Chapter 16
Delilah
Things with Zander were going well—even better than I’d ever imagined.
I never dreamed that I’d fall in love with him and could be so utterly happy, especially given all the secrets and being kept in the dark about what was going on with Danny’s situation.
Even though he hadn’t actually said the words, I had a feeling that things were going to be okay with my brother.
Zander had never given me any indication otherwise, so I was doing my best to hold on to the hope that someday soon I’d be seeing him again.
Besides, Zander was a good man, and he was close to proving that his brothers were too.
There was just one thing that gave me doubts—the person in the black truck who had been stalking me for the last week or so.
I assumed it was one of Zander’s brothers, but he was different than the others.
When I’d walk by in the mornings, his brothers would at least nod or smile, giving me some kind of acknowledgement.
I knew why they were there. I knew they were watching me in case I opened my mouth and went to the police about what had happened with Danny, but there was something about them being there that I found oddly comforting.
The same didn’t hold true for the new guy.
There was something about him that gave me the creeps.
He just sat there behind his dark tented windows, staring at me as I walked by—day and night.
And honestly, I didn’t even understand why he was there—especially since the circumstances had changed.
Zander spent most nights at my place, or I at his.
I’d given the Sinner’s no reason to think that I would go against my word, so it didn’t make sense that they’d suddenly chosen to increase their surveillance.
As I started down the steps and towards the parking lot, I decided not to make a big deal of the fact that he was sitting there, yet again.
Instead, I looked over to the guy sitting behind the steering wheel, smoking his stupid cigarette, and gave him a big wave.
He did nothing—just sat there completely motionless.
Acting complete unbothered by the fact that he didn’t return the gesture, I smiled and continued towards my car.
I kept smiling as I got in and drove away.
I thought I’d handled the situation very well, until the asshole started to follow me to my mother’s house.
That’s was something the other brothers hadn’t done, and I’d had enough.
There was absolutely no reason for him to follow me there, so I pressed my foot against the accelerator and started zipping through traffic, doing my best to lose him.
Even with my best efforts, he managed to stay close behind, but then I got lucky.
Just was I was coming up on a traffic light, a massive dump truck pulled in front of him, forcing him to stop.
I quickly turned down a busy street, and after making several more turns, I finally lost him and continued on to Mom’s house.
When I walked in, I found her sitting at the kitchen table, and even though it was well into the afternoon, she was still in her pajamas, drinking a cup of coffee. “Good morning.”
“Hi, sweetheart.” She looked up and smiled. “I was hoping you would stop by.”
“I promised I would.” After I made myself a glass of tea, I went over and sat down next to her. “I would’ve come sooner, but I’ve been swamped at work.”
“Oh.” She looked over me with knowing eyes as she said, “I thought you might’ve met someone.”
“What makes you say that?”
“I don’t know. You just seem different... happier. I was hoping you might’ve found yourself a young man to date.”
“Well, it just so happens that I have been seeing someone.” I couldn’t go into all the details of who Zander was or how we’d actually met, so I told her, “He’s not like any of the guys I’ve gone out with before, but I’m starting to think that might be a good thing.”
“Will I get to meet this new guy of yours?”
“Maybe. Let’s see how things go first.”
“Okay. Whatever you think. Just know that if you like this boy, I will, too.” She let out a sigh as she said, “Maybe someday Danny will meet someone special, too. That’s if he’s even okay. I’m really having my doubts that he is.”
“I don’t know.” I didn’t want to give her false hope, but it was so hard to see her so upset. “I think we’ll be hearing something from him soon.”
“Really? What makes you think so?”
“I can’t say for sure. Just a gut feeling, I guess.”
“I’d like to think you’re right, but this has gone on too long.
” I could hear the determination in her voice and panic started to build in the pit of my stomach when she said, “It’s time to find out what’s going on with him, Delilah.
If the roles were reversed and it was you who’d been missing for weeks, I would’ve already contacted the police. Danny would’ve insisted on it.”
As much as I hated to do it, I had to think of some way to put her off, even if it was just for a little longer, so I said, “How about this? I have a friend that works at the police station. Why don’t I go down there and talk to him? See what he thinks we should do.”
“That would be great.” She stood up, and as she started towards her bedroom, she said, “Let me get changed, and I’ll go with you.”
“Mom, wait!” I stood up and walked over to her. “Let me do this on my own. He’ll be much more open to talk if it’s just me.”
Disappointment crossed her face as she said, “Oh, okay. I understand.”
“I’ll let you know what he says.” I gave her a quick hug. “I love you, Mom.”
“I love you, too, sweetheart.”
“I’ll give you a call soon.”
“Okay.”
When I got out to my car, I pulled out my phone and sent Zander a text, letting him know that we needed to talk and to call me back.
As soon as I was done, I pulled out of my mother’s driveway and started downtown.
I’d promised Krissy that I would meet her for dinner, and we’d do a little shopping after.
I was hoping to talk to Zander about my mother, but I still hadn’t heard from him when I got to the restaurant.
I tried to push it to the back of my mind as I parked my car and walked inside to find Krissy.
It was a small Italian place with a great little outdoor sitting area, which was where I found Krissy waiting for me.
I went over, and the second I sat down, she gave me a look.
My dear, sweet, annoyingly perceptive friend could always tell when something was bothering me, so I wasn’t surprised when she asked, “What’s wrong? ”
“It’s nothing really.” The weight started to lift off my shoulders as I continued, “It’s just Danny. He’s gone off the rails again.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s hard to explain. He just hasn’t been around in a while, and Mom’s freaking out about it.” I shook my head. “I tried to explain to her that he’ll show up eventually, but she isn’t listening. She wants to go to the police about it.”
“Maybe you should, especially if it’s been several days.”
“Well, that’s just it.” I was walking on thin ice as I told her, “I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“Because of who he’s mixed up with. I’m afraid that getting the police involved will only make things worse.”
“Oh. Well, that sheds a different light on things.” She thought for a moment, then asked, “Is there someone you could ask about him? Find out if he’s okay or not?”
“Yeah ... I can push a little harder and see what I can find out.”
“That might not be a bad idea. You could always explain the situation with your mother wanting to call the police and see if that makes a difference.”
“You’re right. That actually might help.”
“Do you want to skip dinner and go tend to Danny? I understand if you do.”
“Are you sure you don’t mind?”
“Of course not,” she assured me. “We can meet up anytime.”
“Okay ... Thanks for understanding.” I grabbed my purse and stood up. “I’ll give you a call later.”
“Good luck, girl, and let me know if I can do anything.”
“I will.”
I headed out to my car, and once I was inside, I tried calling Zander for a second time.
Again, no answer. I felt like I was running out of time, so I started the car and tried to remember my way to the clubhouse.
It had been a while since that morning when Zander had taken me back to Danny’s place, but I didn’t think I would have any trouble finding my way there.
Unfortunately, I was wrong. So many of the roads looked familiar, but none of them were the ones that led to the clubhouse.
After an hour of going in circles, I was getting frustrated and just about to stop and ask for directions when a tall fence caught my attention.
As I got closer to the building, I spotted the large gated entrance, and I knew I’d finally found it.
I pulled up to the man standing guard and asked, “Is this the Ruthless Sinners’ clubhouse? ”
“Who’s asking?”
“I’m Delilah Davenport. I’m looking for Zander ... I mean Hawk.”
“Hold on a minute.” He stepped away from my car and pulled out his phone. After several long moments, he came back over to me. “Pull up to the front. Stay there and wait. He’ll be out as soon as he can.”
“Okay, thanks.”
I did as I was told and pulled my car up to the front of the building.
Once I was parked, I turned off the engine.
As I sat there waiting, I looked around the parking lot and the tall fence that surrounded it, and it wasn’t long before all those forgotten feelings of doubt and anxiousness I’d had the last time I was there came rushing back.
I found myself wanting to barge inside and demand to see my brother, to finally see for myself what was really going on with him, but I didn’t move, fearing I’d only end up locked away again.
I had worked myself up into a nervous fit when Zander finally stepped out the front door and walked over to my car.
His brows were furrowed in confusion as he opened the door and asked, “What are you doing here, Delilah?”