Chapter Twenty-Two #2
“Zeus is on the phone still. He’s not done searchin’.
He sent me over a ton of files on this bitch Karmen Monroe.
Wren lived with her for about nine months.
She would hand over cash to Karmen who used her checkin’ account to pay the bills.
For a while, everythin’ was goin’ as was stated in the lease Wren signed to sublet the room she had.
The apartment is rundown and owned by a slumlord.
He doesn’t ever make repairs and only shows up to collect rent.
About four months ago, Karmen stopped payin’ the bills.
The only time she ever sent money was when she’d get a shutoff notice for one of the utilities.
Karmen paid the minimum balance and took the rest of the money to spend on herself.
“Karmen has never had a job in her life and is pictured with several men from the time she was eighteen years old. She frequents strip clubs, bars, casinos, and anywhere guys spend time at. She’s never spotted with the same man longer than a few weeks.
She gets them to take her on vacations, spend money on whatever she wants, and steals from them before movin’ on to the next victim.
Five years she’s been doin’ the same shit and has perfected usin’ everyone around her.
Wren was another victim and she didn’t realize it until it was too late,” Ice informs us and for the first time I want to put hands on a woman who treated Wren like shit.
“I’ve found the camera link for what she installed in Wren’s room.
Set everythin’ up in her name like a fuckin’ moron,” Zeus speaks up from Ice’s phone.
“She watched Wren for about six months. Changed out the cameras every month on the same day each time. It was always when Wren was out of the apartment. Most of the footage is borin’ as hell.
Karmen was watchin’ her to see where Wren hid her money and other valuables.
Wren doesn’t have much, but what she does have, she protected the best she could.
“When Wren would sleep at night or durin’ the day dependin’ on the job she had at the time, that’s when Karmen would make her move.
Wren took her money with her and didn’t leave anythin’ behind when she left the apartment.
She already didn’t trust Karmen. Karmen would go into Wren's room and steal money from her. She wouldn’t take it all at once, leavin’ about half of what Wren had stashed away each time.
There’s no way in hell Wren didn’t know what was happenin’ but she didn’t do anythin’ about it.
“Right now, I’m searchin’ the dark web for any more information on this bitch.
She hangs out with a bad crowd. Pimps, a few lower-level mafia guys, and anyone who can get her what she needs.
I’m also lookin’ into her previous roommate to find out what happened there.
For now, I’m gonna get off the phone and I’ll let you know when I find more information.
I’ll keep sendin’ it to Ice so he can show you,” Zeus says before hanging up the phone as we all look to Ice.
“How the fuck did the bitch get on the compound to begin with?” I ask Ice as he leans back in his chair. “Who the fuck is on the gate?”
“Nate’s on the gate. I already went out to talk to him,” Carver says as I turn my attention to him.
“Said the bitch came up to the gate and called him over. When he asked if she was lost or needed help, she told him no. She was there for Wren. They were supposed to meet up so they could go out for lunch. Karmen told him Wren told her specifically to meet her here at the clubhouse. Nate didn’t realize she was lyin’ to him and let her inside.
He knows he fucked-up and is waitin’ on your punishment. ”
“What about the two guys who came in to take Wren?” Fury questions Carver.
“There’s actually three guys. One of them held Nate at gunpoint until they had Wren loaded up in a car.
He still had the gun pointin’ at Nate until he was in the car and they were leavin’.
Nate couldn’t have done anythin’ if he wanted to.
Not with Wren’s safety and his own life on the line.
We all would have stood down the same way Zach and him did,” Carver says as a few guys nod in response to his statement because he’s not wrong.
We would have stood down until we found an opening before making a move with as little risk to others as possible.
“Fuck! Is this the first time this bitch has gotten in contact with Wren since the eviction?” I ask, remembering someone vaguely mentioning that before today.
“As far as we can tell, yeah. I believe Karmen has been lookin’ for Wren, but her leavin’ Briar Glen actually saved her in a way.
Today it was just dumb luck that she happened to see Wren and the guys leavin’ the doctor’s office,” Ice answers as I lean forward and fold my arms before resting them on the table in front of me.
“Okay. I want guys out searchin’ around the clock for any sign of Wren or this Karmen bitch.
Ice, I want you to make sure everyone has a recent picture of Karmen so they know who to look for.
She’s to be brought in but not harmed. We’ll bring someone in for that shit.
If anyone finds Wren, you’re to observe while callin’ one of us at the clubhouse.
I want three guys here at all times waitin’ on phone calls.
We’ll put a plan in place. No one is to barge in to save Wren.
That places her at a higher risk and I refuse to let that happen.
Tristan and Zach, you stay here with us.
You’re too emotional right now to be on the road.
Don’t make me lock you down,” I order before slamming the gavel on the table and calling church.
Everyone leaves the room while I remain in my seat.
Fury, Tristan, Zach, and my brothers all remain in church as the room empties of everyone else.
I don’t want to sit in the common room where the Rebels are.
One of them will say or do somethin’ stupid and I’ll lose my shit.
I’m barely hanging on to my sanity as it is.
None of us speak as we wait for any news about Wren and where she is.
I let images of her play on a loop in my mind as I relive the few moments I’ve been lucky enough to share with her.
When you come home, things will be different. You’re mine, Little Bird. It’s taken me losing you to realize I can’t live my life without you. I silently vow to the woman who has no clue how I truly feel about her.