Chapter 9
Kimmie
P acing around the living room of the cabin, my heart is heavy. With everything that has happened the past few weeks, and now, with Remmy getting more attached to his new friends, the thought of uprooting him again fills me with dread.
But there’s too many unknowns, too many dangers still lurking around in the shadows. I just can’t risk staying here any longer.
I glance over at Remmy, who is sitting on the couch, playing his video game. Completely oblivious to the storm brewing inside of me.
“Remmy,” I call softly, trying to keep my voice steady. “We need to go to the next town over.”
He looks up, his smile fading when he looks fully at me. “What’s wrong, Mom? And don’t lie! Just because I’m a kid doesn’t mean I can’t understand.”
His words cut through me like a knife because I know that he’s right and there’s no reason for me to start lying to him now just to get him out the door.
“I know you’ve been having a lot of fun here, but... we need to leave. It’s not safe for us to stay any longer.”
His eyes widening in disbelief. “Leave? But why? I don’t want to leave! I like it here!”
I take a deep breath, trying to find the right words. “I know, sweetie. But sometimes, we have to do things we don’t want to do to keep ourselves safe. There are some things happening that I can’t explain right now, but I need you to trust me.” I say, reaching for his hands.
He pulls jerks his hands away from me, his face scrunching up in anger as he gets to his feet. “No! I don’t want to go! I want to stay here with my friends!”
I reach out to him, but he pushes me away, tears welling up in his eyes. “You’re always making me leave! I never get to stay anywhere! It’s not fair!”
Before I can respond, Remmy bolts for the door. “Remmy, wait!” I call out to him but he’s already out the door, slamming it behind him.
I stand frozen for a moment, my heart pounding in my chest. I knew how much this move was going to affect him, but I hadn’t expected such an intense reaction. I quickly hurry outside, hoping to find him sulking on the porch or near his favorite tree.
But when I step outside, the yard is empty. The evening air feeling cool, and the sky had already taken on the soft hues of twilight. “Remmy?” I call out, my voice trembling. “Remmy, where are you?”
I walk around the side of the cabin, checking the usual spots where he might hide. But there’s no sign of him. Panic begins to set in as I search the yard quickly, calling his name over and over, my voice growing more frantic with each passing second.
“Remmy!” I cry out one last time, my heart racing as I run toward the edge of the woods that surrounds the cabin. I scan the area, hoping to catch a glimpse of his figure among the trees. But the only sound I can hear is the rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze.
Tears well up in my eyes as the reality of him not being here sets into my bones. Remmy is gone. I can’t find him anywhere. My hands tremble as I pull out my phone, frantically dialing Ringo’s number.
“Ringo, it’s Kimmie,” I sob as soon as he answers. “Rem... Remmy is gone! I can’t find him anywhere!”
“Kimmie, slow down,” he says, his voice steady but filled with concern. “What do you mean he’s gone?”
“He got upset and ran outside,” I explain through the tears. “I thought he’d just be in the yard, but he’s not here! I’ve looked everywhere, and he’s just... he’s gone!”
Ringo’s voice hardens with determination. “Stay calm, Baby. I’m on my way. Get back inside the cabin and lock the doors! We’ll find him.”
I nod, though he can’t see me. “Please, hurry, Ringo. I’m so scared.”
“I’m coming,” He reassures me. “We’ll find him, I promise.” He says as I quickly make my way back to the cabin, walking inside and locking the doors.
Ringo
The sounds of all my club brothers filled the clubhouse as I take my usual seat near the back of the table.
The familiar scent of leather and cigarette smoke cling to the air, and the low murmur of voices blend with the clinking of beer bottles.
Normally, I’d be right in the thick of it, laughing with the guys, catching up on the latest gossip of what the twins have been up to. But tonight, my mind was on other things. Like keeping Kimmie safe as well as here in White Summer.
I’m not a stupid man. I know deep down that she plans to try to run. Even though she doesn’t have her own car, eventually it will come to her to take the car that I supposedly loaned her, not knowing that it is actually already in her name.
The Prez walks in, banging his gavel on the table, calling the meeting to order as he takes his place at the head of the table. The room quietens down instantly, all eyes turning to him.
He begins with the usual business of the club; money matters, the latest on our rivals, the status of our various businesses. I try to focus, but all I can think about is Kimmie and the danger she as well as her son was in.
When the Prez finally finishes with the routine stuff, he looks around the table. “Anything else we need to discuss?”
I clear my throat then lean forward. “I’ve got something.”
All eyes turn to look at me, the room falling into an uneasy silence. “It’s about Kimmie. She’s in trouble, and I need the club’s support to take care of it.”
The Prez’s eyes narrow. “This have something to do with her past?”
Taking a deep breath, I lay it all out for them. Snake piping in with some of the stuff he was able to find out as well. I told them about the man who had grabbed her behind the cafe, the threats he made, and how scared she’d been ever since. I didn’t hold anything back. I needed the club at my back. They were my family.
The room is still super quiet when I finish speaking. The Prez leans back in his chair, his eyes studying me. “This is personal for you, isn’t it?”
I nod. “Yeah, it is. I wouldn’t be asking if it wasn’t serious but her and the kid are important to me.”
“I think we all know that.” He waves around the room at all my brothers who are still quietly staring at me. “What say you Torque?”
“Fuck me but I think that’s more words than he’s spoken since he patched in!” Bear exclaims and all the men around the table chuckle.
“Fucking hell, that’s not what I meant.” The Prez shakes his head. “Blade?” He turns to look at our VP.
Blade, the VP of the club and Bella’s husband, looks back at me, his expression unreadable for several long moments before turning back to the Prez.
“Looks like we’re going hunting to me.” He shrugs and I can feel the tension easing from my shoulders as a unanimous vote goes around the table.
Everyone takes a few minutes to discuss what needs to be done to find the guy that grabbed Kimmie that night. He’d be our best bet at finding this Hugo guy and taking him out.
As we finish up the meeting, we’re walking out into the bar area when my phone rings. Looking at it, I see that it’s Kimmie. It’s the first time she’s ever called me.
I know something is wrong as soon as I answer it. Her sobs sink into the pit of my stomach like a hard rock.
“Ringo, it’s Kimmie,” She sobs. “Rem... Remmy is gone! I can’t find him anywhere!”
“Kimmie, slow down,” I say. “What do you mean he’s gone?”
Feeling a presence by my side, I look over to find Blade looking at me with concern. As the next part of the conversation comes through the phone, he motions to our Prez who hurries over. Putting the phone on speaker, everyone in the club goes completely silent.
“He got upset and ran outside,” She says, tears in her voice. “I thought he’d just be in the yard, but he’s not here! I’ve looked everywhere, and he’s just... he’s gone!”
“Stay calm, Baby. I’m on my way. Get back inside the cabin and lock the doors! We’ll find him.”
“Please, hurry, Ringo. I’m so scared.” Her voice sounds small.
“I’m coming,” I try to reassure her. “We’ll find him, I promise.”
As soon as I hang up with Kimmie, I see the Prez dialing the phone number for the Prospect who was supposed to be watching the cabin. My anger and frustration grows with each ring that goes unanswered. “Come on, pick up,” I mutter under my breath, but the call goes straight to voicemail.
With a curse, I slam my hand on the table in front of me. My mind races with a thousand worst-case scenarios, but I force myself to stay focused.
“There’s no way he’d have left his post. Boogie wouldn’t do that.” Blade says with concern and we all shake our heads in agreement.
“I need everyone strapped and riding within ten minutes!” Prez yells and all the guys start moving quickly.
Running to my own room, I find my guns in the bedside table. Pulling my chest holster on, I put my guns in their spots, grabbing my jacket on the way out.
Hopefully, Remmy is just hiding from his mom for whatever she pissed him off about. But if someone has taken him, if someone has hurt even one small hair on his head, I’ll get them and leave them for the bears to eat on top of the mountain.