Chapter 44 #2
“Okay, here it goes,” I say as I turn and look at the box.
I push the black petals that were scattered on top of everything off to the side and pull out the doll, shivering at seeing my face taped on it and my stomach knots when I notice something else that must have been covered by a rose petal.
“Fuck, he’s taped a picture of a baby to my stomach as well.”
I turn the doll so that they can see it. Reaper’s hands fist and I hate that we’re separated for this.
Setting the doll on the counter, I pick up the pictures. One by one I go through them, and breathe a sigh of relief that none of them are nudes. Looking up, I tilt my head toward Devil.
“Devil, can you take pictures of these in groups and send them to the guys? I’ll show them one by one as well, but it might be easier if they can flip between pictures themselves if need be.”
One by one, I show the pictures to everyone in Forest Creek before laying them down in groups of six on the counter.
They’re of me working at the tavern and the supper club, of Reaper and I cuddled on the couch watching TV and reading books, of me walking to and from the house and the clubhouse, of Reaper and I kissing, and of me doing errands around town.
When I get to the bottom of the box, I pause.
“Hey guys, there’s a note in here, too,” I call out as I pick it up.
Every muscle in my body freezes and my throat tightens.
“Lark,” Devil says, his voice gentle but with an edge to it.
I clear my throat and open my mouth to read it out loud, but the words get stuck in my throat. I blink repeatedly to keep hot tears of anger from falling and turn the note toward the laptop screen, letting them read it.
You didn’t listen to me, Lark, and you are making me mad.
You are mine and yet you continue to let that filthy cretin touch you.
You need to get away from the club before they hurt you.
They’ve done it before and they’ll do it again.
If you don’t listen to me, I’ll make all your friends suffer, especially the one you let defile you, and you’ll have to watch it all.
Then your punishment will begin. You will be mine, Lark, one way or another.
However, if you leave and come to me, their lives will be spared.
“Lark,” Reaper says and my gaze snaps to his.
I give him a tight smile. “Don’t worry, Hercules.
I’m not going to hand myself over to him.
Besides, I bet he’d still come after you guys anyway.
” I take a deep breath. “Alright. It’s a good thing I have my concealed carry license because I’m going to start carrying.
” I look through the crowd on screen until I find Python.
“Python, do you have any trackers or small, wearable cameras here we can use?”
He gives me a chin lift. “Yeah, they’re in my room and Devil knows where they are.
All he has to do is call me as he hands them out so that I can pair each one to you guys in my system.
If you’re wearing your cut, there’s also one in that.
I’m able to track your phone. I did create a few options for you though, Lark.
Well, also for Mama Astrid or any other Old Ladies that may join us.
There are some earrings and necklaces in there too, as well as bracelets.
I know you are already wearing Levi’s blade bracelets, but this way, there’s multiple options. ”
I nod, taking it all in, and some of my fears start to fade.
“Alright. After this I’ll head over to your room at the clubhouse with Devil.
We’ll ring you and get everything activated.
I don’t know what this guy is capable of, so I don’t want to wait until morning.
Especially since he was able to shut down our feed for five minutes.
” I pause and look between Smoke and Python on the screen.
“Any ideas on how he managed to do that?”
They both frown and share a look.
“I’m working on tracing the IP address the guy used, but it’s bouncing around a lot,” Smoke tells us.
“I was able to verify that he is not keeping tabs on our feed, so that’s a silver lining.
Python and I are also boosting our security firewalls and adding other safety measures to hopefully keep this from happening again. ”
The front door opens and I frown as Loki comes back inside. When did he leave?
He steps up by me and looks at the camera.
“Pres, I found tracks leading from your back deck out into the woods. I followed them and there’s a section of our fence that was cut.
From the looks of it, it seems fresh. I don’t know how he didn’t trip our sensors for cutting the fence, but somehow, he didn’t.
Reaper, Devil, and Python—I sent you the location pin for where the fence was cut. ”
I frown again, not liking that Loki went out there tracking this guy on his own. He should have had backup.
Smithy nudges my shoulder. “It’s okay, Lark. Out of all of us, Loki is the best tracker and is like a fucking shadow when he wants to be.”
Still frowning, I nod in understanding. “I still don’t like that you didn’t have backup, though.”
“Okay,” Reaper says, and I turn back toward the computer. “Guys, dust everything and see if you can get anymore prints. Devil, you and Lark go and get what she needs out of Python’s room. Call me when you’re ready and Python can do his thing.” He pauses as his gaze zeroes in on me.
I give him a small smile. “Don’t worry, Hercules. I won’t go anywhere without one of the guys and I’ll keep them all posted when I go to or from the house and the clubhouse. If anything else happens, like another package, note or phone call, I’ll let you guys know.”
He returns the smile, but I can still see the tension running through his shoulders.
Void rubs up against my legs, and I lean down, picking him up. He nuzzles under my chin, somehow knowing that I’m stressed and worried. Not to be left out, Igor comes over and sits down, leaning against my leg.
As the topic switches to updating the Junction Creek guys about what’s going on in Forest Creek, I step off to the side a bit and sit down in an armchair.
Void settles down in my lap and Igor goes up on his hind paws, resting his front paws on my legs.
He begs me with his eyes to pick him up and I grunt as I do.
Igor may be a small dog, but he’s stocky.
Void gets up and once Igor is settled down, he curls up against Igor and me, purring loudly.
I pet both of them as I keep an ear on the conversations the guys are having.
My heart breaks for Mary, Patch, and her kids and for everything they’ve been through.
I hope that their plan to try and draw out the guys that are after Mary and the kids works so that she doesn’t have to keep looking over her shoulder.