Chapter Thirteen. #2
“Oh crap,” I began laughing as we closed in.
No, this had taken at least ten minutes.
The prisoner—I couldn’t tell if it was Kira—was a mess.
Her clothes were obviously torn by the dogs.
Red and purple paint covered her, and her feet were encased in what looked like quick-drying cement.
Her hands and ankles were tied; there was a gag in her mouth and a beanie pulled over her head.
Clumps of hair led away from her, and I realised the kids had been dragging her. Each of them carried some sort of weapon. The woman jolted again as I saw a toddler zap her with a cattle prod.
“Where the hell did you get that from?” Rooster growled, grabbing it.
The kid held on, and Rooster sent him a stern glare.
“Link, son, I love ya, but if you…” Rooster howled as Link hit the button and zapped his father.
Rooster wailed in a high-pitched tone and shook like he’d been electrocuted, which I guess he just had, and Link quickly let go.
“Yo…ur f…f…fuck…ing bro…bro…ther...s!” Rooster forced out.
Kenny bent down and checked Link over before patting his head. “At least it wasn’t me this time.”
“Alright, enough of the loony bin show. How long has she been here?” Chance demanded.
The kids all swapped glances.
Chance growled.
“Well, it happened like this. She came through the gate. Idiot cut a hole in it and saw us. She said she was from the department for children,” Isla began.
Chance turned a severe gaze on his daughter.
“Oh God, they attacked someone from Child Services!” King gasped as I laughed. Holy crap.
“No, don’t be stupid,” Angelina sneered at King. “We’d have buried her before anyone knew she was here.” Celt gave Isla a resigned shake of his head as King paled. “She tried to take me. That’s nobody from that hellhole.”
Should I be amused that they called Child Services a hellhole or the fact that a six-year-old kid had threatened to off someone and bury them?
“The guys went and got weapons, while we kept her occupied,” Brax said.
“Why aren’t I surprised?” Kenny demanded.
Chance shook his head in disbelief.
“Link tripped her over, and we sat on her,” Olivia added.
“Dax might have thumped her head into the dirt a few times; we were playing whack-a-mole,” Louisa Mae said. Chance glanced at his son, who grinned.
“Then we came back and tied her up,” Isla continued.
“And threw paint on her so it stiffened and she couldn’t run away,” Olivia explained.
“The cement?” Chance gritted out.
“That was my idea,” Campbell, Big Al’s son, admitted. “If people do bad stuff, they get concrete boots and are thrown in the river.”
Big Al closed his eyes as Tati whacked his stomach. “Too many gangster movies!” she hissed.
“But the lake was too far, and we got hungry. So, we sent Mia Charlotte in to fetch you,” Finn explained as if this was all logical.
“Nope, not dealing with this,” Chance said. “Call the damn police. I’ve had enough.”
“Don’t look at me, I’m going for breakfast,” Willow replied.
“We’ll wait for the cops,” Diesel and Tiny said.
Chance nodded an agreement.
The Holy Terrors began marching towards the clubhouse, but they all kicked dirt over their victim. Chance removed the beanie, and I saw it wasn’t Kira. I’d no idea who it was, but she was a mess.
“Fuckin’ feral,” King muttered, and I couldn’t disagree. This was funny as hell, though.
Rascal
I came down as the clubhouse emptied. Immediately, I secured the children who were here with Jinx, and we both pulled weapons. Nobody was coming in and grabbing one without getting through us.
Dollar thudded down the stairs, no doubt alerted by the commotion and headed for the security office. Jinx and I guarded the kids and only relaxed when the rest of the Holy Terrors streamed in with adults behind them.
I searched the crowd and found King. He was towering over Hallie, and I breathed easier. He’d never allow harm to come to Hallie, even if he died first. King looked shocked while Hallie appeared amused. I guessed the horrors had lived up to their names.
Chance, Bear, Big Al, and several others disappeared into the security office where, no doubt, Dollar had everything ready. I put my gun away and headed towards Hallie.
“You eaten?” I demanded.
“No, the chaos happened. Those kids are insane. Damn, I don’t need bodyguards; I’ll just take a couple of them.” Hallie laughed.
“Come and eat. Shit’s going to be unsettled for a bit,” I said. Hallie nodded. I liked how confidently she held herself. Hallie didn’t care if anyone had heard us last night. I’d staked my claim; now I just had to hold on.
As we ate, plans shifted around us. I kept an ear open in case someone needed me to do something, but the old ladies had everything under control as usual.
“Well,” Chance said, sitting down with a full plate. “She was a distraction. Kira tried to sneak in as the kids attacked the woman, but she got spooked and fled.”
“Yeah, I would have too if I’d seen them coming for me,” Hallie agreed.
“Any idea who she is?”
“Someone Kira hired off the street. Neither considered that the children would be a problem. They expected a quick snatch-and-grab and completely underestimated the Terrors. You can watch the video later. It’s one for movie night.
The little fuckers had her for twenty minutes. ” Chance shook his head.
I wasn’t surprised. Over time, I’d grown used to their antics. What confused me was that their actions shocked their parents. Didn’t they realise what the kids got up to? Jeez.
Hallie’s phone rang, and she frowned. Her lips pursed, and I guessed it was someone she didn’t want to speak to.
Hallie
Wow. Hats off to Mia Charlotte, who’d acted so frantically. The children were diabolical. Funny but terrifying. I was about to make a joke when my cell buzzed. I didn’t recognise the number, so I swiped it.
“Hello?”
“Hallie? Don’t hang up!” my brother Jorge said quickly.
“What do you want?”
“Mom and Dad were attacked at home last night.”
“And?”
“Hallie, don’t be like that. Come and see them?”
“Why? They cut me off five years ago.”
“Hallie, they’re injured!” Jorge exclaimed. “Don’t be so cruel.”
“Where were they when I swore I was innocent and they turned their backs on me? Did they visit when my baby was kicked to death in my stomach? Or when a bitch carved my face up? Where were they then, Jorge? How about when I was beaten into a coma? Didn’t see them sitting by the bed crying.”
“Hallie,” Jorge hissed.
“For that matter, big brother. Where the fuck were you? Oh, I know, dining with your pretty, unscarred wife and living kids. Don’t fuckin’ tell me not to be cruel.
Nobody gave a toss about me when you thought I was guilty; don’t come crawling back now you know you screwed up.
The only family I have is King. He never once doubted me, not like my so-called blood.
I couldn’t give a shit what happens to any of you.
You’re social-climbing scum. You’re trying to be nice because you’re being publicly judged.
Good. It’s time someone held a mirror up to you, and you saw your true colours. ”
I took a breath and captured Rascal’s eyes.
“You didn’t even have the excuse of misidentifying me as Shane did.
At least Shane had a reason. You lot? Nah, you abandoned me without cause.
All to keep your country club friends happy.
Well, I hope those same assholes are keeping you company right now.
Don’t ever contact me again. Your sister died the moment you accused her of being guilty and turned your backs. ”
I cut the call and blocked the number.
“Good for you,” Chance muttered.
“Yeah…” I leaned into King’s quiet strength.
As usual, he was there, solid and dependable.
Rascal held my gaze and nodded. I’d made myself clear.
He had this one chance; if he blew it, Rascal was out of my life for good.
The warning was clear: if I could cut my parents and siblings off, I could cut him off too.
Now it was just a question of whether he listened.