I worried if I was brave enough to face whatever he found. But I had to. For my baby. I’d die before I let him hurt the tiny human growing inside me.
“Come on. Let’s see what we can dig up on your ex,” Surge said.
“Have you not looked into him at all?” I asked.
He flashed me a grin. “Maybe I have, but I think you know him better than anyone. There are areas of his life I haven’t searched yet. You might be able to help me out, or at least be my lucky charm.”
I followed Surge down a hallway, my heart thudding in my chest. The walls had more photos, and I caught glimpses of the life he shared with his husband and wife. They looked happy. It made me wonder what it would be like to have a family. I rubbed my stomach. Soon enough I’d have one with Cotton and this child.
The farther we went, the more the atmosphere changed. The cozy, homey feeling faded, and the air felt cooler. We stopped at the end of the hall, and Surge opened the door. I stepped into his office, my lips parting as I took it in. The walls were covered in monitors, casting a soft glow over the room. I heard the hum of computer equipment and the whir of a window air conditioner. I wondered if all this equipment made the room too hot with the central heat and air.
He moved to a large desk cluttered with gadgets I couldn’t even name. The chair creaked as he dropped into it, then he gestured to a table in the corner. “If you want to sit, there’s a table with three chairs. Or you can pull one over here if you’d rather. This might take a while.”
I went to the table, then noticed the board on the wall. There were so many notes pinned to it, and I couldn’t help but admire his organizational skills. I hadn’t realized how meticulous he was. As I pulled out a chair and sat, I felt a mix of awe and anxiety.
Surge turned to his computer and started typing, his fingers flying over the keys. I watched him, my hands trembling. He seemed so calm and collected, like he didn’t have a care in the world. I didn’t know how he did it. If he found out Tyler had friends in town, I’d lose my mind. The thought of running into them made me nauseous.
The sound of the keyboard soothed me, and I took a deep breath. I’d come to the right man. If anyone could find out what I needed to know, it was Surge. I only hoped I could handle whatever he discovered.
I didn’t know how long I sat there, watching him. I couldn’t tear my gaze from him as he looked from one monitor to the next. His back was ramrod straight, and I admired his dedication to his work. My hope soared as I realized I might have a chance of either fighting back against Tyler or avoiding him entirely. If Surge could give me the information I needed, I’d hopefully feel better. I’d rather know as much as possible than not know anything at all.
Surge leaned back in his chair and rubbed his eyes. “I’ve already looked into Tyler, but I didn’t think to see if he had any connections in the area. I mostly focused on his closest friends. I’ll check into it. If he’s contacted anyone, I’ll know about it.”
“Thank you. You don’t know what this means to me.”
He gave me a smile. “I think I do. I don’t want to see anything happen to you, Lavinia. You’re a good woman. Tyler will regret the day he ever tried to hurt you.”
I hoped he was right. For now, I’d focus on the fact I was safe. One day, I’d be able to breathe easy and not worry about Tyler, or anyone else. I just had to survive until then.
Surge pulled his chair closer to the desk. “I’ll find any connections Tyler might have in town. If he has friends here, I’ll track them down for you.”
I appreciated his assurance, even if it didn’t stop me from worrying. I didn’t think anything would at this point. Even if someone told me Tyler moved to another country, I’d still be looking over my shoulder.
His fingers flew over the keys, and I noticed the different screens were filled with lines of code, databases, and search algorithms. I didn’t know what most of it meant, but he seemed to understand it. I saw one monitor with a screen full of social media profiles. Another with what looked like criminal records. A third had communication logs. More than a few of them. I’d never seen a man work so fast and efficiently.
Surge’s eyes narrowed as he continued his search. I could practically feel his brain working. The way he pursued his task reminded me of a pit bull. He wouldn’t stop until he’d found what he wanted. I just hoped he wouldn’t get bored or frustrated before he had the answers I needed.
I’d never been so anxious. My eyes stayed focused on Surge, and I gripped the edge of the table. The more data that popped up on the screens, the more I worried about what was coming. I wouldn’t feel safe until I knew Tyler wasn’t breathing. Maybe not even then. But I doubted I was lucky enough for him to have died in the last week.
He muttered something under his breath, and the tension in the room ratcheted up a notch. I knew he’d found something, but I had no idea what. I’d get my answers soon enough. Until then, I’d sit here and let him work. I could be patient. I didn’t want to leave his side. One way or another, I’d hopefully know by the end of the day. It would either give me a sense of relief, or I’d have more to worry about. I hoped it would be good news. I couldn’t handle much more.
My gaze darted back and forth between Surge and the monitors. The soft glow seemed to illuminate my worst fears. Each time more data popped up, I felt my heart race. The more he found, the more I worried. It was like watching a train wreck. I knew it would be bad, but I couldn’t look away. The keyboard clacked, and the hum of the machines blended together.
The way Surge worked fascinated me. His hands moved with precision as he typed, his expression focused. He didn’t look worried or scared. I found that I envied him. I hadn’t felt calm since I’d found out I was pregnant.
Surge’s motions were methodical, almost as if he’d done it a million times. He probably had. I doubted there was a single member of the club who didn’t rely on him. I’d heard he’d even helped Fox with Raven.
I leaned forward, holding on to the hope Surge would find something that would make me feel safe. Maybe I’d be able to stop looking over my shoulder. I wanted peace. Security. For my baby to grow up with people who loved them.
The tension in the room made it hard to breathe. I felt like something heavy had settled on my chest. I rubbed my belly again, praying I’d have a future. I didn’t want to die. I wanted to see my baby grow up. Maybe even see them get married someday. I’d always wondered if I’d be a good mom. I wanted the chance to find out.
Surge’s face tightened. His fingers hovered over the keyboard. Whatever he’d found had to be bad. Worse than I’d imagined. His brows furrowed, and he pushed away from the desk. I saw the monitors now displayed criminal records, incriminating social media profiles, and communication logs that linked Tyler to several men in town. I read over the names. I didn’t know all of them, but if they were friends of Tyler’s, I doubted they were good people.
“Lavinia? You need to see this.”
I got up and walked toward him, my knees threatening to buckle. I gripped the back of his chair and leaned in. My breath caught at the criminal records. Assault. Murder. Drugs. The list went on. Each one had a rap sheet a mile long. They weren’t good people. Far from it. If they were here, I didn’t know how I’d survive. The men I’d dealt with before paled in comparison to the new faces on the screens. Of course, there was a chance they wouldn’t all come for me. Just because they were in contact with Tyler or lived nearby didn’t mean he’d bring them in on this. My vision dimmed a little, and I felt like my lungs were being squeezed.
“Don’t faint. Sit your ass down. I don’t need you passing out on me,” Surge said.
I gripped the chair tighter.
“Lavinia. Sit.”
I heard him, but I’d gone back to the records. I read over the texts and emails he’d unearthed. None of them had a kind word to say about women in general. They weren’t the type to leave me alone. I knew that much. If they found me, I’d be in danger. My baby too. I didn’t think they’d care if I was pregnant. They’d do what they wanted, and Tyler would finish me off.
“Lavinia.” Surge’s voice softened. “I know this isn’t what you wanted to hear, but the club will protect you. Even if it’s only because Cotton said to. Personally, I think it’s because most of us don’t like the idea of anyone hurting a woman. You’re safe here. I’ll keep an eye on things. If any of these guys make a move toward you, I’ll know about it. Promise.”
I finally sat, my chest aching. I rubbed my belly, my worry increasing. I wasn’t sure even the club could protect me from men like this. They had resources, but so did Tyler and his buddies. I didn’t know what they wanted from him, but I could guess. Drugs. Maybe guns. I knew Tyler had done some side deals. If he thought he’d get away with it, he’d do whatever he wanted.
“Hey.” Surge pushed his chair closer to mine and took my hand. He squeezed. “I won’t let anything happen to you or your baby.”
I nodded, but I didn’t feel any better. If anything, I felt worse. I’d known Tyler wouldn’t give up. I just hadn’t realized how many friends he had in town. Or that they were worse than him.
“Thank you,” I said.
Surge turned back to his computer. “I’ll keep digging. There has to be something I can use against these guys. If I find anything, I’ll let Cotton know. He’ll decide what to do with it. Until then, just stay close to home. I’d rather you didn’t leave the compound, but I know that’s not always possible. If you have to go somewhere, take someone with you.”
Tears burned my eyes, but I blinked them back. I wouldn’t let myself cry. Not now. But I couldn’t stop my heart from racing or my hands from shaking. Couldn’t stop the fear from taking hold of me. This was so much worse than I’d thought.
I’d known I was in danger. I’d just had no idea how much trouble I was in. The men Tyler knew… they were monsters.
Dread settled in my bones, but I couldn’t let it paralyze me. If I didn’t stay alert, I’d miss something. I couldn’t afford to let that happen. Not now. Not with so much at stake. As much as I wanted to rely on everyone around me, I knew I needed to be strong enough to handle whatever came my way.