Chapter Twenty-Seven
Grim
Fuck, it's been a long ass day. My shift was supposed to end two hours ago, but we had a multi-car pile-up accident on the freeway. The injuries kept us busy for a while. I sigh, walking out of the hospital and heading for my bike. I look at my phone, and see a text from Jade.
Clover: I got off a little early today. Heading home for a bath and bed. Meet you in it later ;)
A smile takes over my face at her message. I quickly replied, letting her know I just got off but was headed her way. I don't wait for the reply. She may already be asleep. She’s been so exhausted; lately I want her to get as much rest as she possibly can. It won't be long before the baby comes and we will both be walking zombies. That brings a bigger smile to my face. I can't wait to meet our baby girl.
I throw my leg over my bike and prepare for the short drive home. I frown when I reach the house and open the garage door. Jade's car’s not here. What the hell? I make my way inside, but it's empty. I can feel her lack of presence when I walk through the door, but I still check every room to be sure, calling out her name. Alright, don't panic. Sometimes she stops by the clubhouse to see the women. Maybe she’s there. I check my phone as I run out of the house and jump back on my bike. Still nothing from Jade. She usually responds by now. Maybe she fell asleep in our room at the clubhouse. I make it to the compound and barely have the kickstand down before I hop off and rush inside. Something doesn't feel right. I can't put my finger on it, but something in my gut says she’s not here either. I rush in the doors and see Loki, Swift, and Rodeo sitting by the pool tables in the back.
“Have any of you seen Jade?” I yell, not slowing my pace as I rush toward the hall in the back where our room is located. I hear them shout they haven't seen her, and when I open the door to our room and my eyes take in the empty bed with no sign of her, I nearly fall to my knees. I hear my brothers come up behind me and whip my head around them.
“Something’s wrong. I can't find Jade anywhere. She sent me a text five hours ago saying she got off early and was heading home, but she isn't there. I checked the whole fucking house. Is she with your wives?” I ask, looking at Loki and Swift in a panic.
“No, Piper had a dentist appointment, so Izzy has Jett and Knox in the playroom alone,” Swift says, brows furrowed. I turn to Loki.
“Rae and Paisley had dance, so Halle and Sunny are there with them. Rome is in the garage with Grease, and I haven't seen anyone else around here,” Loki says, shaking his head.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck. I don't know what to do. She’s not here. I don't know who to call. Fuck!” I say, pulling at my hair. I’m so fucking lost. I don't know what to do.
“Did she maybe ride by her mom's house?” Swift asks. I know her mom was probably still at the shop when she left, so I doubt it, but I decide to call her anyway.
“Hello, sweet future son of mine,” she answers. Any other time I would smile, Jade's mom has made me feel like a part of the family since day one. She’s been calling me her son, and I won't lie and say it doesn't have an effect me.
“Hey, Mama,” I say as she insists I call her. I love it more than she knows. “Have you seen or heard from Jade? She texted me when she left early and said she was heading home, but she’s not here or at the compound.”
“No baby, I haven't seen her since she left,” she says, and I can hear the note of fear in her voice.
“Okay, I am going to find her. I’ll call you when I have an update,” I say.
“You better, Gray Adams. The minute you find my baby, I expect to know about it,” she tells me, and I agree before hanging up. I look at my brothers and shake my head before going back to pacing. Where else could she be? I don’t know what the fuck to do or how to find her. Then it clicks. Her ring. I made sure there was a tracker in her ring and cut when I gave them to her. I know she doesn't wear the cut everywhere, but she never takes the ring off.
“Comp,” I say, finally thinking clearly. I look at Swift, Loki, and Rodeo. “Comp should be able to find her. I have a tracker in her ring.
We rush down the hall until we reach Comp’s office. Luckily he’s there, and his head is already deep into whatever he’s doing on his computer. He looks up when we rush in, eyebrows drawn down in confusion.
“What’s going on?” He asks, sitting up straight.
“Jade. She texted me earlier that she was leaving work and heading home. She isn't home, she’s not here, and she isn't with the woman. We put that tracker in her ring. Can you pull it up?” I rush out. His fingers are flying across the keys before I even finish.
“Of course, brother. Just give me oonnneee…. Got it. It says she’s off on Nomen Avenue. About halfway between here and her mama's shop. It doesn't look like it's moving, though,” He says, but the guys and I are already moving out of the office.
We rush outside, Comp joining us, and hop on our bikes. I don't wait for Prez. I take off to where she is chanting in my head as prayer. Please let her be safe. Please let her be safe. It takes less than eight minutes, and I nearly lay my bike down when I get my first glimpse of her car. What the fuck happened? The car is lying square, but it has obviously been rolled a few times. It's beaten up, and the back window is busted out. I rush toward the car, afraid of what I might find, but as I get closer, I see the car is empty. Jade is nowhere in sight. What I do see is blood on the driver's window. I drop to my knees right there on the side of the road.
“No,” I say simply. My heart feels like it's being ripped to shreds, no, please. I can't lose anyone else.
“Get the fuck up, brother. If she isn't here, then that means we get to go for a little hunt,” Loki says, pulling his knife from his back sheath and turning the handle, so the blade runs up his wrist. He’s ready for fucking war. I steal my emotions, get to my feet, and let out a savage roar.
“We will find her brother. No other option,” Swift says, clapping me on my back.
“That is if Jade hasn't cut off a few of their body parts before we get there,” Rodeo says, turning and heading toward his bike with the rest of us after we all inspected the car. We found absolutely fucking nothing other than that whatever hit her from behind was a black vehicle. It left black paint all over the back. We found her phone under the passenger seat smashed to pieces, her ring was in the driver's seat, and her purse and the contents spread all around.
“I have no clue how to track her, where to look, or who might have done this. What the fuck are we going to do?” I ask once we reach the group.
“We are going back to the compound, calling all the brothers in for church and figuring out our next move. If I have to call in a few favors, I fucking will,” Swift says, mounting his bike and starting it up. We all follow, and before long, we, as well as every member of the Reckless Omens, are in church trying to come up with a plan.
“We have been going at this for an hour now, and we are no closer to finding her than when we fucking got here,” I shout, slamming my fist down on the table.
“I’ll call Ghost to see if he…” Before swift can finish, the door bursts open, and all the women are standing in the doorway. Swift rolls his eyes and throws his hands in the air.
“What the fuck. Does “Church” and “Club business” mean nothing to you women?” He says, exasperated. This is the second time one of them has burst in, and Swift usually goes lenient on the because it's always something really important. They never just burst in here for no reason.
“Club business? Are you fucking kidding me? One of ours is missing, so if you don't mind, I’m going to ignore that Alpha male babble bullshit at the moment,” Halle yells out.
“Have you come up with anything yet?” Piper asks.
“Are y'all close to finding her,” Izzy says as tears track down her face.
“You have to bring her home. She’s so close to her due date,” Sunny says. They all chime in one right after the other, so it's impossible for anyone to answer individually.
“We don't have anything yet, but we are working on it,” Swift tells them, sighing.
“Did she have the vest?” Halle calls out, turning her frantic, crazy eyes on me.
“What?” I ask, not understanding.
“The baby vest! Did she have the baby vest with her?” Halle asks again impatiently.
“She always carried it with her in her purse. Her purse was dumped out, but I don't recall seeing the vest in the car. Why?” I ask, confused. Halle gives me a worried look but straightens her spine and speaks.
“You may think it's crazy, but I put a tracker in the baby's vest. Rome and Rae both have one in theirs as well. After seeing that bitch nearly take Paisley, I couldn't take my chances with the kids.”
“Paisley has trackers in her shoes,” Comp speaks up, shrugging his shoulders, not caring one bit what anyone thinks about him tracking his kid. Honestly, it's the best fucking idea I’ve ever heard.
“You tracked the vest for my baby?” I ask, turning to Halle. She eyes me suspiciously, and I hear a growl from Loki, knowing he thinks I'm going to be pissed at his woman. I’m not, though. I get out of my seat and walk straight to her, pulling her in for a tight hug.
“Thank you for trying to keep my baby safe,” I whisper before placing a small peck on the top of her head. Another growl comes from my side.
“Brother, if you don't want to have that ass argument again and figure out exactly what I’m planning with it, you should release my woman. Now,” Loki warns. I smirk down at Halle before rolling my eyes. Only for a second until my game face is back on.
“How do we track her?” I ask. Halle smiles evilly and I know, no matter what. We will be bringing my women home.