Chapter Seventeen
Zion
It’s a risk coming to the ville now that we have Amirah. Hell, it always is, but I need to see my daughter. I have to know she’s safe. To see her with my own eyes. I can’t relax until I do.
The rumble of a car comes down the driveway, and I stay hidden behind the tree until Callan leaves. I check around the quiet street one last time before I move, flicking my hood over my head. My eyes are cast down until I reach the gate, then I open the latch and move toward the backyard.
My heart feels like it’s about to explode, and it won’t settle until I see her. Voices get louder from in front of me, and I keep moving till I reach the end of the brick house. I peer around and my shoulders drop.
There she is—my little girl sitting on a bright-pink picnic blanket near the pool fence, playing with her doll, mumbling words.
The smile on her face brings me to life.
She’s my world, and everything I do is for her.
To make sure she’s protected, that nothing can touch her.
She’s already been through hell, and I want to replace all those memories with love and happiness so she knows nothing bad about this life.
She deserves to only see the good. To live in her own little fairy tale.
When I look at Cleo, it’s like I’m staring back at Lauren, and it kills me. I still remember the night that changed everything for us—when I lost them both.
I step away from the house, and Cleo’s gaze meets mine. Her smile widens, and she drops her doll and runs over to me. Her blonde hair flies with the wind. I kneel down and she falls into my waiting arms. Her little hands clasp around my neck, her strawberry scent calming my racing heart.
She pulls back. “Z, play with me?” she asks, looking up at me with her blue eyes, her hair falling into her eyes.
She looks so much like me—her hair, her cheeks, her lips—but her eyes are her mother’s, and fucking hell, it kills me that I’ll never be able to see her mother again. Does Cleo know that her mom is gone?
I swallow past the lump in my throat. I can’t think about that now. I need to be with Cleo.
“Dollies?” she asks, angling her head toward the mat.
I could never tell Cleo no. I’ll always give her everything I can just to see her smile. I don’t have much, but anything I do have is for her.
I take her hand, and she pulls me back over to the picnic blanket with all her toys. I pick up one of her dolls and start playing along with her. Cleo’s four-year-old mind is full of imagination—I love it.
“Who’s this pretty lady?” I ask, pointing at the crazy-haired doll in her little hand.
“Molly, and yours is Sky,” she says, moving Molly over to Sky. “Can we be friends?” she asks.
I smile. This, being here with her, is everything. “Of course,” I say in the girliest voice I can, and soon our two dolls are off to a dance recital together, swirling and twirling in front of the hydrangeas.
Time vanishes as I play with my girl.
The back door slams shut. Natalie, Cleo’s babysitter, stands on the back patio and waves me over. I press a kiss against Cleo’s head, and she continues playing.
Natalie passes me a soft drink, and I take it.
“Does she know?” I ask, and Natalie sighs, leaning back against the house. I pop the top and take a swig.
“She keeps asking why she won’t come back, and I have no idea what to tell her. How do you explain death to a kid? It’s all so new. Fresh. It only happened three weeks ago. It breaks my heart,” Natalie says, watching Cleo play.
My heart hasn’t fully comprehended that the mother of my child is gone.
Our relationship ended a long time ago, but I always kept a place for her in my heart.
I couldn’t give her much, but I could give her a chance at a good life.
Daringville was supposed to be safe—the better choice. Now look how that’s fucking played out.
“You need to make sure she stays protected at all costs until I can figure out what to do,” I say.
I can’t leave Cleo here forever, not now that Lauren’s gone, but I need time to set up a house for her.
And I need a plan for someone to care for her, too, while I’m out at work or fighting the war to keep the Hood safe.
“Always, but you have to know that it’s getting harder to get you here. Callan has more security. People I don’t know hanging around. I can’t risk it,” Natalie says.
I crunch the can in my hand and throw it to the ground. Fuck. I need to see my daughter. To spend time with her. It gives me a reason to breathe. To know she’s okay. Safe.
She’s here because I wanted a better life for her, but now that her mother is gone, I’m not sure this is the best place for her. I won’t let him raise her by himself. He’s never here; he doesn’t love her like I do. If he has her, it’s going to make it harder for me to see her too.
“I can’t not see my daughter,” I snap.
Natalie nods. “I know, but I can’t exactly risk him finding out. Then you’ll never see her again. Hell, I’m just grateful I’m still her babysitter.”
“I am too. I have to go, but promise me you’ll keep me updated and keep her safe. Please?”
Natalie nods, and I leave after kissing Cleo goodbye, praying that I’ll still be able to visit her.
From what Lauren told me about Callan, he treated them well.
Gave them everything they need, which is more than I could’ve done.
But he didn’t raise my girl, Lauren did, and now that she’s gone, how can I guarantee Cleo’s safety?
I’m going to lose my mind worrying about her.
I sneak down the street, looking back over my shoulder and around me. A car drives past, and I hold my breath until it’s in the distance. I’m risking my life being here. Someone could recognize me, then it’s over.
I’m a block out from the tracks. Hiding behind the trees, I move from one to the other, my throat dry, my heart pounding.
I need to get back home. I step out from the safety of the tree line, about to run, then a car with tinted windows flies past and screeches to a halt in front of the tracks, stopping a car coming the other way. Fuck. I jump back behind the tree.
Two guys get out, guns strapped to their thighs. Brotherhood soldiers. One slams his fist down on the hood of the now-still car.
“Get out!” he yells, and the driver of the other car obeys, getting out and placing his hands on the roof of the car. The Brotherhood soldiers move around, opening the trunk.
I inch closer, but not too close.
“Have you seen this girl, Amirah Ledger?” one soldier asks the guy who was driving the car, showing him his phone.
Shit. I’ve seen her. I wish I fucking hadn’t, though.
The guy shakes his head.
“What’s your business here?” the soldier asks.
While they are distracted, I move through the tree line until I’m a block away. Then I run as fast as I can back over the tracks, slipping through a gap in the fence when the guards turn their backs. I don’t stop until I reach my car a block away.
I slide into my old BMW and warm up the engine before reversing out and onto the street, heading straight for Bear’s place.
I hate leaving Cleo. It was easier when her mother was here just three short weeks ago.
She gave us time together, but now everything is different.
She’s gone, and it’s getting harder to make arrangements to see Cleo.
I won’t stop trying, and I won’t allow Callan to abandon her.
They are searching high and low for Amirah, and it won’t be long until they’re blowing down our door.
She’s been with us a week, and I’ve spent every moment I can watching her through the cameras. At first, I just wanted to make sure she didn’t escape and run back to Daringville and tell them all our secrets, but now it’s become more than that.
I want to watch her, to see what she does next.
I’m fixated on her, and that confuses the fuck out of me.
I never wanted this—to capture someone and hold them against their will.
It’s not right. But once Kai mentioned Cleo in front of her, all bets were off.
I can’t risk anyone finding out that Cleo is mine.
If they do, death would probably be a better option than whatever punishment they would give my daughter simply for being mine.
I head through the entrance, waving to Derek, who’s seated there, and pull to a stop next to Bear’s motorcycle.
I hop out, bringing my backpack with me.
The amusement park is illuminated by the bright, colorful lights beaming through the night.
He’s always got this place lit up like a fucking Christmas tree.
The gravel crunches under my boots as I move toward the latch door leading me into Bear’s living room. The room’s dim light comes from the corner, where Bear is sitting in front of the laptop. His shirt is off, his pants are down, and his hand is wrapped around his cock.
“What the fuck?” I growl, but he doesn’t even acknowledge me.
He keeps going until he groans and cum rolls between his fingers. Then he cleans himself up with some tissues before tucking himself away and slumping back in the chair.
“Where’s Kai?” I ask.
Bear scoffs. “I’m not his mother.”
“Well, he sure as shit seems to be treating this place like his home since Amirah came to stay,” I mutter. He’s practically moved in.
“Now I feel better. Well, it would be better if my cock was inside the princess, but this will do.” Bear sighs, still focused on the computer screen, and I roll my eyes, moving closer.
My best friend is a lunatic. It doesn’t surprise me that he’s obsessed with Amirah Ledger. When something challenges him, it’s all he can focus on until he masters it—or breaks it.
Amirah is curled up on the bed, facing the camera, her knees tucked in, and her long, dark hair is matted and greasy, covering half her face. She looks broken and my chest tightens. Where’s that fire in her eyes that she had before? It’s gone. She’s fading away.
“They’re looking for her. Saw the patrol on the tracks,” I say.
Bear shrugs. “Thought they’d be here sooner. They obviously don’t care about her that much.”
“Maybe your story about her being at Berkeley was enough to throw them off our scent.”
“That, and I heard Spider say they’ve been going undercover in the diner downtown. Fucking idiots. Like she’d just be hanging out behind the counter.”
I shake my head. But for once, maybe Bear’s creepy theme park is doing us a favor. No one would ever think we’d keep her in the most well-lit, obvious location in the Hood. I don’t even know if Freya understands how much time Bear spends here. We’re hiding the princess in plain sight.
I look back at the camera, and Amirah is in the same position. “Did she take a shower today?” I ask and Bear gets up off the chair.
“She still refuses to, but I’m happy to force her in there, if you’d like.” The corner of his mouth lifts and his eyes glisten.
I grip the edge of the wooden chair, staring at the screen. She’s staring right at me through the camera, like she knows I’m here, watching her. Is someone watching my daughter right now? What would I want for her if she was in this situation?
“No, I’ll do it,” I say, before moving away.
“Aww, no fun. Maybe we can together?”
“No,” I grunt.
“I’ll make—” Bear’s words follow me out of the room and into the maze of his fun house.
I need to do this for her. To give her something and build a little trust between us.
She knows about Cleo and I don’t want to risk her safety.
I’d go to hell and back for Cleo, and I won’t let The Brotherhood princess escape and sacrifice my daughter.
I need her to understand the consequences.
Cleo is my number one priority; everything I do is to make her life better.
I reach the door to Amirah’s room and enter the code on the keypad Kai had one of our friends install. The lock beeps before the door clicks, and I push it open.
Amirah sits up on her bed, her eyes cautious, scanning me up and down.
She tucks her hair behind her ear. She’s wearing what looks like Bear’s black hoodie.
It rises, showing off her toned stomach and the top of her lacy underwear.
My cock twitches inside my briefs, but I ignore it. She won’t distract me.
“What do you want?” Amirah asks, her voice lined with a little bite. She isn’t completely broken yet.
“You need to shower,” I say, and Amirah shakes her head.
“Yeah, not happening.” Amirah bunches up her hair and ties it behind her back.
Her cheeks are starting to hollow out. Her plate on the small table beside her bed looks barely touched. Anger boils up inside me. How long has it been since she’s eaten? A day? Has she refused all of our food? Is she worried we’ve tampered with her meals? What a waste.
“You don’t have a choice in the matter. I can either take you kicking and screaming, or would you prefer to go yourself?”
Amirah watches me closely, her eyes turning into slits. That fire is still there.
I step forward, to the end of the bed. She shuffles closer to the wall, creating more distance between us.
“Leave me alone,” she growls, and I shake my head.
“Not happening. I’m not leaving until you’ve taken a shower and eaten the rest of that.”
She watches me closely, her gaze heavy. I don’t look away. She huffs. “I’m not moving.”
I brace my hands on the blanket, close to her legs. “And I’m not playing around.”
I grab her thighs and she screams. Her fists slam into my chest.