Chapter Seven
Dakota
He’d said Church would only last thirty minutes to an hour.
Maybe it would. That still meant he’d be gone until almost one in the afternoon, since he said Church was at noon.
I hadn’t counted on him leaving this morning, then not returning.
If I’d known he wouldn’t be back after greeting the new woman and children, I might not have pushed him out the door as quickly as I did.
Being alone had never bothered me before.
Of course, I’d also had the freedom to come and go as I pleased.
Being stuck in the house, unable to even look out the windows, was beyond miserable.
I couldn’t call my brother since my phone was now gone.
I didn’t dare use the house phone. Since Charming had gone to the trouble to get a burner from another state to reach out to Specter, I figured that meant the landline wasn’t secure enough.
Although my brother was still texting Charming on his regular mobile.
I didn’t know why. Wouldn’t that be just as dangerous as making calls to that phone?
None of it made sense to me. Then again, I knew little about technology, or the way my brother operated.
He could be using some sort of code to text Charming, one that only the two of them would understand.
While I understood why Charming didn’t want me leaving the house, I really hated it.
The times he left, I wanted to be by his side.
His club had no idea who I was, or that I even existed.
Except the prospects, and they could only come by so often before people would get suspicious.
As it was, the club had come knocking at the door multiple times.
He always stepped outside to greet them and refused to let anyone inside. They had to find it odd.
I opened the Word Search puzzle book he’d gotten for me and tried to focus.
I found a few words, then my mind wandered.
The baby’s room was about as finished as we could make it without being able to leave the house to shop.
I refused to furnish everything from the Internet.
Which meant I’d started on the rest of the house.
Charming had told me to change whatever I wanted.
He had blinds over every window, but nothing else.
So, I’d ordered some curtains for the bedroom and living room.
A valence was now over the kitchen window above the sink.
Anything else would have to wait, or I’d have to give up on ever having freedom again.
A knock sounded at the door, and I tensed, staring at it. Someone jiggled the doorknob and knocked again. I held my breath, not daring to move an inch. Who was out there? Weren’t they all going to Church? Could it be one of the women or kids? What if they needed help?
“I think it’s weird,” a woman’s voice said.
“Maybe he wants some privacy,” another woman said. “I told you it was a bad idea to sneak in while all the guys were occupied. If Charming finds out…”
They knocked again. Were they going to keep trying to get into the house? Why wouldn’t they give up? Clearly, they knew Charming wasn’t here, which meant they had to think someone else was living in the house with him. He hadn’t fooled his club as much as he’d thought.
“You don’t think he’s shacking up with some woman, do you? Any of the club whores go missing lately?” the first one asked.
My eyes went wide. Why the hell would they think Charming had a club whore in his house? He’d said he hadn’t been with those women in a while, and I’d believed him. Did they know something about my husband that I didn’t?
No. I wouldn’t jump to conclusions. If he’d never had a serious relationship, then why would the ladies think he had a girlfriend in the house?
Much less a wife. Oh God. The club wouldn’t take this well, would they?
Not only had Charming kept me a secret, but we were technically married, and having a baby!
I didn’t know what would happen if his brothers turned against him.
He might be President, but I had a feeling they could still get rid of him.
Either by tossing him from the club, or in a more permanent way.
I needed to talk to my brother. Whatever was holding him back, I needed this situation fixed immediately.
It wasn’t fair to Charming, or to me. At this rate, I worried I’d be stuck inside until it was time to give birth.
That would certainly be an interesting conversation to have with the club, or the doctor, for that matter.
The doorknob rattled again. “When did he start locking the house? And all the blinds are closed. He’s always had an open door policy.”
“Maybe he’s going through something right now,” the second woman said. “Instead of trying to break into his house, why don’t we just ask if he needs help with anything?”
“Fine. I still don’t like it. I feel like he’s hiding something, or someone. We should go ask Jordan. Havoc knows everything, which means she does too.”
I heard them walk away and my stomach cramped.
Trouble wasn’t just coming for me anymore.
It looked like the club was going to come for Charming if he didn’t speak up soon about what was going on.
I’d not wanted this. When I’d come to him for help, I’d never once thought he’d keep the club in the dark. It wasn’t good for any of us.
A few hours passed, and a knot had lodged in my stomach. Every sound had me jumping. I couldn’t relax, no matter how hard I tried. My stomach grumbled, but I didn’t dare go make lunch. If those women came back, they’d hear me and know someone else was living here.
Mostly, I stared at the clock, wishing the minutes would pass faster.
I’d never been the type to rely on a guy.
Well, not more than my brother forced me to.
Specter had a way about him that made you agree with what he was saying, even if you didn’t want to.
Which is why he’d paid for my car, covered my health and car insurance, and until I’d run away, he’d put money into my account every month.
Now I wasn’t just his little sister. I was also Charming’s wife, and soon to be a mother.
My life had changed so much in so little time.
Sometimes, it felt a little surreal. I’d wake up and wonder if I’d dreamed it all, only to realize this was my new normal.
And frankly, it kind of sucked. At least the part where I couldn’t enjoy being the President’s wife and meet the club, make new friends… leave the damn house.
A sound from the kitchen had me setting aside my book and hurrying in that direction.
Just as I crossed the threshold, the door to the backyard swung open, and a man stepped into the house.
I pressed my fingers to my mouth so I wouldn’t scream.
He had on a Devil’s Boneyard cut, so I didn’t think he’d hurt me.
The way he assessed me said he wasn’t surprised to find me in Charming’s house.
Cinder was stitched on his cut. The man looked to be in his sixties or seventies. While there was a hardness to him, I didn’t get a menacing vibe.
“Won’t hurt you,” he said. “Never thought Charming would get married.”
“You know who I am?” I asked, letting my hand fall to my side.
“Know you’re his wife. And you’re in trouble, so he’s decided it’s safer if no one knows you’re here. I understand where he’s coming from. If it were my Meg in trouble, I might be tempted to hide her too.”
“Those women who were outside a while ago…”
He smiled. “Clarity is the VP’s woman and Janessa was with her.
She’s with Irish. They’re concerned because Charming isn’t acting like himself.
I’ll have a talk with them. Not sure how long he can hold them back.
Sooner or later, someone will get nosy enough to get into the house.
I’m not the only one with a key. Havoc has one too. ”
I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. Anyone could just walk in? Why hadn’t Charming told me? It would have been nice to be prepared for an unexpected visit. Maybe then I wouldn’t have been frightened.
“It’s nice to see a face other than my own and Charming’s. I’ve never been stuck inside for so long before, and it’s making me a little crazy.”
“Since I’m aware of your existence, and it seems the prospects are as well, maybe we can work out something with Charming so you can get some conversation with someone other than him.
But I already told him, when all this comes out, I’m going to act like I had no fucking clue what was going on.
This is his circus. He can deal with the fallout. ”
I worried at my lip. “How bad will it be?”
“Depends. He’s lying to the club, but then, he’s been doing that from the start. The fact he came clean about who he truly is might help soften the blow when they find out he’s been hiding a wife too.”
I pressed a hand to my belly. “A pregnant one. I can’t even go see the doctor right now.”
Cinder leaned against the side of the fridge. “That could be a problem. You have prenatal vitamins? Any special appointments coming up?”
“I have vitamins. I was supposed to hear the heartbeat, but I had to leave town. I haven’t even called my doctor. They can’t reach me since they don’t have the number here.”
“Any idea what’s going on with your brother?” he asked. “And yes, I’m aware of who you are. Charming didn’t have to tell me. Being old has some advantages, like being smarter than people give you credit for.”
Was there anything the man didn’t know? I’d thought it might be a problem, Charming keeping me hidden away. He seemed to think he could handle it, but the stress would get to him, eventually. I didn’t know how he was balancing everything.
“Specter is in trouble with the Cartel. That’s all I know. Something about him killing someone important and the man’s wife is now missing. I’m sure my brother took her to keep her safe, but now the Cartel wants her back. They’re willing to use me as a bargaining chip.”