Chapter Twenty-Six
“We will see you soon, Mr. Burk. Drive safe now,” I tell the customer before I hang up.
Sighing, I look down at my desk and check off another task.
All jobs done have had their owners called. Cool. Now, on to entering parts invoices, the one thing I hate more than anything else.
The sound of sirens in the distance catches my attention, but I don’t pay any attention to it as I open the program I need on the computer.
“What the hell?” Smoke mutters as he walks out of his office.
“What?” I ask, pulling my attention away from the computer.
“The sirens are getting closer,” he says as he steps outside.
Pushing my chair back, I stand and go join him, along with the other employees who make their way outside.
Mac comes to stand next to me as my heart begins to race. A feeling of dread runs through me when they turn onto our drive.
“Son of a bitch,” Smoke mutters.
Gunner reaches out and wraps his hand around my shoulders in an attempt to keep me grounded.
My head goes light as four cops get out of their cars. One of them looks over at Smoke and nods before they all turn their attention to me.
“Are you Jane Anderson?” one of the cops asks.
“No?”
I don’t know why I answer it like it’s a question, but I do.
“You look like the woman on this driver’s license, and her name is Jane Anderson. Where are the kids?” another cop asks.
I tense at the mention of my kids.
Evan. This has Evan all over it.
Oh god. He’s going after them. Not because he wants them, but because it’s an easy way to get to me. They will give the kids to him while I’m locked up, and who knows what he will do to them before I get out.
When I look over at the cop who asked, I flinch at the look of disdain on his face. It’s almost as if he thinks I’m the gum on the bottom of his shoe.
Before I can even think of something to say, Mac steps in.
“She won’t be answering any of your questions. You can talk to her lawyer,” he says.
The asshole cop scoffs.
“Don’t make this harder than it has to be,” the first cop says.
I look over his shoulder and see the other two policemen looking extremely uncomfortable.
“Enough of this bullshit. Jane Anderson, you’re under arrest for kidnapping and parental alienation,” the asshole cop says as he steps forward.
My body is locked in fear as he puts the cuffs on my wrists.
I should have run. I should have left when I had the chance.
Mac steps in front of me, making me look up at him.
“Don’t say anything. Understand? I’ll be right behind you with the lawyer,” he tells me.
The asshole cop jerks on my cuffs and pushes me forward, making me walk toward his car.
I don’t even care about myself. I need to get the kids out of here. I look at Mac and beg him with my eyes to do something for the kids. Hide them and never let him get to them again. I don’t know if he sees it or not, but he nods at me.
“Stay strong, Jane,” Tank says as I pass by him.
The asshole cop pushes me into the cruiser and gets into the driver’s seat. When his partner slides into the passenger seat, he sighs.
“Was that really necessary?” his partner asks.
“She’s mentally unstable and kidnapped her kids. Of course it was necessary.” The driver scoffs.
Mentally unstable? Please, the only person I know who is unstable is the one behind this mess. Sure, I might have taken the kids and run, but it was for their own safety. I don’t say a word, though. I trust Mac.
When we get to the police station, they throw me into a cell.
“Phone call,” I say quietly.
“Please, bitches like you don’t deserve phone calls,” the asshole cop, whose name badge says Whitmore, states before he leaves me alone.
Okay then.
Taking a deep breath, I move to the bench along the wall and sit down. I close my eyes and try to calm my racing heart.
Mac is on his way with a lawyer.
They didn’t read me my Miranda rights, take my fingerprints, or anything, so protocols have been broken.
It’s fine. Everything is fine.
I’ll be out of here soon. Then I’ll get the kids and…do something. I promised Mac I wouldn’t run, and when I did, I meant it, but now I don’t know if I have any other option but to do so.
God, I hope the cops and Evan aren’t smart enough to figure out where the kids are. I’m thankful Mac convinced me to keep them out of school for two weeks. We told them they had mono, so they were happy to let them do their schoolwork from home. Where are they now? I hope Mac got them out.
Please, God, let me wake up from this nightmare.
The sound of the cell door opening makes me open my eyes, and when I do, my breath catches as fear runs through my veins.
Evan.
His hair is slicked back, and he’s got on a dark button-down shirt and slacks. His gold Rolex shines on his wrist.
No. No. No.
On shaky legs, I stand.
“Surprised to see me, Jane?” he spews.
“What are you doing here?”
“What am I doing here?” He scoffs. “I came to get what’s mine.”
“I’m not going with you.”
Before I can even finish my sentence, he lunges for me. I try to keep out of reach, but he catches me anyway. He wraps his hand around my neck and spins me, slamming me against the metal bars. Pain radiates through my body.
Squeezing my eyes shut, I force myself to stay quiet despite the urge to cry out.
He lifts me up so my feet barely touch the floor and presses his body against mine.
“You thought you could leave me? I thought you knew better, Jane. No one leaves me. You’re mine.”
“No, I’m not.” I gasp and try to pry his hands away from me, but he doesn’t budge.
He presses on my neck harder, making black spots dance across my vision.
“Is that what that biker told you? Don’t think I don’t know you became his whore while you were gone.
Did you think I wouldn’t find out that you were playing house with some other man?
Letting him around our kids? You know your actions have consequences, Jane,” he spews, his spit sprinkling against my face.
If I could turn my head, I would, but I have no option but to take it.
“Your time is up. Her lawyer is here,” Officer Whitmore says.
“I’ll see you soon, Jane,” Evan says before he drops me.
My legs give out, and I crash onto the ground. As he leaves the cell, Whitmore locks it behind him. I gasp, holding onto my throat.
That was close.
Too close.
I watch as the seconds tick by on the clock on the wall. Two hours.
It’s been two hours since I laid eyes on my girl, since our world crashed around us. Before the cops even turned out of the driveway, Tank told me that the lawyer was on his way. Smoke started barking out orders and told Gunner and Sloane to go get the kids and take them to the safe house.
Safe house.
Fuck. I was hoping we would never have to use it.
While I jumped on my bike to follow Jane, Sloane and Gunner took off to the clubhouse to grab the kids and sneak them out the back of the property.
I tore out of the parking lot, not questioning if the kids would be ok.
Gunner will lay down his life for them, as will Sloane.
No, they are fine. It’s their mom I’m worried about.
I needed to get to my girl. I needed her to know that I’m here.
It took our lawyer twenty-five minutes to get to us, and another twenty for them to let him back.
As I wait for them to come out, I feel as if I’m going to crawl out of my skin.
I run my hand over my face.
This is our worst nightmare come to life.
Maybe Tanner was right. Maybe we should have ran when we had the chance. I could have taken them to Boston to hide out. Smoke’s brother, Ghost, would have taken us in without a second thought. We could have ran to any of our chapters throughout the states, and they would have helped, but I didn’t.
I was fucking selfish.
I wanted to stay here and fight this on my own turf with my brothers behind me.
I run my hands through my hair and look up at the clock again. I can feel the receptionist working behind the glass looking at me, but I don’t pay her any attention. Her sympathy is the last fucking thing I need right now.
The sound of a buzzer has me shooting up. Turning toward the door that separates the waiting area from the holding area, I hold my breath. When I see Jackson with Jane right behind him, relief fills me.
“Jane…” I breathe out.
She pushes past the lawyer and slams into me. Wrapping my arms around her, I lift her, making her wrap her legs around my waist.
“A mhuirnín,” I murmur against her ear.
Jane’s whole body shudders against me.
“You’re okay,” I tell her as I squeeze her tight.
Jackson clears his throat. “We should get out of here before they find a new reason to keep us here.”
Reluctantly, Jane and I pull apart, and that’s when I see it—the angry red handprint around her neck.
“What the fuck happened?” I hiss.
“Where are the kids?” she asks at the same time.
“Not here, you guys,” Jackson reminds us.
“Come on.” I grab her hand and pull her toward the door.
“Thank you. Seriously, I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you,” Jane tells Jackson.
“Don’t worry about it. Mac, call me if you need me,” he says before he moves toward his car as I come to a stop next to my bike.
I grab the helmet off my handlebars and put it on her head. After making a few adjustments, it fits well enough.
I’ll have to buy her one that’s just for her, but in the meantime, this will do. I didn’t even think to grab my spare for her when I tore off. It doesn’t matter. It’s a quick ride back to the clubhouse, where everyone will be waiting.
“What about you?” she asks as I get onto my bike.
“I’ll be fine.” I hold out my hand. “Get on.”
Jane’s hand slips into mine, and she gets on behind me. After reminding her where to put her feet and she’s tightly wrapped around me, I turn the bike on and take off.
As fucked up as it is, I love the feeling of her body pressed up against mine. I just wish it were under different circumstances.
Oh well, it is what it is.
We don’t speak as we make our way back to the clubhouse, but at every stoplight and stop sign, I put my hand on top of hers on my stomach and squeeze them, reassuring myself that she’s still there.
She’s out of there and away from him, at least for now.
When we get to the clubhouse, I find several of the brothers lingering outside. They all turn to watch as we get off the bike.
Jagger begins to clap, making us all look at him like he’s crazy.
“Congratulations on your first handcuff experience, Jane,” he says, making her giggle.
“Seriously?” I mutter as I put my arm around her shoulders.
Jagger shrugs. “You two were looking so serious. I couldn’t take it.” He turns to look at Jane and goes sober. “I’m glad you’re okay. Although I would like to know about that mark on your neck.”
Her hand drifts up, touching it lightly.
“I’m okay,” she rasps.
“Jane, Mac,” Smoke says, making us look his way.
He tips his head to the side, silently telling us to join him inside.
The brothers, Jane, and I shuffle inside.
“Here, Jackson called and told us your voice was rough, so I made you some tea,” Kelly says, holding out a cup.
“Thank you,” Jane tells her as she takes a seat on one of the couches.
We all sit down and turn to face her.
“Where are the kids?” she asks after taking a drink.
“Gunner and Sloane have them. They took them to the safe house and will stay there until this ends,” Smoke tells her.
Jane’s body deflates. “So he doesn’t have them?”
“No,” I tell her.
Her eyes flutter shut. “Thank God. I was so worried that they would go to the clubhouse and take them.”
“We wouldn’t let that happen,” Tank tells her.
“A mhuirnín, I need to know what happened to your neck.”
Jane looks at me and licks her bottom lip. Then she tells us about her whole jail cell experience. How that dick of a cop, Whitmore, let Evan assault her. The only reason he stopped was because Jackson showed up and finally convinced someone to let him see his client.
I squeeze my eyes shut, and my fist clenches on my knee.
Son of a bitch. He was in there with her, and there was nothing I could do about it. I was right there in the same fucking building, and I couldn’t stop it.
“Jane, you want Evan gone for good, right? You want to stop looking over your shoulder?” Smoke asks.
“Yes,” Jane says with no hesitation.
“We have an idea on how to get rid of him for good, but it would temporarily put you in danger,” Smoke tells her.
“Absolutely fucking not,” I hiss before she can say anything.
Smoke’s eyes move to me. “I get it, man. I do. She’s your girl, and you don’t want anything bad to happen to her, but this is her decision. You need to let her decide if she wants to do it or not.”
“Mac…” she starts.
I shake my head. “No. I promised to protect you, and I can’t do that if they are using you as bait.”
She winces at the word, but then grabs my hand, staring into my eyes.
“I have lived every day of my life for that man. He has beaten me and threatened me. He has used my kids to keep me in line. He will not stop as long as he is free. If that means that I play bait and take a few more bruises to finally be rid of him, then I’m doing it.
He has already taken so many choices from me.
Please don’t be the one to take this one. ”
I frown, hating that she feels that way. I would never take her choices away, but what the fuck am I supposed to do? I can’t watch her put herself in danger.
“I’ll be okay. You will be there before he hurts me more than he already has. Isn’t that right, Smoke?” she asks.
“Absolutely.”
I rub my hand down my face. “I don’t like this.”
“Me neither, but then it will be over. We can finally be together without my past hanging over our heads,” Jane says, breaking my heart.
Son of a bitch.
I nod to Smoke, showing I agree.
“Okay, so this is the plan…” Smoke says.