Chapter 24
To say Val was shocked by the news of Simeon being here in Longford was the least of it.
The tracker Sage had planted on the man was working. It appeared that he was spending the last two days getting ready to kidnap Val. Simeon made stops at the hardware store, the gun shop, and then headed to the only local ATM machine to withdraw cash. A lot of it. He was staying at the the Longford Inn, the only motel within a ten-mile radius, near highway 101, just outside of the town proper. It was used mainly by truckers and local sex workers.
Simeon hardly left the motel yesterday and Dante’s surveillance told them why.
This morning, Dante had taken pictures as a man and a woman left Simeon’s motel room. According to Jesse and Xander, they recognized the couple. They partied with the Hellraisers a lot and were known sex workers.
And it made Val wonder, when all this was over, would Jess and Xander go back to that? Was she just a fun time to them, a diversion? Would Xan and Jess kick her out when they were done with her and go back to their random?
Her gut told her no, but now her head was full of doubts.
The past few days, it felt like they were in as deep as she was. They’d hardly left Jesse’s place, except to take the dogs out and get some fresh air. Other than that, her and Xander and Jesse spent the entire time in bed, exploring each other. And it wasn’t just sex. Val cooked, they shared meals, and talked late into the night. She wanted a real relationship with these men, but now she wondered if they wanted the same.
But there was no time to worry about that. Today was the day. Val needed all her focus on their plan. To get Simeon. To remove him from her life for good. At the back of her mind, she always worried that her past would come back to haunt her. And she was done with that. Val had a new life now and she was only looking forward.
And did she feel guilty about the fact that she was conspiring to seal Simeon’s fate? She should have, but she didn’t. Because she knew that evil lived inside that man. And with him gone, maybe some of the other members back in Mosley could start over too. Be free of his authoritarian rule. Val often thought about her sister, Annika. She wondered what Annika was doing now, was she married with kids, was she still living on the farm?
Val had an opportunity, once they captured Simeon, to find out. And she wanted the whole truth. Only then, could she let go of the past and bury it forever.
“Here’s the plan,” Jesse announced as they sat in the clubhouse. “We get ready to head out to Drumheller tonight. Thanks to Sage’s idea, Simeon will likely approach the front gate and try to bribe us to hand Val over. We’ll laugh at the amount of money he’s offering, take it anyway, and nab him. We’ll have guys hidden across the road and around the perimeter just in case he somehow does a runner.”
“I want to speak to him once he’s caught,” Val added.
Xander shook his head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“I need answers. I want to know what happened to my sister, Annika. I know I ran from my family, and most of it wasn’t good, but I still wonder and worry.”
“What if he refuses to talk?” Jesse asked. “Sonny has a way of getting people to speak, but it ain’t pretty. You gotta be prepared for that.”
Val nodded. She’d heard enough from Avery about Sonny’s job in the club. The enforcer. He did whatever was necessary to get people to tell the truth.
“I think it’s only fair given the abuse Simeon levelled at his followers for so many years. And I don’t think I saw the half of it. Many people went into reparations and were never seen again. Now I wonder, if he killed them. I should feel bad about this, but I don’t,” she sighed. “Does that make me a bad person? I don’t know anymore.”
Jess and Xander held onto her.
“From what you’ve told us about Holy Sacrifice, the abuse, I’d say he deserves punishment,” Jesse replied.
Xander nodded and squeezed her waist. “And I’m sure he’s got more skeletons in his closet. He’s a manipulator, and a liar, and that’s dangerous.”
Val nodded.
“Meantime, we gotta get our shit ready for our trip to Drumheller,” Gage interrupted. “Let’s do this.”
Xander and Jesse headed off with Gage and most of the crew, while Val stayed behind with Avery and Rochelle. She’d grown close to the women over the past week and considered them friends.
“So, you and Xan and Jesse?” Avery commented as they sat around the kitchen island. “How’s that working out?”
Val’s face reddened but she smiled back at Avery. “I think I’m in love with them.”
Rochelle dropped the pan she was holding, and the loud clatter made Val jump.
“For real? Have you told them?”
Val shook her head. “I don’t think they want to hear that. In fact, once we’re done with catching Simeon, I’m not sure if they’ll want me around.”
“Are you kidding me?” Avery scoffed. “The two of them have it bad. Honey, they haven’t let you out of their sight and trust me, I grew up here. I know them. They’ve fallen just as hard. But don’t expect them to admit it.”
“Avery’s right,” Rochelle added. “But don’t expect flowers and poems. These are bikers. They’ll grunt and throw you over their shoulder to show they care.”
“We’ve been having unprotected sex,” Val blurted out.
It was the first time she’d seen Avery at a loss for words.
“Are you on the pill?” Rochelle asked.
Val shook her head. “I know, I know, it’s crazy. I can’t explain it. I just, it didn’t feel right to me. Not with them.”
“Looks like we may be adding to the Hellion Hellraiser family again,” Avery teased.
“What if I’m mistaken,” Val admitted. “Jesse told me about the parties. What if they want that? Sex with other people? I don’t want that.”
“You gotta be honest. But be prepared for their answer,” Rochelle replied. “I’ve never known either Jesse or Xander to want monogamy. Then again, I’ve never seen them gaga over a woman either. They might just surprise you. God knows, Nate surprised me.”
“Sonny too,” Avery said with a big smile. “That man is cold as ice with everyone except with me. And we still go to the parties but he only parties with me.”
Val nodded. “I never thought I’d fall in love like this, and not with two men. I feel so full of confidence one moment and then uncertain in the same breadth.”
“Here’s a tip if you really want to see where Xan and Jesse’s heads are at,” Avery replied. “If, after today, they want to cool things, accept it. They’re probably going to freak out and realize how much you mean to them, but they might try to push you away. I know from experience. You gotta let them. If they love you, they’ll realize what dumbasses they are and come back to you. They’ll fight for you.”
Val nodded, understanding. “You’re right. And I need to figure out what’s next for me. With or without Xan and Jesse. I love working at the diner, but I was thinking that I’d like to train to be a nurse. I’d have to go back to school, but I can do it.”
“I think that’s a great idea,” Rochelle smiled at her. “Maybe you can help with my delivery? And Avery’s? It would be good training.”
“You’re having the babies here?”
Both women nodded. “With Jesse’s help, as long as there’s no health issues.”
“I’d be honored to be a part of that, thank you.”
Val’s earlier fears receded, and a new hope bloomed inside her.
“Now, let’s get dinner ready,” Rochelle stated as she turned to the fridge. “The guys will want a big meal before they go hunting.”
“How about I do the prep work and you and Avery rest?” Val offered.
“How about we all work together? I need to walk around for a bit,” Rochelle explained. “This boy is kicking up a storm in my belly and my back aches something fierce today. Just when I started to feel better.”
“When are you due?”
“One week.”
“Have you had any contractions?”
Rochelle shook her head. “I don’t think so. Twinges her and there, but I’m assuming that’s just the aftereffects of the flu I had. It feels like period cramps.”
Val looked at Avery and then back at Rochelle. “The women in my religion always had home births and I helped out with quite a few. Sudden back pain and cramps are a sign that you might be ready to deliver soon.”
Rochelle quickly grabbed hold of her belly and sat down on one of the stools. “Are you sure?”
“It could be days, though,” Val quickly reassured her. “And I’m no doctor, so don’t take my word for it. Have Jesse check you out before he leaves.”
But Val had a feeling she was right. And the timing couldn’t be helped.
One thing she knew for sure, the drama was just beginning.