Chapter Four #2
After several minutes, the two of us make our way inside and I’m surrounded by Dakota and Kylan.
Lifting Dakota up in my arms, she wraps her small ones around my neck and lays her head on my shoulder.
I can’t help but laugh when Caleb goes to reach for her and she shrinks back from his hands.
A smile lights up her face when my best friend pouts and pretends to be sad his little girl doesn’t want anything to do with him.
When that doesn’t change her mind, Caleb lifts his son in his arms and races down the hall from us.
I keep my pace steady because I know Dakota is ready for a nap.
The only time she snuggles anymore is when she’s sleepy and hasn’t gotten to take a nap for whatever reason.
I join Caleb and Cali at the table in the back of the common room and keep Dakota where she is against my chest. The three of us talk and Cali continuously looks around the common room. I already know she’s wondering where Annistyn is without her saying a word.
“She’s not back yet,” I say when she looks at me for the tenth time in a matter of minutes.
“She went to the park today?” Cali questions me as Evan brings her over a bottle of water and cups of milk for Dakota and Kylan.
“As far as I know. She doesn’t have a damn phone for me to call her on.
Annistyn has never been allowed to have one before and hasn’t wanted one.
After today, she needs one. She can’t be away from the compound with no way to contact anyone here if somethin’ happens,” I tell her as Dakota accepts her cup of milk and takes a small drink before handing it to me.
“I agree. She can’t be away from us with no way to get in contact.
Especially when she really has no clue where anything is in town.
She could get lost so easily and we’d never know unless someone actually stopped to help her.
Annistyn won’t ask for help on her own. It’s too far out of her comfort zone to talk to a stranger,” Cali says, a frown on her face as she looks at her daughter in my arms. “How much longer you gonna wait before you go get her?”
“Not much longer. I don’t want her out there when it gets dark.
She’s always inside way before darkness sets in and is in her room with almost every light on,” I answer her, looking out the window in the front of the common room to see the sun is still shining but it won’t be much longer before dusk settles.
That isn’t a good time for taking pictures.
At least I don’t think it is. Not unless she’s doing some kind of horror photo shoot for Halloween or something like that.
I don’t know enough about the subject to truly say anything though.
The three of us remain at the table and it’s not long before Dakota’s weight settles heavily in my arms. She’s finally asleep as I brush her hair out of her face and make sure she’s comfortable.
Though, my niece can sleep anywhere like her dad.
Kylan watches over me with her and I know he’s going to be her bodyguard as they get older.
No one will be able to get close to her for any reason if he doesn’t allow it to happen.
Kylan won’t let anyone hurt his baby sister and the same can be said for Rory as well.
Though Bryce has Rory protected at all times.
These two boys will be the same way Caleb and I were growing up.
It’s amazing to witness how protective they already are and know the two of us have something to do with that because it’s what they watch us do for Cali and any other women in our lives.
“I can’t sit here and do nothin’ anymore,” I finally say after almost a half hour passes and Annistyn still hasn’t walked in the door of the clubhouse. “I’m goin’ to find her. Cali, you wanna head out with me? I’m not sure Annistyn’s ready for a ride on my bike just yet.”
“Of course I’m going. Caleb can stay with the kids.
Babe, you can either keep Dakota out here with you or put her in our room upstairs.
Don’t let her sleep for too long though.
If you do, you’ll be up all night with her,” Cali answers standing from her seat as Caleb adjusts Kylan in his arms to accept his daughter when I hand her over to him.
Kylan puts a hand on Dakota’s back when she stirs and gives the smallest whimper at being disturbed.
Master, Viper, Manic, and Force follow us outside and head for their bikes without me saying a word to them.
Cali climbs in her SUV and waits for us to pull out before she follows behind us.
Force pulls off to ride behind her and make sure nothing happens on the short ride to the park.
That’s our first stop and I’m hoping with every breath I take Annistyn is still there.
When we pull in, my eyes immediately land on Annistyn toward the back of the park.
She’s talking to a guy who stands and hands her something as I shut my bike off and remove my helmet.
I can’t help but smile because for the first time, I’m getting to see Annistyn completely relaxed without the slightest hint of tension filling her body.
The only thing I don’t like is the red tint to her skin.
I’ll have to keep an eye on her so she doesn’t burn and hurt from being outside all day long with no sunscreen on.
“You okay, Pixie?” I ask while keeping my attention on the guy walking away from her because I have no clue who this man is or what he was doing with my girl.
“I’m okay. That’s Roger. He was teaching me about the camera and pictures,” Annistyn informs me as I look down at her, noticing she’s not as relaxed as she was a few minutes ago “I’m really sorry if I upset you.”
“I’m not upset, Pixie. I was worried when you didn’t come back and it started gettin’ dark.
You can do whatever you want. There is one thing we’re gonna change though.
I’m gettin’ you a phone of your own so this doesn’t happen again.
I want you to be able to call if somethin’ happens.
If you weren’t here, I don’t know what I would’ve done, Annistyn,” I tell her as she looks up at me and a fraction of the tension leaves her body once again.
Annistyn doesn’t ever want to upset anyone.
Part of it’s because she has such a pure, gentle heart and only wants to see everyone around her happy.
The other part is it’s been beaten into her that if she does one wrong thing, she’ll receive some kind of punishment.
It doesn’t even matter what was done or if it’s wrong.
Annistyn sees any wrong move she makes as one that will get her hurt from words or in a physical way.
Talking to some guy about something she’s passionate about doesn’t upset me at all.
Honestly, I’m glad he was there to give her pointers when no one ever has before.
“Can we go back to the compound now? I’m really tired,” Annistyn asks me and I can see how exhausted she truly is. Today has taken a lot out of her and she’s just now realizing it.
“Yeah, Pixie. Cali’s got the SUV here. I’ll walk you over and we’ll follow the two of you back.
Dinner’s ready and waitin’ for us when we get back to the clubhouse.
I’d like you to eat before showerin’ or anythin’ else.
I doubt you’ve eaten anythin’ today and you need somethin’ before goin’ to sleep,” I say as I lead her to the SUV and help her inside before heading back over to my bike.
We all pull out from the park and head back to the compound.
I keep my eyes locked on the SUV in front of me and don’t let it out of my sight.
While I’m glad Annistyn took today for herself and got away from the compound, I couldn’t stop the fear from overwhelming me most of the day.
It’s something I’m going to have to get used to because I refuse to treat Annistyn as if she’s a prisoner because I don’t want her wandering off too far from me.
Everyone else has kept her as a prisoner in her own life and I won’t be a name on that list. I will help her embrace her freedom and figuring out what she can and can’t handle as she recovers and grows into the woman she’s meant to be.