18. Jeremiah
18
JEREMIAH
‘Miah’
Damn, it’s so quiet in this house without those three little girls running and laughing around this place. And since Lourdes is on shift for the next twenty-four hours or more, I’m sitting here with my finger up my ass. Nothing is holding my attention. Been down to the gym and just about beat the bag off the rafters, and still, I’m tense as hell. Caught up on emails, and even had a Zoom call with my offices overseas to fill them in on the updated computer systems Malachi and his people are working on for us. I just feel like gloom and doom or that something is about to happen, though don’t have any idea what.
Nova checked in earlier to let me know the girls are doing great. Alaska has Ellie helping at the front desk, while Wren and Lottie are helping Tonka, one of Brick’s partners, with not only Melba the cow but also the horse, goats, and whatever else, including Brick’s three-legged dog, Mutt. Nova said Brick told him we should probably get the girls a dog or else they were going to try and steal Mutt from him, especially Wren. Nova said Brick is not okay with giving his buddy away, so if the girls stay here, will need to have that conversation with Lourdes. The update helped, but fuck do I miss them. How is that possible, children have never really been in my future plans? Well, neither had Lourdes, but guess life knows better than we do what we truly need to have a fulfilled life.
Getting up, I head to the kitchen, though without Beatrice it’s like walking into a funeral home. Quiet as shit. Though she did take time, not sure how, and had made a bunch of food for Lourdes, me, and all the guys who are still on guard duty. Nothing from Dino or Lourdes’s stalker, but that doesn’t mean a thing. The damage at the condo of all of her personal items has really hit her hard, and now that she doesn’t have the distraction of the girls, I think it’s weighing down on her. I wish there was something I could do, but shit, my hands are tied too.
Hearing the alarm notice on my phone, I open the program and see Malachi, Vito, and Freddie walking up to the front door, so I turn and head that way. I open the front door and the three of them walk in, heads down. Shit, now what?
“Hey, everything okay?”
Malachi looks at me and nods.
“Yeah, all good, brother. We checked in with our families earlier today and, ya know, that homesickness takes over. My girl, Ruby, is out at my house in Cali, hanging with my parents and brothers. I miss her like crazy.”
His two buddies are snickering behind him.
“As you can see, Jeremiah, our friend Malachi is whipped. And when you meet Kitty, she’s a tiny little thing, so it’s hilarious to see them together. He follows her around like a puppy.”
I look at them confused.
“Okay, I’m lost. You said your girl is Ruby, then who is Kitty?”
Malachi lets out a breath then looks my way.
“Forgot you don’t know the bunch up in Montana. So I met Ruby a few years ago when she and a bunch of friends took a trip to Texas for a book signing. I fell hard but didn’t know at that time she was part of an all-female motorcycle club. And once in the club, the members each get a name from one or a bunch of their club sisters. They named her Kitty and don’t ask me why, but I refuse to call a grown woman Kitty, so while everyone in her life calls her Kitty, I refer to her as Ruby.”
Vito leans over the island that we are currently standing around, his eyes huge.
“Damn, Jeremiah, you need to meet these badass women. I mean their names alone: Tink, Shadow, Glory, Taz, and Vixen to name a few. And now two of the women have hooked their stars to two of our boys, so we are getting to know them pretty well. And what their club does is beyond astonishing. Anyway, we stopped by to check in on you since you’re all alone. We don’t have anything to do, so thought we could all maybe watch a movie, play some pool, or if you feel like losing some money, we could play poker. Which is your poison?”
As we try to decide on what to do with ourselves, it dawns on me that since Lourdes moved in, my life is really never boring. Yeah, I took on the role as her sentinel but she’s given me so much more in return. My life is starting to feel full, which was something I was truly missing. Not to mention these three guys are now becoming friends of mine, and I’m thrilled because they each bring something fresh to my life. Those are my thoughts as we make our way downstairs to hang out while I fill time ’til my woman comes home.
Watching Vito and Freddie fucking around with the dance game the girls love is beyond hilarious. Malachi and I are drinking beer, laughing our asses off because—got to say—neither of them has any rhythm to talk about. I mean, even Lottie can move better than them and she’s a little girl. It’s been a pretty fun afternoon with these three keeping me company. Malachi let it slip that Lourdes didn’t want to leave me home alone, so I could then get in my head. The only downer is Nova called to tell me that Dino was found at the morgue. Poor son of a bitch pissed someone off because they beat him within an inch of his life and death, then strangled him, throwing him in the woods, covering his body with leaves. Two hikers found him early this morning, so guess he’s not behind all the bullshit we are dealing with. Nova and a few of his men are working with the police and have been searching his place. I’ve not heard anything yet so when my phone rings, I assume it’s him. When I pick it up though, the shiver that runs up my spine has me dropping my beer. That’s when I hear the noise behind the voice and it’s Danny.
“Fuck, Jeremiah, need you to get down here immediately. We got called out on a Class A fire, meaning like a typical home fire. When we got here it turned into a Class B and we had to hustle because it was burning fast. One minute we thought it was under control but then it reflashed and all hell broke loose. By the time we had it under control, not sure how, but we lost sight of Styx. Now don’t fucking go there, dude. Everyone is doing the best they can. Cops are here, along with our entire department. Jeremiah, she’s gone. Goddamn, I hate having to say it out loud. Behind the building, Paco and Rome found her gear under the back awning in the corner. All of her equipment was there and her cell phone. I don’t know how this happened, she was one of the main hoses with Ash, while Stash was picking up the end. When the place blew, Ash went to talk to Cap but Stash is no slouch. It all made sense when we found Stash’s head bashed in, right by Styx’s equipment. He’s on his way to the hospital, probably going to need either surgery or a whole helluva lot of stitches and staples. He can’t remember anything except there were at least three guys who took our girl. And that she put up a hell of a fight.”
I can’t breathe and my body is shaking. Don’t remember Malachi grabbing my phone, though Freddie pushed a chair behind me and Vito made me sit, then he pushed my head between my knees. A bottle of water appeared in front of me, already opened. Before I can even put it to my mouth, I feel cold water running down my neck and face. I jolt back to see Vito holding the bottle, slowly pouring it over me.
“Dude, you needed something to bring ya back. Chill and tell us what whoever that was just said. And breathe, you look like you’re ready to pass the fuck out. I mean, you get any more ashen, gonna have to dial 9-1-1 ourselves. What’s up?”
As I try to explain what Danny just said, I’m watching Malachi, whose eyes are on me but they are blank. When he disconnects, he immediately tells us to get our asses up, we are outta here. Before we go, I move to the locked door next to the laundry room. I put my hand on it and you can hear the locks disengage. When the door opens, I hear them all let out air. The room has shelves and hooks and just about every space is covered in guns, along with ammunition. Before I can walk in, Malachi moves in front of me.
“Jeremiah, think first. My vehicle has a hidden compartment that is packed with all kinds of weapons. Take one or two that you feel comfortable with, but you will not be needing a gun. Your job is to help find Styx and then take care of her. You hear me? Don’t think you’re going to be a fucking hero because she’s going to need you alive and breathing. Let’s go.”
As we head out, I look at my house and realize without the girls and especially Lourdes, this is just a house, not a home. The few things she’s brought here have warmed it up and made it our home. Fuck, I should’ve told her how I feel about her and not dicked around about where we are heading. I was so fucking worried about how she probably would have freaked out, so I was waiting and trying to show her how good we are together. Son of a fucking bitch did I mess up. Now, goddamn it, my brain won’t even go down that road because if something happens to her, it will destroy me for the rest of my miserable life. For Christ’s sake, I can’t do this.
Vito is rushing toward Malachi’s vehicle and pushing me in the back. Freddie jumps in the front and off we go. The entire time I sit quietly and say nothing. All I can do is try to pray, which is a joke because I can’t remember the last time I prayed. But I will every single day of the rest of my life, as long as she’s okay. I’d give anything, or more specifically, everything I have to guarantee that. I hope whoever is in charge of everything can not only hear me but make my prayers happen and return Lourdes to me.
By the time we get to the scene, the place is jumping with so many people. I see Lourdes’s crew, they look devastated. Their chief, Cap, is trying to hold them together, but it ain’t working. Then I see Nova and his crew. Mayhem is literally holding Lil Man up and it dawns on me, I’m not the only one suffering. These people have known her so much longer than I have, they are her family. Danny walks toward the car, opening the door, pulling me out and into his arms. That’s when I totally fucking lose it. No one approaches us, they just let me have a moment to break down and let all my fears out. Danny is whispering shit to me, but I’m not even listening. My heart feels like it is going to bounce out of my chest and my ears are ringing. After a few minutes, I pull away to see Danny’s eyes and just seeing them almost brings me to my knees. This man went through hell for Claire, and now he’s going down that same path with his sister, Styx. That thought hasn’t even left my mind when two huge arms surround me from behind and pick me up. I know before I turn that Lil Man is behind me. When he leans down, I brace.
“We’re gonna find her, Jeremiah. We have too. And if they hurt her, I’ll personally kill each and every one, I promise you that. Come on, Nova set up an area, he’s got his people going through cameras and shit.”
He puts me down and grabs my shoulder, keeping me close. I should have never judged him or any of Lourdes’s crew because I can see how much they love her.
“How’s Stash?”
“Not sure, he started convulsing when they got him on the stretcher. One minute he was trying to talk, the next he was having some kind of a seizure, blood coming out of his nose. They think he might have a hematoma or a brain bleed. Claire and Ash’s wife are going to meet at the emergency room to be there for him. All we can do is wait and pray he’s okay. From what I saw, he put up a hell of a fight. They almost beat him to death. These are some real jagoffs, for sure, Jeremiah.”
My head falls and I feel like I’m going to lose my mind when I hear Nova’s voice, void of all emotion.
“Jeremiah, head up, eyes to me. You told me when Styx’s stalker got real that you were going to be her protector. Well, brother, now is the time for you to step up to the plate. I need you to push everything else out of your head and truly be Lourdes’s Sentinel because she’s going to fuckin’ need it when we get her back. Now, let’s see if anyone was able to see something on the doorbell cameras or the city overheads. Let’s go.”
Following Nova, he’s right. Now is not the time to let emotions rule me, I have to do everything and anything to bring Lourdes back. Don’t have any other option.