34. Finn
Finn
The job took longer than I thought. Honey said it had been quiet during the day, no sightings of Jasper, though I got his name and resume from her and tucked it into my pocket.
I’d sent the prospect back to the clubhouse and waited with her while she cleaned and locked up. Then I rode behind her as she drove to her apartment. Since working at the shop, she’d moved out of the clubhouse and rented herself a small place on the outer edge of town.
I followed her up and waited for her to go inside before she called me back, saying she thought someone had been in there.
Honey followed me through the rooms, which were all empty, but she pointed out that the bathroom door was open and a drawer in her bedroom was slightly pulled out.
It was only a crack, but she swore she’d shut them both.
I had my doubts, but I checked everywhere someone could possibly hide and didn’t find any evidence of anyone there.
Still, Honey said she’d feel safer back at the clubhouse for the night, so I dropped her off, filling in Reaper, Riot, and Keno, and handing Jasper’s resume to Link to look into.
“She’s staying here tonight. Go home, talk to your old lady, but I want you back here first thing in the morning to take Honey to work.” Reaper slapped me on the back.
Riot chuckled. “Good luck explaining after Pres dropped you in it.”
“Shut it, Riot,” Reaper called out, smirking.
“Yeah, thanks for that,” I muttered as I walked out.
On the ride home, all I could think about was what I was going to say to Kate, right up until I saw a body on the porch. The lights were off in the house, but the black boots sticking up told me it wasn’t Kate.
I killed the engine and rushed to the body of the prospect, seeing blood matted at the back of his head. His pulse it was strong, but he was out cold.
Kate.
Fuck.
“Kate!” I yelled, storming into the house and searching the bottom floor.
It’ll be okay. She’s probably just gone to bed early, I tried to tell myself, but I knew it wasn’t the truth.
The door to my room was open, and the room was empty.
I checked the bathroom. The spare room. I flung open wardrobe and cupboard doors, checking every possible place they could be hiding.
But they weren’t there.
Kate and Noah were gone.
“Shit.” I fumbled for my phone, pressing call on Reaper’s number. My eyes scanned my room again. Noah’s blanket and bag were still sitting on top of the dresser.
She hadn’t left.
Which was worse because then I knew they’d been taken.
“Finn?” Reaper answered.
“They’ve taken them, Pres. Kate and Noah are gone.”
“Fuck. And the prospect?”
“Out cold on the front lawn.”
“We’re on our way. Keep it together.” The line went dead.
I paced back and forth, hands gripping my hair, the pain the only thing keeping me grounded, until the rumble of bikes broke the quiet of the street.
Link jumped off his bike and headed straight for the prospect still lying unconscious.
Reaper and Riot stopped in front of me, but they were blurred. My mind was in a war of its own. Why hadn’t I made her stay at the clubhouse? Why hadn’t I been here? Where were they? Were they being hurt while I stood there like a fucking idiot?
“Finn.” Reaper snapped his fingers in front of my face, dragging me back.
“They’ve taken them. I wasn’t here to protect them, and they’ve taken them. Fuck!” I roared into the air.
Keno walked out the house, shook his head at Reaper, and handed him Kate’s phone. “Found it by the front door.”
“Fuck. This is all my fault. I should’ve made her wait at the clubhouse . . .”
“Finn, focus. Tell me everything,” Reaper demanded.
“I got home. Prospect was out cold. Kate and Noah are nowhere to be found.”
“She’s run before. Maybe you claiming her without talking to her sent her running.” Keno shrugged.
Rage exploded through me. I grabbed him by the front of his kutte. “Are you even fucking listening? Noah’s blanket and bag are upstairs. She wouldn’t run, not without taking them with her.”
“Finn.” Reaper’s low warning cut through.
“No, Pres. With all due respect, she wouldn’t run.”
“Finn, goddammit . . . look.” Reaper gripped my chin and forced my head towards the street.
Kate.
She was staggering through the gate and down the walkway towards the house. Her hair was a tangled mess, her face streaked with tears, her knees bloody and dirt covered.
I let go of Keno and ran to her, pulling her into my arms. “I was so worried about you. Where have you been?”
I pulled back, searching her tear-filled, dazed eyes. “Kate? Where’s Noah?”
Her hand lifted to cover her mouth as the tears spilled over, shaking her head.
“Kate. Where. Is. Noah?” I gripped her shoulders, giving her a small shake, trying to bring her back.
Her eyes locked onto mine. “They took him,” she choked out. “I couldn’t get to him quick enough, and now they’ve taken him. They’ve got my baby, Finn, and I couldn’t stop them.”
Her fingers gripped my kutte and held tight as she sagged against me.
“I left him upstairs,” she sobbed. “I ran outside and I left him alone.”
“Kate—”
“I should’ve taken him with me.” Panic poured out of her in broken gasps. “I should’ve known something was wrong. I trusted this place, and now they’ve got him because of me.”
“No.” The word came out harsh.
“Yes!” she cried. “I opened the door. I left him there, and they took him.”
Her wail tore through the night and straight through me.
Her legs gave out beneath her. I caught her, but not fast enough, and we both went down. I held onto her as she sobbed into my chest, the sound breaking something deep inside me. I could hear Reaper talking, but I couldn’t make out the words.
“We’ll get him back, Kate,” I said, my voice rough. “I promise you. We’ll get Noah back, and we’ll make them pay for what they’ve done.”
“Finn, get her inside,” Reaper called.
I pushed to my feet and lifted her into my arms. She weighed almost nothing.
I carried her inside and settled her onto the sofa, grabbing a blanket from the back and wrapping it around her before pulling her back against me.
Her cries had softened into broken sniffles, but every ragged breath tore at me.
I got lost in my own head until I heard the front door open. Lucy and Maria came in carrying cups of coffee. They handed them to me and Kate first before passing the rest around the room. Now, all the brothers stood in my living room.
Reaper, Riot, Keno, and Spider stood in front of the fireplace, while Link sat in front of my coffee table with his laptop open.
“Right,” Link started, turning the laptop so we could all see. “This guy is Vincent Moretti. He’s linked to the Crown Casino outside of town. Not the owner, but a big player. Sometimes acts as a loan shark. I’m still digging.”
“You think this is who they owe money to? The one Volkov is working for?” Reaper asked.
“It seems likely. He keeps most of his business off the grid. Volkov is an independent. Works alone for the highest pay cheque.”
“Keno, Spider, you two head over to Moretti’s office. See what you can dig up.” Reaper nodded at them, and they both glanced at me and Kate before heading out.
A phone ringing shattered the silence, making Kate jump, her eyes wide.
“It’s just a phone,” I murmured. “You’re safe.”
“But Noah isn’t,” she whispered, her voice breaking as she dissolved into sobs again.
“Hello? How did you get this number?” Lucy asked, turning away slightly.
“Wow . . . now, hang on . . .” Her voice trailed off, and I saw something click in her eyes.
She waved her hand at us, signalling for quiet, then placed the phone on the table and hit speaker.
“What are you talking about, Mother?” Lucy snapped.
“You and your worthless child. You honestly think we’d give you a cent after what you’ve put us through?”
“You’ve heard from the kidnappers?”
At that, Kate shot upright, but I quickly covered her mouth, holding her close as Lucy gave her a pleading look.
“Stay quiet, Kate,” I murmured into her ear. “Right now, they think that baby is Lucy’s. It’s better that way. I’ll explain later.”
She stiffened, then slowly softened, burying her face into my chest.
“What was that?” Lucy’s mother asked.
“I’m at the clubhouse. Just noise in the background,” she replied smoothly.
“You and your biker rats can get that bastard child back on your own. You won’t get a penny from us.”
Reaper stepped forward, but Lucy held up a hand.
“That doesn’t surprise me,” Lucy said coldly. “You didn’t help when your son was murdered. Why start now?”
“Fuck you, you ungrateful little bitch. You’re lucky I called at all.”
Lucy’s shoulders dropped slightly. “You’re right, and thank you for letting me know. Do you have any details?”
“I’ll forward you the text we got.”
The line went dead. A second later, Lucy’s phone pinged and she handed it to Link.
“Okay,” he said, eyes scanning. “I’ve got an address.”
“Let’s ride out,” Reaper said.