Chapter 73
Lark
Walking back into the clubhouse, I squeeze Anthony’s hand. “I’m just gonna go get out of these layers,” I tell him.
He looks down at me with concern in his eyes before nodding and kissing my forehead. He’s right to be concerned, but right now, I need a few minutes alone to process everything we just found.
A few minutes later, I unlock our room. Locking the door behind me, my gaze snags on the clock and I groan when I realize it’s past midnight already.
With another groan, I angrily rip my sweater off followed by my jeans and then the thermal long johns and wool socks I always wear when I go hunting with Uncle Mark.
Picking up my clothes, I throw them in the hamper and grab some clean clothes out of the dresser.
I’m about to put them on when I pause. My gaze catches on my burns, and I straighten in the mirror, lightly tracing them with my fingers. Tears spring to my eyes when it really sinks in that Zac is the reason why I was hurt in the first place.
He’s the one that cut our security feed, cut the wires to the smoke detectors, sabotaged every window and exterior door so that we couldn’t get out.
He did all of that for what? So he could come in and rescue me?
What was his plan after that? I mean, he was dating Khloe at the time, though I am wondering if he did that just as a way to get close to me.
My stomach bottoms out at the thought of Khloe.
Even though she tries not to show it, their breakup really did a number on her self-esteem. She’s not as bubbly or energetic as she used to be. Oh God, if the cops somehow get involved in this before we get our hands on Zac and all of this comes out into the open, this is going to kill Khloe.
My mind goes back to the cops and I freeze.
We need to find out if Zac was only responsible for the fires at our family’s places or if he was responsible for all the fires that night.
I’ve gotta go through those pictures and videos of the journals and anything else the guys might have found.
While I want to make Zac pay for what he did to me, if he’s the one behind all the fires, then I might need to put aside my own feelings so that Zac can be arrested and brought to trial.
Everyone affected by the fires should get closure but especially Ricky Merser and Bill and Edna Sharpe’s families since they had died because of the fires.
I need to talk to Anthony and the others.
Then again, he knows waaaay too much about the club.
I might just get to make him pay for everything he did.
With that thought in mind, I hastily dress even though my skin feels grimy after being in Zac’s house and I desperately want a shower, but that will have to wait for now.
I’m going to guess that Anthony’s going to call Church soon.
I don’t know if I’ll be allowed to join them, but if I am, I want to be down there.
I grab my cut off the hook and slip it on.
Heading back downstairs, I make a beeline for the bar and take the beer Mama Astrid’s just grabbed from the cooler.
She eyes me for a moment, probably wondering where my head is with all this, but she doesn’t need to worry.
While I know my journals are going to be getting a hell of a workout after this, I’m good.
I give her a small nod and she returns it before tilting her head toward Church.
“Reaper said to head on in when you came down.”
“Thanks,” I go to leave but then pause. “Did they all get drinks or should I take some in for them?”
She laughs. “They got drinks before they headed in so they should be good.”
She does a shooing motion with her hands and with a laugh of my own, I turn on my heel and cross the room. I pause at the door, knocking like I’ve seen Nathan and Drake do before entering and a moment later the door opens and Devil gives me a chin lift.
Anthony watches me for a moment, probably wondering where my head’s at, but I give him a small smile, trying to reassure him. He nods and I look around for an empty seat, which just so happens to be the one Anthony had me sit in before, on his left side.
Once I’m seated, Anthony raps his knuckles on the table. Shit, I wonder if I’m going to need to start calling him Reaper more since I’m a Prospect now? Before he said I could call him Anthony, even in front of the club. I’ll have to ask him.
“Alright. Drake’s reported in that the two guys he was following have stopped in a little town called Fox River that’s south of us.
Nathan is still on the interstate following Zac and they’re heading north.
Before sending people out to support them, we need to debrief on what Python and Smoke found. ”
Anthony tilts his head toward Python and Smoke, giving them the floor.
Python gestures toward the wall and Anthony pulls down the screen. After a few moments, a map shows up on the screen.
“The house here,” Python pauses as he makes a red ‘x’ on the screen, “is being rented out to Sara Wild. Maiden name is Hammit.”
A moment later, a woman’s picture appears next to the map.
From the looks of it, it’s from her driver’s license.
She has long red hair; blue, almost green eyes; and just from the way she holds herself, I can tell she’s got a sassy personality.
Nearby, I hear someone suck in a breath but I’m not sure who. Does someone know her?
Looking around, I notice Devil seems frozen in place as he stares up at the screen and I’m surprised when I see him silently saying her name.
His jaw clenches and he fists and unfists his hands several times.
Huh. Does he know Sara? I turn to look at Anthony and tilt my head slightly toward Devil while raising an eyebrow in question.
He looks over at him and frowns before turning back to me, slightly dipping his chin, silently telling me he’s noticed as well.
Oblivious to what’s going on, Python continues.
“Sara’s a graphic designer who works from home. She’s married to Daniel Wild. I don’t think things are happy in the Wild household though, because Sara’s been in and out of the ER multiple times in the three months since they’ve been married.”
Devil’s face pales slightly but then his eyes take on a hard edge as he continues clenching his jaw, the muscle in his cheek ticking from the force.
Smoke taps on his keyboard and the image on the screen changes to show mugshots of two of my kidnappers.
“From the pictures Drake sent us of the two guys he was following, we believe the driver’s name is Dane Brown and the passenger’s name is Justin Jones. Looking further into this, Sara and Justin are half-siblings.
“When Dane pulled into Sara’s driveway, Drake drove further down the street and turned the corner before parking his truck and hoofing it back just in time to see a second SUV pull into the driveway.
The two new men got out of that car and he managed to snap a picture of both of them as well.
Nothing’s come up yet about their identities, but the system is still working on it.
“Anyway, Justin unlocked the front door and a moment later, Drake heard something crash against the floor just as a woman screamed. He snuck around back and was able to see inside from the patio door. A woman was laying on the floor, clutching her bloody cheek as she struggled to get back up. Around her were shards of porcelain. From Drake’s description, we confirmed the woman is Sara.
“Justin was standing over Sara, yelling and kicking at her, saying she has no right to yell at him for coming into her house in the middle of the night. That he can come and go as he pleases and that she needs to learn her place.” Python pauses, his lip curling.
“As he was observing the situation, Dracke was able to hear part of Sara’s reply.
Justin wasn’t even supposed to have a key to the house.
Seems there is bad water between the half-siblings. ”
Huh. It’s winter, so how is Drake able to hear their conversations so well? You’d think most people wouldn’t have their doors or windows cracked open in the dead of night.
“Does Drake currently have eyes on her? Justin or the others haven’t hurt her worse, have they?” Devil asks, his voice hard and curt.
More than one of us look at Devil in question and Anthony frowns.
“Do you know her?” he asks him.
Their gazes lock and I’m not sure if they’re having a silent conversation or if they’re just staring each other down.
Devil’s nostrils flare and his eyes blaze with anger.
For a moment I think he’s not going to answer when he finally gives a curt nod but gives no other information.
However, from the look Anthony gives him, I think they’ll be having a little chat after we’re done with Church.
“Drake said he slapped her one other time. He thinks it was about booze because she kept pointing out to the garage and yelling that she doesn’t allow booze to be kept in her kitchen.
One of the other guys left and a moment later came back with beer for everyone.
Justin started yelling at her again, this time to make food.
She told him he could make himself a sandwich because she had work to do.
Then she stormed out of the kitchen and into another room on the main floor.
Drake was able to look in on her and saw that she was shaken up from everything, but otherwise okay. ”
“How is Drake able to hear their conversations so well?” I ask, still curious on that bit.
“Drake said her office is on the other side of the kitchen wall and since her office window was cracked open, he was able to hear everything,” Smoke replies and I nod.
Anthony rasps his knuckles on the table, but before he can speak, Python’s computer pings and a moment later, the images on the screen changes to the two others that kidnapped me.
“Sorry, Reaper, but the other two IDs just came through—Alvin Crawley and Ryan Stockley.”
Anthony turns toward me and I nod.
“It’s them. Alvin was the one sitting in the front passenger seat and Ryan is the one that drugged me.”
He turns back toward everyone else and nods. “I need two groups of volunteers—one to head north after Nathan and Zac and the other to head south toward Drake. I’m heading north myself.”
My stomach churns but then again, I already knew that’s what he would decide.
“I’ll head south,” Devil replies, and I don’t think any of us are the least bit surprised.
In the end, Anthony, Punisher, Loki, Gunner, Axe, and Patch volunteered to head north while Devil, Odin, Beast, Smithy, Timber, and Doc are heading south.
That left Razor, Ryder, Smoke, Python, Cannon and Atlas remaining here at the clubhouse.
Well, along with Mama Astrid and me that is, but I don’t think the guys intended to take either of us this time.
Besides, as much as I want to go, I’m also needed here at the tavern and supper club.
I’ve had to take a lot of time off because of everything Zac has been pulling, and I can’t expect my employees to continue to pick up my slack much longer.
“Alright, for those heading out, ride safe, stay in touch, keep your head on a swivel, and make sure each and every one of you comes back alive. For the rest of you, keep on your guard. We don’t know if Zac or Richard have anyone else working for them, so they could try to hit here while we’re spread thin.
” He pauses and looks over at me. “Darlin’, get as many of your shifts covered as you can.
If you have to head in, then take at least one brother with you. ”
“I will. I know of at least two shifts that I’ll for sure have to head into the tavern this upcoming week, but I’ll see about the rest and let you know.”
“Alright, Devil hold back, the rest of you, either suit up or get some shut eye,” he says before banging his gavel on the table.
I walk over to him and he pulls me into his arms.
“Need you to stay safe, Hercules,” I whisper to him and he leans down, giving me a searing kiss that ends way too soon.
I clench my thighs as need courses through me, and he smirks down at me, noticing the movement.
Clearing my throat, I push my lusty thoughts aside.
“If she’s up for it, Mama Astrid and I will make sure one of the townhouses is set up just in case things go south and Sara needs our protection.
I’d rather be ready than scrambling around at the last minute. ”
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Devil’s head whip towards me, and after a minute, relief fills his face before he dips his chin in thanks which I return. Going up on my toes, I kiss Anthony one more time.
“Keep me posted. Stay safe and come back home to me.”
“Will do, Darlin’. Need you to stay safe, too.”
“I will. Now, I’ll let you go so you can talk to Devil and then you guys can head out.”
On my way out, I give Devil’s shoulder a squeeze. If this Sara person is important to him, then we’ll make sure everything’s ready so that she feels welcome because I have a sneaky suspicion that she’ll be coming back with Devil.