Chapter 36
Gabriella
I don’t know how long we spent at that reservoir, or what had happened in our absence, and to be honest, I didn’t care.
The day had been simplistic and perfect.
After sitting in silence for a while, we’d taken a walk in the fields, dipped our toes in the water, and eventually found ourselves on our backs, our fingers linked, watching the clouds move above us.
We’d visited the old playhouse and laughed at old memories. This was neutral ground, and the playhouse had become a challenge—which club youth division could secure it as their headquarters?
It was abandoned now, but the memories still whispered to us both, reminding us of a life spent together.
It wasn’t anything earth-shattering or overly romantic. But that wasn’t us.
This was us.
This was exactly how we had always been—stolen moments in paradise, leaving the chaos of club life behind us. I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.
Well… we had almost left the chaos behind us.
Vienna was discreet about it, but he was no longer the tear-away teenager I had once loved. He was a fully grown man, vice president of a huge club with responsibilities.
Numerous times he’d checked in with Dante, either through phone call or text. He’d responded to security concerns with Hacksaw and even ran through some numbers with Imogen and some contacts with Riley.
If I asked, he willingly shared information with me, but for the most part he allowed me my ignorance.
He just simply proved to me that underneath all the jokes and annoying behaviour, he was a much needed, valuable member of the Disciples.
One who people came to in times of need.
One who knew what he was doing and had earned his place.
It had almost brought me to tears remembering the teen who had called himself the club stray, now leading at his best friend’s side—where he belonged.
And as the day gave way to evening, Vienna had driven us home, this time taking the city streets and stopping off at a local sweet shop.
He hadn’t let me see what he’d bought, hiding them away in his pocket until we were outside the compound.
Then, he’d pulled the bike to a stop, climbed onto the walls marking the start of the Devil's village and patted the space next to him.
“Bon-bon?” he asked, popping one of the round, pink balls into his mouth.
“You got bon-bons,” I laughed, climbing off the bike and jumping up next to him.
“Bon-bons, white mice, necklaces that taste like shit but make amazing weapons, chocolate raisins, rhubarb and custards, and—”
“Ooh! Give me one of those rhubarb and custards,” I said, not waiting for him to offer and instead digging my hand into the paper packet and picking one out myself.
“Rip the packet, why don’t you?” he laughed at me. I simply swatted his leg in return.
“Heaven!” I sighed, popping it in my mouth and swirling my tongue around it.
Vienna smiled and placed the packet on my knee for me to help myself, and checked his phone, quickly firing off a response to whoever had text him.
“Are you needed?” I asked, feeling slightly guilty that I had taken his attention all day.
“Not right now,” he replied, pocketing his phone.
“But I will need to spend some time with Dante and Hacksaw tonight. There have been some sightings of Nico near Greasy. We thought he might have been making a run for it, so Greg already had the motorway monitored. But he just seemed to linger and then disappear back to wherever he’s hiding.
Greg’s obviously concerned for Beth’s sake, so he’s staying there tonight with Darwin and Liam keeping guard. ”
My stomach twisted as the guilt heightened.
I wasn’t conceited enough to believe this was all about me. I may have been the reason for the Devil’s being involved right now, but there was a long, complicated history between the two clubs that was now coming to a head.
I just hated that I felt like the grenade that had brought it all to exploding point.
“Hey,” Vienna said softly, squeezing my hand. “This isn’t your fault. This—”
“Excuse me.”
We both startled as a small, gentle voice came from nowhere. I looked down to see a small child—no older than seven at the absolute most—tugging on Vienna’s jeans.
He immediately jumped down from the wall and crouched in front of her. She flinched slightly at his nearness and took a step back from him.
Vienna silently held his hand out to me, and I jumped down too, slightly in front of him, and smiled at the girl.
“Hi, darling,” I said softly. “What are you doing out here so late?”
She stumbled slightly, wincing, her legs crossing as she did so. My hand shot out and clutched Vienna’s knee.
Oh no…
Oh dear God, no.
But I knew it. I knew it the second she winced.
I recognised that move. I knew that pain. A pain no child should ever have to know.
“Do you need help, sweetheart?” I said when she didn’t answer. “Where’s your mum?”
The girl looked at Vienna and sobbed softly, her face paling considerably.
“Hey, it’s okay, it’s okay,” I soothed. “He won’t hurt you. This is my friend, Vienna. He looks big, I know, but I promise you, he’s just a giant teddy bear.”
She nodded, looking far from convinced.
“Don’t look at him,” I said, gently nudging Vienna back and creeping closer to the girl. From here I could see the bruising on her arms and the tremble in her legs. “Just look at me, and tell me what’s happened.”
She didn’t answer me, but she did look relieved at having Vienna step back. I slowly reached out for her and took her hand in mine.
She looked down at the contact, seeming shocked that someone would comfort her, and I felt my heart break all over again.
“Do you need help? Can you tell me where your mum is?” I tried again.
“Mum said…” she began, sniffing back her tears.
“What did your mum say, sweetheart?” I asked, shuffling slightly closer to her, noting more bruises on her face and arms as I did so.
“Mum said find the bikes,” she replied, her voice so soft I wasn’t sure I’d heard her.
“Find the bikes?” I asked. “What bikes?”
“Find the bike men. The bike men in the village,” she said.
“Does your mum need help, sweetheart?” Vienna asked.
The girl flinched at his voice. “I am one of the bikers, darling. And I will help your mummy, I promise. But I need you to trust me a little bit first, can you do that? Can you talk to me and let me know where she is and what’s happened so me and my friends can help you? ”
The little girl paused and glanced at me. I nodded, and she took a deep breath before saying, “He hurt me again. Mummy told him to stop, and now he’s hurting her.”
It hadn’t taken long for Vienna to spring into action.
After asking the little girl her name—Kourtney—he’d stepped away and put in a call to Dante.
When he came back, he explained that he was taking her to his home, with Rachel and the children, and that she would be safe.
She seemed to relax then. I don’t know what made her stop fearing him, but when he asked if he could pick her up, she’d raised her arms and allowed him to scoop her up gently and carry her through the compound.
I’d taken his bike without needing to be asked, making Kourtney laugh as I beeped the horn or gently bumped it into Vienna’s legs, where he did a dramatic stumble and told Kourtney she would need to carry him.
The second we arrived at the clubhouse, everyone had been ordered out. And no one—I mean no one—questioned Rachel’s authority once. They scrambled, leaving only us three, plus Rachel, Dante, and little Bee.
“Right, darling,” Dante said, once Kourtney was settled in one of the booths, a blanket over her shoulders and some medicine given to help with the pain.
Bee sat next to her, sharing an ice cream bowl, one arm around Kourtney’s shoulders.
“I know this is confusing for you. I know it’s scary, but I promise you, you’re safe.
But I need you to do something really brave for me and try to answer my questions.
Do you think you can do that?” Dante asked, sitting at the other side of the booth, careful not to let any of his body come too close to her.
Kourtney hesitated, her eyes growing wild and scanning the room as though she felt trapped.
“It’s okay. That’s my daddy,” Bee whispered, squeezing her shoulder and nodding towards Dante.
“Okay,” Kourtney nodded, seeming to trust her new friend. Bee squeezed her shoulders and smiled.
“Thank you,” Dante smiled. “So where is your mummy now? Can you remember?”
“Home.”
“And where is that darling, do you know your address?”
Kourtney shook her head.
“That’s okay. But we want to bring your mummy here and make sure she is safe with you. Can you remember where you go to school?”
“She goes to my school, Daddy,” Bee whispered, though she stumbled over some of the words, her voice no longer coming naturally to her.
“On it,” Rachel whispered, walking away and pulling out her phone.
“We can ask school for your address, Kourtney, it’s okay,” Dante reassured her. “You may have seen our nanny, Heather, dropping Bee off sometimes?”
He was trying to make the club more familiar to her, to earn her trust, but unfortunately Kourtney shook her head.
“That’s okay. So, I need to ask one more scary question, and it’s okay if you need time to answer. But who is at your house, darling? Who is with your mum?”
Kourtney shook her head faster, her small body beginning to shake.
“You’re safe, Kourtney. No one can hurt you here, I promise. But we want your mummy safe here, too.”
“Mummy’s boyfriend,” Kourtney whispered.
“Mummy’s boyfriend,” Dante repeated softly. “And do you know where your daddy is?”
Kourtney sobbed quietly.
“My mummy died,” Bee told her. “I don’t know her, either. But I have Rachel. It’s okay.”
I think I fell in love with that little girl then.
How did someone so young understand something so complicated?
I’d have to check with Vienna, but I’m sure Bee was only eight or so. And to have this level of maturity was astounding. But then again, I also knew what she’d been through herself.
“My daddy isn’t here,” Kourtney replied simply.