Chapter 12
CHAPTER TWELVE
HENDRIX
My cell pings with a message.
I don’t respond. Instead, I leave her on read, turning my cell over face down on the table.
She had been understanding with everything with Storm, and had even offered to come help, but I said it was a family thing, and that Storm just needed family at the moment.
She was perfect, she loved the club life, and she was liked by my mom and dad.
Hell, all of the club welcomed her with open arms, and she was alright in bed. Not mind blowing, but it was fun.
It’s been a week since we found Storm cuffed in the apartment.
Ghost was pacing and going out of his mind needing blood, and Star wasn’t much better.
Hell, the entire club was becoming feral for it, wanting and needing revenge for what he had done.
My fists automatically clench as the memories of Ghost carrying her out flash in my mind.
Frail, weak, and completely fucking broken.
Not Storm; that was never her. Even now she refused to leave her parents’ house, saying she didn’t want the unwanted attention from the public seeing her bruises.
It was bullshit. The Storm I knew would have just flipped them off.
No fucks given, but she wasn’t the same Storm.
She was a mere fraction of who she used to be.
“So, we have other clubs scouring. The Satan’s have checked the hospital near them, clinics; anywhere he might be hiding.
The prospects have been scoping out the hospital every day, but we know he isn’t going to be stupid enough to show up there,” Cash states, looking through his laptop.
“He hasn’t used his credit card. So, he’s surviving somehow, either by hiding at a friend’s, or he had a boatload of cash stored away. ”
“What about his parents?” Enzo asks.
Cash shakes his head. “They are currently away on a three-month cruise.”
“He could be hiding in their house,” I murmur, not taking my eyes off the smiley face tattooed on my hand that Storm drew.
Ghost sighs. I look up, watching him pinch the bridge of his nose.
“Please tell me someone has gone over to his parents’ house to check that he is not fucking hiding out there!
” he barks, slamming his hand down on the table.
He had the old one extended with each one of us becoming members of the club, especially as we needed the extra room.
Ghost was still President, and Spider the VP.
None of their positions had changed, but there was no denying that Enzo would one day step into his dad’s place and take over the club.
“So, we need to scope out his parents’ house, without him seeing us, and without the neighbours freaking the fuck out, because it’s in the suburbs. I don’t know about you lot, but I’m too old to be going in dressed up in some random shit,” Hawk mutters.
Beast turns his attention to him. “And what did you dress up as?”
“Remember when we had guy running rugs and guns through the retirement home? I was dressed up as an old man, and when we helped that whore house.”
“Hawk.” Spider shakes his head back and forth.
“Right, sorry. Can’t say that anymore. That sex workers’ house?
” he says in question, looking to Spider.
Spider just grins and nods. “There was that fucker that was going in and raping and killing the whor— I mean, sex workers,” he corrects himself.
“Have to say, I was pretty hot.” He beams proudly.
I smirk, looking at Enzo, who is smiling. It’s good to see him smiling again. It’s been a while since I have seen him actually smile.
“You looked like a dude in a dress. You did not look hot,” Beast counters
Hawk presses his palm to his chest. “You would have fucked me. If you didn’t know who I was, you would have wanted this sweet piece of ass.” Hawk winks at him.
I chuckle, as does everyone else. “We don’t need anyone to dress up,” Oliver states.
We all turn our attention to him. “I will send the drone up. It can scope the area around the house for signs of someone staying there. I mean, it’s not like anyone is going to think of a biker club using a drone, are they?
” He shrugs, grinning arrogantly. The asshole has always s been a tech genius.
Acid and Rhea wanted him to go off to college.
He refused, stating that his skills would be better used in the club, and he was right.
He just was never going to be earning a six-figure salary.
Good money sure, but not that kind of money.
Ghost nods. “That’s the plan for now. Enzo and Drix, go back to the hospital and ask around.
Speak to that supervisor of Storm’s. See if she’s heard anything.
Need to find a way to make it public knowledge without bringing Storm’s name into it.
The more heat, the more doors closed on him, the rat will soon surface,” he seethes.
He looked tired, drained. I overheard my mom on the phone to Star.
Apparently, Storm was having night terrors.
Between him and Star, they weren’t getting much sleep.
Enzo was staying at the club for a while.
I personally think he just wanted to fuck until he passed out. Stops him thinking too much.
“In the meantime, I think we need to do a run or something,” Scar suggests. He nods his head in Rage’s direction. He needed to unleash the anger he was feeling. It was bottling up and would soon become explosive, which could end in him getting arrested for mass murder.
“Fine. Cash, sort out who needs to pay up. Make sure it’s someone we won’t feel guilty for setting Rage on them. Scar, Linc, and Hap, you go with him. Keep him out of a cell. I want you to be back by tomorrow evening. Finding Zeke is the fucking priority. Do you hear me?” he fumes.
We all nod. None of us can think of anything else.
“Good, church is adjourned,” he says, slamming the gavel down.
Everyone gets up to leave, but as I stand and start making my way out, Ghost holds up his hand and gestures for me to sit beside him.
I pull out the chair, frowning as I take the seat.
He leans on his elbows, rubbing his face.
“I want you at the house tonight,” he orders.
I furrow my brows. “Dinner?” I query. “I will let Mom and Dad know.” I nod and begin to stand, but Ghost slams his palm down.
“No, just you.” He pins me with his ice-cold eyes. “I want you to come over and spend some time with Storm,” he adds.
I shake my head. “I don’t think that’s such a good idea. What about Maisy or one of the others?” I suggest.
“No. You. She’s closest to you. She always has been,” Ghost points out.
I sigh and rub my face. I can’t tell him I kissed his daughter, because he would probably kill me. “We haven’t been that close for a while. I don’t think she will want me there,” I state honestly, but withholding the fact that I kissed her.
He eyes me sceptically. “You think I’m stupid?” He arches his brow. I daren’t answer. “Hendrix, I have fucking eyes. I see the way you look at my daughter, and I see the way you’ve followed her around like a lovesick puppy for years.”
I blink. “I, er, fuck,” I sigh.
He leans on his elbows. “I have just seen my daughter go through hell. She’s fucking struggling to come out the other side of that.
She isn’t who she was, and as strong and stubborn as her mom is, she needs a friend right now, and I need someone I can trust. A man I can trust. She needs to be able to trust again, and while she will always feel safe with her mom, with me, her brother, and her friends, she will never fully relax and learn to trust other men.
As much as it fucking pains me, she needs to be able to live her life,” he grinds out.
I nod in understanding. “I don’t think trying for a relationship is the best thing for her right now.”
“Damn fucking right it’s not! I’m not pimping my fucking daughter out to you for you to make a move. I want you to sit with her, get her laughing, get her outside the fucking house. Get my girl back,” he says, the last few words sticking in his throat.
My lips twitch. “Sorry, Prez. I wouldn’t have, you know, touched her or nothing.”
“Fuck, boy, do you want to live to see your next birthday?!” he barks, but I catch the amusement in his eyes.
“I’m taking Star out tonight. Enzo will be out fucking god knows what, and I don’t want her alone,” he orders.
“So, I’m just to show up with what? A bag of popcorn and a box of tissues. She may not be herself, but she will just slam the door in my face,” I point out.
Ghost grins. “Yeah, she would.”
“I will tell her someone is coming to be with her while we are out. I don’t want her alone. She will expect it. She knows how protective I am over her.” He shrugs.
“Fine, let me text Ginny.”
Ghost leans back in his chair watching me as I send the text. “You tell her you’re spending the night with my daughter?” he presses.
“Said that I had some club business to take care of.” I shrug.
He shakes his head, a smirk playing on his lips.
“Playing a dangerous game, kid. Believe me.” He stands, and gestures for me to leave.
I nod and get to my feet, but as I walk past him, his hand presses against my chest, halting me.
“And the next time you refer to my daughter as club business, I will break your legs,” he warns.
I grin. “Sure thing, Prez.” I lift my chin arrogantly before leaving. Most men would cower, and while he still scares the shit out of me, I’ve grown up around him. I know when I can push my luck and when to reel it in. He would never hurt me unless I hurt one of his own.